Best Housesitting Checklist for Homeowners & Sitters

Before any housesit begins it pays to prepare a comprehensive housesitting checklist for homeowners and housesitters that covers all routines for home and pet care, and any also unusual but possible events that might occur in the homeowner’s absence and how to deal with them. In this article, we offer a run through a standard list of items for your homeowner checklist as a place to start. You may then want to tailor the checklist according to your personal situation and location. Read on to learn more.

Top Housesitting Checklist for Homeowners and Housesitters

Leaving your place to someone else for a week, a month, or even longer can feel hard. You trust that person, but it’s still not easy. A good housesitting checklist for homeowners and sitters will help you feel better. It covers home safety, daily jobs, pet care, emergency info, and a walk around the house at the end. This way, the homeowner and the sitter both know what should happen before, while, and after the stay. It does not matter if it is your first time with house sitting or you have done it more. Putting all you need on paper takes away the guesswork. Simple checklists stop small things from turning into bigger problems.

This guide shows the steps for what homeowners should get ready and what sitters need to check. It helps make sure nothing gets left out.

Getting Your Home Ready Before the Sitter Arrives

Before the sitter comes to your house, you need to get ready. This is when most people save time and feel better later. If you do not get things ready, your sitter may feel lost or get mixed up.

Securing Entry Points and Home Safety Checks

Use the housesitting checklist for homeowners and sitter to prepare your property. Walk through every entrance to your home and make sure it works the way it should. This includes front and back doors, windows, and the garage.

• Test every lock, including deadbolts and window latches
• Show the sitter how to arm and disarm the alarm system, if you have one
• Check that the garage door opens and closes smoothly. If it is sticking, reversing on its own, or making grinding noises, that is not something a sitter should have to deal with mid-stay. Getting a Garage Door Repair in Southlake, TX handled before you leave is far easier than troubleshooting it from another time zone. If the door is old enough that repairs have stopped holding, it may be worth looking into Garage Door Installation instead, so you are not relying on a failing system while someone else is responsible for the home
• Leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor in addition to the sitter’s copy
• Point out any exterior lighting and how to turn it on manually if needed

A garage door that only half-works is one of those things homeowners tend to ignore because they have learned to work around it. A sitter has not learned those workarounds, and a malfunctioning door left unattended is a real security gap.

Utilities, Mail, and Deliveries

Sitters have to learn about the way your home works each day. It is not only about locking the door.

• Show them the thermostat and any smart home controls.
• Tell them when the trash and recycling get picked up.
• Let them know if the mail or packages need to be picked up every day.
• Give Wi-Fi passwords and any streaming or smart device logins they need.
• Point out any things to watch for, like if the water heater needs a special setting or if the breaker trips often.

Emergency Contacts and Important Documents

If things don’t work out, your sitter should not need to look for what to do.

• Leave a list of emergency contacts. This should have a neighbor, a member of your family, and your cell number.
• Include contact info for your plumber, electrician, or a general handyman.
• Write down the full address. A sitter might need it for a delivery or in case of an emergency call.
• Note where the fuse box, water shutoff valve, and fire extinguisher are located.

Information Every Sitter Needs From the Homeowner

Once your house is ready, the next thing to do is make sure the sitter knows how things work in your home. Use the housesitting checklist for homeowners and sitters to run through key routines and maintenance for the property and the pets.

House Rules and Daily Routines

Every home works in its own way. Sitters do well when they find out how things go in the home to start with.

• Say which rooms people should not go into, if there are any off limits.
• Tell your guest rules, like if you mind having someone stay over.
• Share your daily plans, like what time you turn lights on or off.
• Let others know about noise for neighbors. This is important if you live near each other or share a driveway.

Pet Care Instructions

If you have pets in your plan, details matter more here than in most other things.

• Feeding schedule, how much they eat, and where their food is kept
• Medication needs, how much to give, and when it should be given
• Walking routine and what routes they like best
• Vet contact information and steps to take if there is a pet emergency
• Any behavior quirks, like being scared during thunderstorms or wanting to run out open doors

Basic Home Maintenance the Sitter Should Know

When small maintenance tasks are not done for a few weeks, they can pile up. It is good to take care of them on time. That way, there will not be too much work later. Taking these steps now will make your life easier in the long run.

• Water plants inside and outside.
• Run water in sinks or tubs that are not used to keep the traps from drying out.
• Mow the yard or do simple yard work if you stay for more than two weeks.
• Check any things needed for the season, like taking out snow or cleaning gutters after a storm.

What Sitters Should Confirm Before Agreeing to the Job

House sitting works both ways. The sitters need to ask questions, and the homeowners need to give instructions. It is important that they both talk about things so everything goes well.

Questions to Ask the Homeowner

A quick talk before you say yes to the job can help you avoid trouble later. This step can help make things clearer for both sides. If you take time to ask questions now, you may not have to deal with problems in the future. It is a good way to make sure you, and the other person, know what is expected.

• How many pets, plants, or systems I need to look after
• Is the there a backup contact if I cannot reach the homeowner
• What is the rule about having people over
• Are there any known problems in the home, for example an appliance that acts up or a garage door that needs care

Red Flags to Watch For

Not every house sitting setup will work well for everyone. It is good to spot any warning signs early.

• Instructions for pets or the home that are unclear or not finished
• Owners of the home who you can’t contact or who don’t reply fast before you get there
• A home that has clear repair problems that were not told to you before
• Trying to get you to take the job fast without letting you ask anything

Daily Responsibilities During the Stay

When the sitter gets settled in, a daily routine helps keep the home steady. Keep referring to the housesitting checklist for homeowners and housesitters to make sure you are in step with all that is required.

Routine Checks Around the House

A short walk around every day helps people spot small issues early. This way, you can fix problems before they get bigger.

• Make sure doors and windows be locked every night.
• Check that the garage door is all the way closed, not just sitting down.
• Watch for any signs of leaks, especially when it rains.
• Keep track of mail and packages building up, as it can show outsiders your home is empty.

Handling Unexpected Issues

Things may not always be good, so sitters need to know what they can handle.

• Get in touch with the homeowner or their backup for anything more than simple fixing.
• Do not try to fix things like the electrical, water pipes, or garage door systems.
• Take pictures of any problem you see and write down when you saw it.
• Find out the local services the homeowner trusts, so you can call the right people fast if something needs a pro.

Wrapping Things Up Before the Homeowner Returns

The last part of a housesitting stay is just as important as the first day. And it works both ways when you use the housesitting checklist for homeowners and sitters – not all the unusual events or notations you made as the sitter.

Final Walkthrough Checklist

Before giving the home back, sitters should walk through it one more time.

• Make sure all doors, windows, and the garage are locked.
• Set the thermostat and any other settings back to normal.
• Take out the trash and pick up anything that shows someone was there.
• Check that pets have had food, feel calm, and are where they should be.

Leaving Notes for the Homeowner

A short handoff note goes a long way.

• Talk about anything that was not normal during the stay.
• Write down any mail or deliveries that came.
• Point out anything that did not seem right, even small things like the garage door making noise, so the homeowner can fix it before it gets worse.

The Housesitting Checklist for Homeowners and Sitters Helps Make the Hand Over Smooth

A house-sitting setup is most helpful when both sides see it as something they share. It works much better when it is not just a favor for one person. The people who own the home should get things ready and be clear with what they want from the sitter. This helps the person doing house sitting do a good job. A sitter needs to ask questions and pay close attention to everything that comes up. If everyone does this, the owners feel good about leaving their home with a sitter.

If you go through your home and notice the garage door does not work right, you should have someone check it before your sitter comes in. Homeowners nearby can contact First Responder Garage Doors. They will do an easy check and fix what is needed. This way, your sitter does not have to stress about it while you are away.

FURTHER READING

At Housesit Match we like to share useful blogs such as this one on the housesitting checklist for homeowners and housesitters. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.

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