If the idea of inviting a stranger into your home to watch your pets makes your palms sweat, you are not weird. You are normal.
At the time of this writing, I have been pet sitting full-time for three and a half years through TrustedHousesitters, and a member of their community since 2017. In that time, I have stayed in all kinds of homes, in all kinds of places, with all kinds of pets, and I have seen what helps nervous pet parents relax and what makes everyone more anxious than they need to be.
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Does this sound familiar?
A lot of my friends love the idea of house sitters, right up until they remember it involves a stranger sleeping in their house and snuggling their pets. If that is you, this post is for you.
Think of this as a simple “before, during, and after” guide so you can feel better about your decision and actually enjoy your time away.
Before the Pet Sit: Creating Your Profile and Setting Expectations
My biggest piece of advice: Treat your listing like a sales page
Your profile is not just a form to get through. You are “selling” three things to potential sitters: your home, your location, and your pets. The more clearly you describe each, the more likely you are to attract people who are genuinely excited to be there.
Photos matter just as much as words. Include plenty of photos that show:
- The bedroom and bathroom they will use.
- The kitchen and any shared living spaces.
- The yard or outdoor space.
- Clear, well‑lit photos of each pet where you can see their faces and personality.
As a full‑time sitter, if I open a listing and see two vague sentences and one blurry photo, I do not give it a second look. I just keep scrolling. Good sitters want to know what they are walking into, so details and photos are your friend.
In your introduction, consider including:
- A short intro about you, your pets, and why you are using house sitting instead of traditional boarding.
- Something personal like hobbies or interests.
- If it is true, a note that friends or family have watched your pets before, or that a friend referred you to the platform, especially if you do not have reviews yet.
In TrustedHousesitters, your “Home and Location” section is key, in my opinion. I think these are great additions:
- The type of home and the size of the bed in the room they will use.
- Which spaces they will have access to, like “full access to the first floor and laundry room upstairs.”
- Parking details and how close you are to grocery stores, trails, restaurants, and local attractions.
- The distance to any “headline” city (for example, “45 minutes to Nashville”) plus what is fun about your actual town, so it feels like a charming small‑town bonus, not a consolation prize.
- Access to airports or main roads, depending on how people may arrive.
- A clear note if there is no nearby public transit and they will need their own car. (Some hosts let sitters use their cars. This is a matter of personal preference. I’m currently writing this post from Alaska and the hosts are letting me use their car due to the remote setting.)
I would really beef up this section and spend time on it.
Also, be clear about boundaries, including locked rooms.
This is your home and your pets. You are allowed to be as picky as you want. Clear boundaries help the right sitters feel more comfortable, not less.
Just like an Airbnb, you are welcome to lock doors to any rooms you do not want the sitter in. That might be a home office, storage room, guest room, or the closet where you keep holiday decorations and the mysterious box of old cables. If locking a couple of doors helps you relax, do it. Sitters are not offended; they usually appreciate knowing exactly what is and is not for their use.
In your listing and welcome information, spell out:
- Which rooms and spaces are for the sitter’s use.
- Any rooms that are off‑limits or that you keep locked.
- House rules like no meat in the house for vegan hosts, no parties, or no overnight guests.
- Noise expectations and any quirks like thin walls, early‑rising neighbors, or fussy HOA rules.
Being honest here helps filter in people who respect your space and are happy with what you are offering.
And, of course, your pets—let’s not forget your pets. Talk about how cute and amazing they are, their preferences, and why someone would love hanging out with them.
Create a detailed welcome guide
Do not rely on one conversation to transfer everything they need to know. People are busy, sitters are in a brand‑new environment, and details are easy to forget. Your welcome guide is essentially the “owner’s manual” for your home and pets.
Many services have templates, but helpful sections to include:
House basics.
- Wifi details.
- Trash and recycling days and where bins go.
- How to work the thermostat and any quirky appliances.
- Where you keep cleaning supplies, extra towels, and linens.
Pet care.
- Daily routines and feeding schedules.
- Walking routes and how often they go out.
- Any behavioral quirks or triggers, like fear of thunderstorms or reactivity on leash.
- Medications, dosages, and exactly how and when to give them.
- Your vet and preferred emergency vet, with phone numbers and addresses.
Safety and logistics.
- How to use keys, locks, and any alarm system.
- What counts as an “emergency” for you and when you want a phone call versus a message.
- Trusted neighbors’ names and numbers, if applicable.
Plants.
- Personally, I’m far more intimidated by watching people’s plants than I am their pets. Plants can’t tell you when they’re hungry. And the way you water your ficus isn’t the same way someone else does. Write out your care and preferences.
Yes, it will feel like you are writing a tiny novel about your pets, house, and plants. But your sitter will love you for it, and you will get fewer “Wait, how do I…?” questions when you are already in vacation mode.
During the Pet Sit: Sitter Arrival, Routines, and Communication
Interview like you are hiring a nanny for your pet.
Especially if you are new to the service or platform, treat this like hiring a babysitter or nanny, not just clicking “accept.” Whenever possible, schedule a video call so you can see each other’s faces and pick up on tone and body language. You want to get a good feel for this person.
When you chat, do not be afraid to ask about specific things in their profile or application that caught your eye. If they mentioned they “love senior dogs” or “work nights,” ask what that actually looks like in real life. You are not being nosy, you are making sure your pets’ normal routine works with their normal routine.
Good questions to ask:
- About them.
- What do you do when you are not house sitting?
- Why do you enjoy house and pet sitting?
- What kinds of homes or environments you feel most comfortable in?
About their experience:
- What kinds of pets and breeds you have cared for before?
- How do you handle it if a pet seems sick or “off”?
- Have you ever had a sit go wrong and what you did in that situation?
About their daily rhythm:
- How much time you expect to be out of the house on a typical day.
- Whether you are working remotely during the sit.
- How you feel about early mornings or late‑night routines.
If you are retired or work from home and your pet is used to someone being around a lot, mention that in your listing and on the call. It helps you find sitters whose lifestyle is a closer match and better for your pet. (This is also helpful to include upfront in your listing if it’s really important to you.)
Also, let them know roughly how far away you will be and how reachable you will be. For example, “We will be on the West Coast, but I will check messages every few hours,” or “We will be in Europe, so there is a time difference, but I will check in daily.” That sets expectations around response times and reassures them they are not alone if something comes up.
IMPORTANT: If it does not feel right after the interview, trust your gut and do not select the person. You are not obligated to say yes to anyone. It is better to wait for a better fit than spend your entire trip worrying.
Decide how much interaction you want around arrival.
Hosts vary widely in how much in‑person interaction they want with sitters, and that is completely fine. You get to decide what works for you.
You might:
- Keep it minimal—Do a video call in advance and then arrange key handover without meeting in person. This can suit very private or introverted hosts, especially for shorter sits.
- Aim for a quick overlap—Have the sitter arrive a little early on departure day for a short tour and to meet the pets.
- Go for a longer handoff—Invite the sitter to come the evening before, share dinner, walk through routines together, and have plenty of time for questions.
All of these options are valid. The important thing is to decide your comfort level ahead of time and communicate it clearly in your messages.
Set communication expectations from the start.
Communication preferences are very individual, but the key is to agree on them before the sit begins. Some pet parents want daily photos and updates. Others prefer to hear from their sitter every few days unless something is wrong. There is no right or wrong, but there are mismatched expectations.
Consider sharing how often you would like updates:
- Daily updates and photos.
- Every few days.
- Only if something is wrong or the sitter has a question.
Your preferred channel.
- Messages through the platform.
- Text.
- WhatsApp or similar.
On my longer sits, I usually start with daily updates and photos for the first week so everyone feels comfortable. Once we are in a good rhythm and nothing unusual is going on, I naturally space updates out to every other day and then every few days. You can ask your sitter to follow a similar pattern, or set whatever schedule will help you relax.
Ask your sitter what they prefer as well, and agree on a plan that works for both of you.
Gifts and little touches that make sitters feel welcome.
Because these stays are usually an exchange and not a paid job, at least with TrustedHousesitters, many hosts like to leave a small “welcome” or “thank‑you” for their sitters while they are there. It is never required, but it is nice and appreciated.
Ideas you might consider:
- A handwritten note and some local treats.
- A small gift card to a nearby coffee shop or bakery.
- A bottle of wine or their favorite type of snack, if you know it or want to ask.
- A few groceries in the fridge so they are not arriving to a totally empty kitchen.
- A dinner with them on the night of their arrival
You do not need to go overboard. The message is simply, “We are glad you are here and we appreciate you being with our pets.”
After the Pet Sit: Reviews, Gratitude, and Getting Ready for Next Time
Leave a thoughtful review to support your sitter and the community.
Reviews are not just a nice‑to‑have. They are how you help future pet parents make good decisions and how you support sitters who cared well for your animals and home. They are the trust‑building layer that keeps communities like this working.
Try to write more than a quick “Thanks!” and two sentences. A detailed, honest review helps your sitter get future opportunities and gives other pet parents real information to work with. You might mention:
- What your pets were like when you returned.
- How the house looked and whether they left it clean and tidy.
- Anything they did that went above and beyond, like extra cleaning, thoughtful gestures, or special care for your pets.
Future‑you, nervously reading reviews at midnight before your next trip, will thank you for this level of detail.
Say thank you in a way that fits you.
If you left a small gift at the start, you may feel complete here. If not, a simple “thank you” message after you return can go a long way, especially if you mention specific things they did well.
If you want to take it a step further, you might:
- Offer to be a reference for them if other hosts have questions.
- Invite them back for a future sit if it was a great match.
Refine your listing for next time
Each sit will teach you something about what you care about, what you forgot to mention, or what you want to change. Instead of seeing that as a problem, treat it as useful feedback.
After a sit, ask yourself:
- Did anything confuse the sitter that you could clarify in your listing or welcome guide?
- Were there boundaries you wish you had set earlier, like locking a room or limiting certain spaces?
- Did your communication schedule feel right, or would you adjust it next time?
A few tweaks after each sit will make your profile stronger, your expectations clearer, and your future sits smoother.
Life with pets, people, and packed suitcases
Living this way has been one of the greatest joys of my life so far. Getting to know new people, falling for their pets, and calling lots of different places “home” for a little while at a time has been amazing.
I hope this guide makes the idea of welcoming a house sitter feel a little less scary and a lot more doable, so you and your pets can enjoy the benefits, too. And who knows—maybe one day I will be the sitter snuggling your furry family members while you are off on your next adventure.
Use my Referral Code to save 25% off of the first year for your TrustedHousesitters subscription!
https://bit.ly/THSkristi
Mental Post-Its 