Experienced Housesitter's Check-List

Tiera travelling through Spain as an experienced housesitter — As an experienced housesitter I travel all over. This is the town of Hospital de Orbit in Spain.

Photo courtesy of Tiera St Claire

Check lists come and go for this and that. However, an experienced housesitter like Tiera St Claire offers her top tips on the housesitter’s check list, to end all check lists.

After more than 20 years housesitting, in assignments all over the world from the USA where she’s from to all over Europe and the UK she shares her thoughts on what the homeowner really needs to include in their advert, and once she arrives the main points they need to discuss as host and sitter. Read on to learn more.

What an Experienced Housesitter Understands

I’ve been Pet and Housesitting for 20 years and love all the amazing animals and homes that I’ve been given the opportunity to care for during this time. During my time housesitting for pets and homes in many different cultures I have had easy housesits, and some more challenging. Often, as in life it is the challenging assignments where you learn a great deal about your given resources and your very own resourcefulness.

Tiera holding a rescue dog — Juno was a rescue dog, initially shy but shortly after I met her we became friends. As an experienced housesitter I knew to give her time and to let her approach me

The best way to prepare for any eventuality, however great your knowledge about house and petsitting is to think ahead of time about what you might need to know. If you are working through an established housesitting platform like Housesitmatch.com then you’ll see that sometimes that information is readily given in the housesit advert, raise questions about what you would like to know.

If you are working independently without the support of a housesitting platform then it is all the more important to prepare the list of questions you need answers to. And by contrast prepare the answers to any questions you think the home and pet owner might ask you. It works both ways.

What Information Does an Experienced Housesitter Look For?

Here are some things that can help me to prepare for the housesit, and will ease my time when I am petsitting for your loved ones:

Advert Essential Information –

Home and pet owners – Please include in the advert for the Housesit:
- Are travel dates booked and confirmed? If not please do tell me. If they are confirmed tell me your dates away, and if you prefer that I come a day or two early to learn the house and animals routine.
- What types of animals do you have, and how many pets there are in total.
- Please share a little about their personalities If they have any special needs or need routine medications.
- Are they Rescue animals?
- How long they can be left alone during the day
- Is the home near to public transport, and local amenities; if so what kind?
- Is any plant care required? Are the plants indoors and outdoors?

London dog sitter — I love developing friendships with my pet charges – An experienced housesitter knows the sit is usually about the pets

What I take with me to every housesit as an experienced housesitter:

A lightweight bed sheet and pillow case – so I can use them while the ones I used are being washed and dried on the last day- and I can then remake a fresh bed for my hosts to find on their return.
Lightweight towels and face cloth – so I can use this when I am washing and drying the ones I was offered by the hosts and used during my stay. I also bring a dark coloured face cloth, so that when I clean my face of any make-up I don’t use their towels to avoid staining them.
Tech and cables – as a digital nomad I need to be able to work from anywhere and the housesit is usually a great place to get work done. It can be useful to use power plugs that have multiple sockets to avoid the weight of too many. Useful to bring an extra battery pack for mobile charging when out and about
Converter plugs – I have a multiple country convert plug which as been invaluable to me over the years I have travelled by housesitting.
Essential food packet – I carry my favourite tea in bags, protein bars and some dried fruit and nuts in case there is nothing in the house when I arrive late at night. Though it has to be said, usually the homeowner has been kind and left me a meal or some essentials in the fridge.
Small paper notebook – This contains my ultimate check list of things to do before I leave a property if the owners aren’t there – i.e. Collect any tech and cables from plug sockets, remove any foods from the fridge, post the keys.
Indoor shoes – I always carry a small pair of ballet shoes to wear indoors so my outdoor shoes don’t mess the carpets.
Brita water bottle with filter – Bringing my Brita bottle wherever I go has become essential to me, because of the remarkably varied destinations I visit all over the world, a filtered water bottle gives me a sense of well-being. For example, when I walk the Camino De Santiago. It’s a good habit.

Tiera with Miko the cat — As an experienced housesitter I’ve cared for many pets and properties. Miko the cat in NYC was a special friend

When I arrive for your housesitting assignment, let’s go over:

What are your Emergency Contacts, and their contact details, for ‘just-in-case’ while you are away?
- In the unlikely event that something goes wrong I’d like to be prepared and to be able to reach someone you trust who can help.
Personal preferences for your home
- Is there area or anything in your home that is off limits (particularly for when I clean up at the end of my housesit for you.)
Is the food in fridge available for me to eat?
- Would you like any food stocked for your return? Is there any food you prefer not be cooked in your home? Is there anything off limits (particularly for when I clean at the end)
Keys to the property
- Are there spare keys? Do any neighbours have keys? Are there any safety issues to be aware of on the property?
- Is there an alarm and how does it work? Is there a management company for the alarm and how do I reach them if the alarm goes off unexpectedly?
If you have pets
- Vet information including how to get there, I need directions and contact numbers
- Will I need to buy pet food or medication in your absence? If so what type and is there a small fund for unexpected expenses for the pets?
- Are the animals allowed on the furniture? Where do they sleep?
Communications
- Detail the specifics on what communication you like whilst away. Some people like a daily update with photos to show them the pets are happy and healthy; some say don’t contact me unless there is a problem- so what is your ideal level and frequency of communication?
- Photos every day? Every few days?
- Videos every day? Every few days?
- Written or voicemail up dates?

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As an experienced housesitter what can I do for you?

One great thing about being an experienced housesitter is that over the last 20 years or so and visiting so many homes and caring for pets I have been asked to do a wide variety of things to help the home and pet owner when they are away. It is always good to offer to support them in their absence. Ask, what can I do for you while you are away? Of course what you offer to do to help them will depend on your own skills set and comfort in someone else’s home. These are some of the things I have been asked to help with:

Pet care – I always choose housesits with pets to care for; maintaining their daily routines is a given.
Plant care – indoor and outdoor plants need attention in most seasons.
Cleaning – I like to clean a home from top to bottom before I leave.
Post – collecting the post and placing it in a specific location as requested by the owners.
Collecting parcels – sometimes parcels are sent back to a post office or a neighbour’s home.
DIY – I can do some DIY. Perhaps as an experienced housesitter you have good skills and can offer.