Home owner considerations when finding a pet & house sitter

When interviewing a potential house sitter, it’s all too common to have some concerns about their suitability. In fact, many homeowners have concerns with the person they chose, and it’s all for the right reasons of course.

Get to know your house sitter

It’s important to get to know your potential house sitter. This can be done over the phone of even better by inviting them to come to your home for a meeting. Be sure to check your sitters background by asking for references and or a police check.

If you have pets, be mindful of the prospective sitter’s relationship with your pet. If the sitter makes you feel comfortable and you can see the bond between pet and babysitter developing, then you are on the right track.

Clarify your expectations

Your first meeting with a prospective pet sitter is important because you need to be clear about your expectations as a home and pet owner:

Life-in or commute

Sometimes homeowners want their house sitter to stay home all day. There are other places where the sitter can come by twice a day, check the house, do some cleaning and maintenance, feed the pets, spend a little time with them, and that’s it. Make it clear from the start if you want your sitter to be live in or commute.

Pay

Most pet & house sitter are happy to get free accommodation in return for looking after your pets and home. If you would like to reimburse them for their time, feel free to do so and discuss this right from the beginning.

Rules

Make your pet and house sitter clear on house rules to avoid confusion later on.

Educate your house sitter

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to educate your sitter on how to feed and care for your pet/s. For example, when to feed what and where to feed. Here are some examples of the type of information you should provide to your pet sitter:

Feeding: Provide your sitter with detailed feeding instructions, i.e. when do you usually feed your pet, where does the food go, should your sitter wait while your pet eats and then wash the dishes?

Medications: If your pet takes special medications, be sure to tell your sitter about the medication, where the medication is stored, the dosage, and how it will be administered.

Exercise: Provide full instructions on how to exercise your pet.

Household tasks: Provide full details of chores such as how often they need to clean the floors, mow the lawn, clean the pool, whether they answer the phone, whether they can get your mail, etc.

Contact information

Whilst you are away, it is best to leave your contact details with your sitter, telling your sitter the following:

Your whereabouts: Always provide your sitter with your contact information, including hotel name, your mobile number, etc.

Local Contact: You must provide your sitter with a local contact number in case he/she cannot reach you in an emergency. The local contact can be a neighbor, relative or friend.

Have peace of mind

If you follow the guidelines above, you won’t have to worry about your home and pets when you’re out and about. Planning a holiday and need a pet and house sitter? List your assignment on Oz House Sitters. It’s FREE!