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Manage House Sitting Problems: 6 Tips
Most of our housesitters find that each housesit flows smoothly into the next. Sometimes house sitting problems occur and you need to think on your feet or get help. In this article Maria Vano one of our housesitters tells us of a problem that occurred during her housesit in another country. Here’s how she dealt with the issue on her housesit.
Photo credit – Eugenia Sol
Dealing with House Sitting Problems: What to Do When Things Go Wrong 🏠
House sitting offers incredible opportunities for free accommodation and travel, but what happens when problems arise? Here’s a real story that happened to me in my first year of housesitting, about handling house sitting challenges with grace – and why staying calm benefits everyone involved.
Most House Sits Go Smoothly (But Not Always) ✨
Through my own experience and in talking with other house sitters, most sits go off without a hitch. Honestly, so if you haven’t tried housesitting yet be reassured it is unusual to have an any house sitting problems at all.
You arrive, handover happens, pet introductions are made, tours of the house and surroundings are lovely, and you wish the owners well on their trip. You then go about your first day orienting yourself, playing with the pet, and you go to bed happy, peaceful, looking forward to the rest of your time in your temporary new city.
When House Sitting Problems Strike: The Hot Water Story 🚿
The next morning you wake up and get into the shower, ready to freshen up, get that coffee on and get going. You turn on the water and, adjusting the temperature towards the little red line, you wait…and wait…you turn it off and back on again. And wait…and start to get a little annoyed.
With a hmph! you turn it off and go look at the hot water heater.
And see a flashing blue light with a big ERR on it.
Sigh.
Photo credit – Sachith Hettigodage
The Initial Reaction: Stay Calm 😌
Well this sucks. I need a shower; do I really want to message the owners? What are they going to be able to do about it from another country? I guess it won’t hurt me to take a tepid shower – it’s not winter. I mean, it’s mid-June. It’ll probably feel great.
So I do. The water wasn’t too bad, of course, after a few seconds. It was like being in a pool that had been exposed to the sun for a few hours already. I survived. It wasn’t the first time – heck it’s not like it had never happened to me at my own home.
According to property management experts, hot water issues are among the most common household problems, affecting both homeowners and temporary residents alike.
Communication is Key During House Sitting Emergencies 📱
I get to the coffee machine and turn on my phone notifications. Lo and behold, a message from the owners. “Let us know if there’s any issue with the hot water. We had problems this morning and x thinks he fixed it. But if not, message us and we’ll call the landlord.”
Photo credit – Maria Vano
Aha! Okie dokie, messaged and they said they’d call the landlord to come by.
Clear communication between house sitters and homeowners is essential. As communication experts note, staying calm and solution-focused during unexpected situations leads to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Working with Service Professionals 🔧
He did, introducing himself and showing ID with his name. Very thoughtful. He reset the system, seeing there was a fault in the connection between the boiler and the solar panels. Reset worked and he gave me his number, saying to message him anytime if there was an issue.
Two days later I messaged him again! Unfortunately it had happened again. It now became an issue of him climbing up on the roof, replacing stuff, etc. With a “message me immediately, anytime!” and showing me how to reset the system should anything happen again, we bid goodbye.
I’d love to say “the end” right now, but it did happen again, and I reset the system. A few days later he got yet another new part and all was fine until the homeowners came home.
Photo credit – Maria Vano
The Real Lesson About House Sitting Responsibilities 💡
The point of this story is that things happen. Did I get upset and annoyed and demand a hot shower and threaten to leave if I didn’t have optimum conditions? No I did not. It was summer, it was too hot for a hot shower anyway.
BUT, with a simple phone call and with me agreeing to simply coordinate everything with their landlord so that they could enjoy their vacation, life and the sit went on.
If It Can Happen at Home, It Can Happen on a Sit 🏡
So if you’re on a sit, and something happens, just realize that life is life and things happen in a home. Take control and handle it. Ask for the landlord’s number. If the homeowner owns the home, then message them and ask if they could give you the number of an emergency contact (relative, friend, neighbor) who can help you (especially if you don’t speak the language, which I didn’t) make a call to whomever can fix it.
Research from the home maintenance industry shows that typical homes experience 3-5 maintenance issues per year – so encountering one during a house sit is perfectly normal.
Understanding the House Sitting Exchange 🤝
Sits are an exchange of service. Free accommodation for free taking care of a pet. What it does NOT mean is to make issues out of something so very simple as, say, no hot water.
The owners will have numbers to call and will be able to arrange – with a friend or relative, or even having a company call them to get the credit card payment information – to get something fixed. The caveat here is that as you’re taking care of the pet and home, it’s also your responsibility to be an adult about things that happen, things that go wrong, and to help them in their absence.
The sharing economy thrives on mutual respect and understanding – and house sitting is a perfect example of this collaborative approach to travel and accommodation.
How to Handle House Sitting Problems: 6 Quick Tips ✅
When house sitting problems arise during your house sit, follow these steps:
- Stay calm and assess the situation 🧘♀️ – Is it an emergency or an inconvenience?
- Find a temporary solution if possible 🔍 – Can you manage for a few hours or days?
- Communicate promptly with homeowners 💬 – Let them know what’s happening
- Offer to coordinate with service providers 📞 – Make it easy for owners to arrange repairs
- Be flexible and understanding 🌟 – Remember, these things happen in any home
- Document the issue and resolution 📝 – Keep records of what happened and how it was fixed
According to conflict resolution experts, maintaining emotional regulation during stressful situations leads to better problem-solving and preserves important relationships.
The Bottom Line on House Sitting Challenges ☕
So take the tepid or cool shower in the summer (you’ll feel great after, I promise!), get the coffee in you, and message the homeowner, explaining the situation and asking if there’s someone who can help you get the problem solved.
Just do NOT start yelling, screaming, saying this is all unacceptable and you cannot be expected to take a cool shower, and threaten to leave, demanding they find someone else to take care of the pet as you just simply cannot deal with it nor be expected to.
Really. Things will happen. You know how to take care of things…otherwise, you wouldn’t be taking on the responsibility of taking care of someone’s beloved pet and home.
Right? 😊
Ready to start your house sitting journey? 🌍 Join Housesitmatch.com to connect with homeowners worldwide and experience the adventure of house sitting – problems and all!
Have you experienced house sitting problems? How did you handle them? Share your stories in the comments below! 💭
Frequently Asked Questions About House Sitting Problems ❓
What should I do if something breaks during my house sit?
Stay calm and assess whether it’s an emergency or inconvenience. Contact the homeowners immediately with a clear description of the problem. Offer to coordinate with repair services or emergency contacts they provide. Document the issue with photos if relevant. Remember, homeowners understand that normal wear and tear happens – they just want to be kept informed.
Am I responsible for paying for repairs during a house sit?
Generally, no. House sitters are not financially responsible for normal maintenance issues or appliance failures that occur during their stay. However, you should report problems promptly and help coordinate repairs. If damage is caused by negligence or misuse, the situation may be different. Always clarify expectations about responsibilities during the initial handover.
Should I contact homeowners immediately when problems arise?
Yes, communicate promptly – but use common sense about timing. For emergencies (flooding, fire, pet health crisis), contact them immediately regardless of time zones. For non-urgent issues like the hot water heater in this story, message them at a reasonable hour. Most homeowners prefer to know about problems sooner rather than later, even if they can’t immediately fix them.
What if I don’t speak the local language and need to arrange repairs?
Ask the homeowners for an emergency contact who speaks English (or your language) – this could be a neighbor, friend, or relative. Most homeowners will have someone local who can help translate or coordinate with service providers. You can also use translation apps as a backup, but having a human contact is always better for complex situations.
Can I leave a house sit if conditions aren’t ideal?
While you technically can leave, it should be a last resort only for serious health, safety, or emergency situations. Minor inconveniences like temporary lack of hot water, Wi-Fi issues, or appliance problems don’t justify abandoning a sit. Remember, you’ve made a commitment to care for someone’s pet and home. Work with the homeowners to find solutions first.
What’s considered a “normal” problem vs. an emergency during house sitting?
Normal problems that can wait a few hours/days: Hot water issues, minor leaks, appliance malfunctions, Wi-Fi problems, heating/cooling not optimal.
True emergencies requiring immediate action: Flooding, fire, gas leaks, pet medical emergencies, break-ins, major structural damage, complete power outage in extreme weather.
When in doubt, err on the side of communication – homeowners would rather know than be surprised.
How can I prepare for potential problems before they happen?
During your handover, ask for:
- Emergency contact numbers (plumber, electrician, landlord, vet)
- Location of shut-off valves (water, gas, electricity)
- Instructions for resetting common systems (boilers, alarms, garage doors)
- Homeowner’s preferred communication method and response time expectations
- Local emergency services numbers
- A neighbor or friend’s contact information
Being prepared makes you confident and capable when small issues inevitably arise.
BIO – Maria Vano
Maria Vano is a self-confessed dreamer who believes that the world is there for all of us to see, to taste all the wines and foods, to interact with as many cultures as you can because it’s the only way to truly experience the world. She now fulfils her love of travel and of animals by house and petsitting her way around the world. Her first book is about her life as a solo traveller ‘When every road whispers my name‘.
Further reading on back to back housesitting, affordable travel and housesitters
At Housesit Match we like to share useful blogs and practical advice such as this one on house sitting problems, pet sitting and affordable travel. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters and house sitting useful.
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Housesitting Ile de France – Discover living like a local
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