Successful House Sit and Effective Communication - 10 Top Tips

Every successful house sit depends on a number of factors and also on the effective communications between housesitters and the homeowners. Jill Shelton an experienced housesitter shares her top tips on how to achieve success when housesitting and petsitting for both sitters and owners.

Effective communication for a successful house sit

successful housesit through effective communications between sitter snd owner — Ensuring effective communications between owners and housesitter usually delivers a successful houses sit

Photo by Jenny Kaye

Whenever I read about people’s negative experiences house sitting, and even from some of my own experiences, it is often because of poor communication between homeowners and house sitters.

Effective communication is the key to a successful house sitting experience. Whether you’re a seasoned sitter or new to house sitting, clear and open communication can ensure that both parties feel confident, secure, and respected throughout the arrangement.

Achieving effective communications

So How do you achieve effective communications between house sitters and homeowners?

By starting with clear expectations, maintaining open lines of communication, and respecting each other’s boundaries, both homeowners and house sitters can enjoy a positive experience and successful house sit.

Every Successful House Sit Starts with Clear Expectations

It all starts with the homeowners listing. The homeowners should provide as much detail as possible about their pets, house and location, including photos. Clear expectations of pet care – what tasks are involved, any medical issues or dietary requirements, and an outline of their daily routines.

An honest description of the pet’s personality and behaviours, will help sitters determine if they are a good fit, and prepare for the sit. Sitters also like a full description of the home, so they can determine if it fits their requirements and they will feel comfortable. If gardening or pool maintenance is required be detailed with what is expected.

From the first point of contact

From the initial contact sitters need to communicate to the homeowners why they are suited to the house sit and provide information about themselves and their experience. They may also choose to ask questions if there is a need for more information or clarification regarding the house and pet sitting responsibilities.

Personally I tend to wait until I have a video chat or phone call with the homeowners to ask my questions, to help me determine if this is the right house sit for me. If I’m successful in securing the house sit I email a follow-up questionnaire with more detailed questions. This includes things we have encountered over our 13 years house and pet sitting.

Maintaining open lines of communication

Both the homeowners and house sitters have a level of expectation and to make sure both parties are happy with the arrangement these expectation need to be conveyed through effective communication.

Communication can be in the written form – applications, emails, text messages, social posts, or digital form – photos, also in the spoken form – in person, over the phone and video chats. You will most likely use all of these throughout your house sitting assignments.

We all have our preferences on which way we like to communicate, so make sure you get an agreement on how best to communicate with your homeowners or house sitters. For example, will you use phone, email or messaging apps and how often you would like to communicate before and during the sit.

Remember to send pet updates to the homeowners

In my experience most homeowners like to have updates on their pets, so I send regular photos with a short message, via WhatsApp, to show them what we have been up to with their animals. This type of communication provides peace of mind for the homeowners.

dog sitter with dog — Frankie loved her walks around the river, and the homeowners enjoyed the regular photo updates

Photo by: Gavin Merritt

Prepare for Emergencies

You will also need to set up a plan in preparation for any emergencies, handling any issues upfront really can help to ensure a successful house sit. Emergencies, while unlikely, can happen. Preparing for them and having an effective communication plan in place ensures quick responses without unnecessary stress.

Homeowners need to provide a list of emergency contacts, including vet details, family members, neighbours, or repair professionals. Also, include instructions on how to handle common emergencies, such as water leaks, pet illnesses, or power outages. Being proactive helps avoid panic should something unexpected happen.

Sitters need to familiarise themselves with the emergency instructions provided and ask questions if anything is unclear. Should an emergency arise, communicate promptly with the homeowner and take swift action according to the agreed-upon plan. There is nothing more important in a successful house sit.

sitting with the dog at the vets — After a quick call to the homeowners we arranged a trip to the vets to stitch a cut on Dougal’s paw. Thankfully it was nothing serious.

Photo by: Gavin Merritt

How can you use effective communication to avoid issues?

The most common problem areas where I have found communication lacking, and I have heard others complaining about, relate to the standard of cleanliness in the home, pet behaviours, the extent of gardening tasks, use of utilities, internal security cameras and travel dates. Here is how we suggest you handle some of these potential issues for a successful house sit:

Cleanliness – If the issue of cleanliness feels too awkward to discuss in person then express it in an email, stating your expectations, for example: Homeowners – “we will leave the house clean and tidy for your arrival and appreciate you leaving it in the same condition on your departure.” House sitters – we would appreciate you leaving your house clean and tidy for our arrival and we will leave it in the same condition on our departure.”
The bedroom where you sleep – If you are particular about the bedroom you sleep in, it’s best to ask the homeowner for photos. This is something I forgot to do recently and ended up sleeping in a small bed squashed between 2 walls with a wall heater along one of those walls, which meant I kept hitting my leg on the heater. Awkward! This was a good reminder for me. If I try to ensure I get a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed I’ll be a better house and petsitter. Whatever your preferences are, communicate these with the homeowner. It builds the foundations for a successful house sit.
The housesitter tasks – Sometimes tasks can be glossed over. For instance it is quite common for homeowners to state in their ads that garden requires watering. I read last week about a couple who only found out after arriving at the housesit that the garden was very large and took 2 hours every day to water. Don’t be afraid to ask homeowners to be specific in their requirements, so you know in advance what you are committing too.
Pet care tasks – The same applies to pet care. Be sure to discuss the pets schedule and habits so there are no surprises like when the cat wakes you at 5am meowing for breakfast, or the dog starts barking at 6am to be let outside. (Yes I am speaking from experience!) Ask Homeowners about the pets behaviour, so you can distinguish between usual and unusual behaviour. For example, does the dog get along with other dogs when out walking. Reactive dogs require more monitoring, so you want to have this information ahead of time.
Discuss the use of utilities – Another area where communication can be awkward is the use of utilities. This varies in different countries, but in areas that utilities are very expensive, homeowners may want to restrict the use of heating or cooling. If this is agreed upon up front then that is ok, it works better. But if is not discussed you may find yourself in a situation like a friend of mine where it gets difficult. She turned up to a house sit in Spain in the middle of summer and although aircon was listed as available, she was told by the homeowner not to use the aircon, as it’s too expensive, just open the windows at night. Consequently, she had a miserable month sweltering in the heat. Other house sitting friends found themselves without adequate heating in Tasmania in winter, having just expected that the house would have heating for such a cold region.
Security cameras – These are a hot topic at the moment as there is an increasing number of homeowners installing both internal and external cameras in their homes. This should always be disclosed by the homeowners, but it’s important for sitters to ask about the security and communicate what they are comfortable with if there are cameras. For the sake of privacy I ask homeowners to turn off any internal cameras, and have never had a problem with homeowners agreeing to this. However if homeowners want to keep all cameras functioning then it’s up to the sitter to make an informed decision about whether they are comfortable doing the sit.

Respecting each other’s boundaries for a successful house sit

Every successful house sit and house sitting in general requires a balance of trust and respect.

For homeowners

Off limit areas and homeowner boundaries – If there are areas of the home that are off-limits or specific boundaries about the sitter’s use of the property, be upfront about them. Clear expectations about privacy help avoid misunderstandings.
- For sitters, respect the homeowner’s space as if it were your own. If boundaries are set, follow them closely. Avoid making assumptions about the homeowner’s preferences, and always communicate if something unexpected comes up.
Effective communication – Your chances of a successful house sit are greatly increased by sharing the small details that make your home function smoothly. Don’t assume sitters will know your preferences or the quirks of your property. Whether it’s how you like the thermostat set, where the spare keys are hidden, or how to properly operate your appliances, effective communication is key. If you have any particular house rules (e.g. no guests) communicate to them clearly upfront to avoid any misunderstandings.
- For sitters, if you’re unsure about something, ask! It’s better to ask even small questions than to make an assumption that could lead to issues later on.
Arrival and departure times – It’s also very important to communicate arrival and departure times for the sit, so as both parties can make arrangements for a smooth handover at the beginning and end of the sit. Be sure to communicate shortly before the start date to confirm arrival time and check with the homeowner that their return date and time is still the same. Sometimes things happen beyond anyone’s control, like cancelled flights or illness and last minute changes occur, and this might require the sitter to make other arrangements. However if there is any change to the dates prior to the start of the sit, or during the sit, obviously this should be communicated as soon as possible, with the homeowner making sure the sitter acknowledges and accepts any changes.
- For sitters, if at all possible prepare some contingency time between sits, or have a back up plan should you need to change dates or arrangements. Remember, life happens between plans and we have to adapt the best way possible.

Provide Honest Feedback

The house sitting communication doesn’t end when the homeowner returns from their trip. Honest feedback after the sit is valuable for both parties and can help you conclude a successful house sit.

For Homeowners when you return, express your appreciation for the sitter’s efforts, and if there are areas where things could improve, provide diplomatic and constructive feedback. Was your home left clean? Did the pets seem happy and well-cared for? This feedback not only helps the sitter but also builds trust for future sits.

For Sitters, share what you enjoyed about the experience and if you encountered any challenges during your stay, be open about them. If you had any issues with the pets, be specific so future sitters can be prepared. Providing feedback builds trust and shows your attentiveness.

Feel good about your successful house sit

In the end, mutual trust and understanding can make all the difference and help you to ensure a successful house sit on both sides. By prioritising effective communication, you’ll not only ensure a smooth arrangement and enjoyable experience for all concerned, but also potentially build long-term relationships that benefit everyone involved.

a gathering of housesitters — Homeowners took us out to dinner in gratitude of a successful house sit, caring for their dogs and home. Effective communication has enabled us to build a long-term relationship and many repeat sits for them.

Photo by: Gavin Merritt

Discover new locations by applying for housesits on a house and petsitting platform that can support you and show you how to work towards a successful house sit. A housesitting platform will have a wider reach that you working on your own and can help you discover new locations and affordable travel by housesitting.

And with a final wish for you all I wish you – Happy housesitting!

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