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A Pet Parent’s Guide to Hosting House Sitters You Trust

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.

Use my Referral Code to save 25% off of the first year for your TrustedHousesitters subscription! https://bit.ly/THSkristi

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


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My 2025 Reading List

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I love tracking what I read each year as a reference for myself and others.

These posts are part personal record, part recommendation list, and part gentle nudge—for me and for you—that learning doesn’t have to stop when school does.​

My 2025 reading list reflects the kind of year it was: a mix of business and finance books to support my transition back to full-time self-employment, faith-focused themes to anchor me, and some just-for-fun reads to balance things out.

This year, there was a lot more fiction in the mix because my girlfriends in Nashville started a book club. I tend to gravitate toward books that help me grow, stretch, and see the world a little differently, so I usually lean much heavily toward non-fiction, but it was a way to stay engaged with them while traveling, so that’s a bonus.

Below you’ll find the full list of what I read in 2025, with links if you want to check any of them out for yourself.

What should I add to my list for 2026?

________________________________________________________________________

Need more reading suggestions?

2021 and 2022 Reading Lists

2020 Reading List

2019 Reading List

2018 Reading List

2017 Reading List

2016 Reading List

2015 Reading List

2014 Reading List

2013 Reading List

2012 Reading List

2011 Reading List


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My 2025 Word for the Year Recap

Me (in the circle) at the Charlottetown harbor of Prince Edward Island, June 2025

SIGNIFY was more than my word for 2025; it was both a business name and a compass, reminding me to “make known” what matters most and to live like my life and work are truly important.

Why “Signify” Mattered

Signify has always meant “to make known,” “to be important,” and “to be a symbol of,” which is exactly why I chose it for my business in the first place.

This year, it also became a filter, asking me: Does this choice signify what I value, and is it pointing me toward the life I really want to build?

Work That Signified

My biggest goal for 2025 was returning to full-time self-employment, while shifting my role with Vector Global Logistics to a non-salaried relationship that lent itself to more boundaries.

That change freed up energy to focus on growing Signify again, especially supporting the people and causes that have always been at the heart of my work. I brought on several new clients—including a long-time friend—and it felt incredibly fulfilling to help them succeed in fresh, meaningful ways.

Stepping Into Impact

For the past 18 months or so, I have worked closely with a business coach who helped me prepare mentally and practically for this transition. That preparation made it possible to pivot my services from marketing (a skill I’m grateful for, but not my deepest passion) into Fractional Chief Impact Officer work.

“Fractional” is essentially the newest term for a dedicated contractor who is part of the team but outside the company, bringing specialized expertise to multiple clients. A Chief Impact Officer focuses on the social and environmental impact of an organization, paying attention to both internal and external stakeholders, which is a role I explain more on my company site and now fully inhabit with Vector as well.

Stepping out of Chief Marketing Officer into Fractional Chief Impact Officer at Vector has allowed me to concentrate on the things that light me up—our B Corp Certification, Logistics With Purpose®, charitable giving, emergency response, and other impact-driven projects.

Travel That Meant Something

Travel looked different under the banner of SIGNIFY. After two years of criss-crossing the country, I knew my body—and my chronic health—needed a gentler pace, so I prioritized pet sits of at least three weeks, ideally four or more. That slower rhythm worked beautifully.

I spent over three months in Eastern Canada, where my best friend Heather joined me on Prince Edward Island so we could live out our Anne of Green Gables dreams, and Newfoundland quickly became a new favorite, especially seeing the icebergs up close.

Another large chunk of the year was spent in New England, which continues to charm me with its quaint towns, colonial names, and chilly weather that I truly don’t mind.

There is already exciting travel on the books for 2026, but that story will have to wait. (Follow me on Instagram to see where I go!)

Learning, Community, and Faith

Learning-wise, 2025 was a year of money, finance, and investing—three words that once felt far outside my comfort zone. Near the end of 2024, I read Rich Dad Poor Dad at my coach’s suggestion, and one idea hit hard: I needed to learn how to steward money myself rather than depending entirely on others for financial security.

That insight nudged me into a Dow Janes course, drawn in by their emphasis on values-driven investing, and from there I kept following a trail of resources that helped me feel more informed and empowered. I still have a long road ahead, especially when it comes to long-term planning, but it was a significant step forward.

On the community side, my girlfriends in the Nashville area started a book club. Even though I couldn’t be there in person, I read along from afar and joined the conversation by text. I didn’t always love their picks, but the shared experience helped us stay connected across the miles.

And, spiritually, SIGNIFY called me to my faith in small but meaningful ways. One was that I was able to visit The Ark Encounter on my travels north. That helped me set a great tone for the year. It is an incredible place, and super helpful to visualize things I’ve read in the Bible. Another simple shift was investing in the Abide app, listening to scripture and stories as I fell asleep.

Over time, I’ve learned that simple, consistent practices often carry the most weight, and I tried to let that truth signify my priorities across different parts of my life.

Five Resources to Find Your Word

Read for your own Word of the Year? Here are five resources to help you find it:


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My 2024 Word for the Year Recap

ENGAGE was the word that steadily followed me through 2024—showing up not just as a theme, but as an invitation to lean all the way into my life, work, spirituality, and travels.

Why I Chose “Engage”

I tend to pick verbs for my words of the year, and ENGAGE felt like the natural next step after a 2023 focused on “Go and Grow.”

In fact, during a Logistics With Purpose® podcast interview that I co-hosted featuring author and speaker Sam Horn (listen here), she used the word “engage,” and it immediately sparked for me—because so much of her story around solo travel and purposeful living mirrored my own.

I realized I didn’t just want to keep moving through life; I wanted to participate in it more fully.​

Engaging With Travel

2024 was my second year of full-time travel, and ENGAGE meant being present in new places, not just passing through them.

Like 2023, I went coast to coast again in the US, but also finally made it to Canada for the first time, and—after a lifetime of dreaming—checked a huge bucket list item off by going to the Paris Olympics with my friend Julie. I’d originally applied to volunteer, but when that didn’t work, I had the ability to attend in person, and it was everything I’d ever hoped.

Seeing the Games in person felt like stepping inside a story I’ve watched unfold on TV my whole life. Not to mention seeing them in Paris. It was just magic all-around.

Engaging With Work and Impact

On the work front, ENGAGE looked like re-immersing myself in my own business at www.signify.solutions, taking on more client projects and reconnecting with the heart behind their causes. Client work picked up, and it felt good to roll up my sleeves and be in the trenches again with mission-driven organizations.

At the same time, I continued my part-time role with Vector Global Logistics as Chief Marketing Officer as well as head of giving and impact, and the biggest highlight of my career with them was helping Vector earn our B Corp Certification—no small feat I assure you, and one that now places us among a very small number of certified freight forwarders worldwide.​

Engaging Spiritually and Personally

ENGAGE also showed up in quieter ways: in my spiritual life, relationships, and the way I approached everyday decisions. I admit, sometimes ENGAGE felt exhausting. But remembering the reason why helped me to reframe experiences and choose those that felt most fulfilling in my life.

Finally, unlike most years, I never landed on a single song or scripture to anchor this theme, and that’s okay; it felt like a year to live the word more than label it. Maybe 2025 will bring a new soundtrack and verse to match whatever comes next.

Five Resources to Find Your Word

If you’re interested in finding your own word for the year, here are a few great resources:

  • One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page – A simple, faith-informed framework to help you narrow your focus to one guiding word for the year.​
  • Mountain Modern Life’s “Tips for Choosing Your Word of the Year” – A practical, reflective blog post full of prompts and examples if you feel stuck.​
  • Your favorite Bible app’s verse-of-the-day feature – A gentle daily rhythm that can surface themes or phrases that keep resonating with you.​
  • Dayspring Word of the Year Quiz – A short, reflective quiz that suggests a word based on your hopes, prayers, and priorities for the year ahead.​
  • A trusted friend or therapist – Sometimes the people who know you best can reflect back the word you’ve been circling around but haven’t yet named.
  • Thesaurus.com or AI – If you have a concept but haven’t yet narrowed it down, Thesaurus.com or an AI tool like ChatGPT or Perplexity can help you get to the heart of what you’re trying to express.


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Travel the World—Stay for Free

Me at Bryce Canyon National Park

Greetings from Utah!

If you’ve been following me on Instagram for the past year and a half, you’ve seen me from a number of different locations:

  • New Hampshire
  • Pennsylvania
  • Vermont
  • Massachusetts
  • Maine
  • Tennessee
  • Georgia
  • Colorado
  • Utah
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Arizona
  • New Mexico
  • British Columbia, Canada
  • and more!

That’s because I gave up my apartment in November 2023 and hit the road full time. I desperately needed a change of scenery and my new lifestyle fits the bill. New locations, new perspective.

But I get asked all the time HOW I am able to travel full time, and the answer is: www.trustedhousesitters.com.

Yep, I’m housesitting—and often petsitting!

Through this new lifestyle, I’ve visited places that I’ve always wanted to see and also places I’d never heard of. I’ve experienced:

  • The beauty of a rainbow over the Grand Canyon
  • Rapid City, South Dakota, during the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
  • The coldest temps of my life (-12 F) in Evergreen, Colorado
  • The magic of Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia
  • The taste of ice cream right off the line at Ben & Jerry’s first factory
  • The Wizard of Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas
  • and so, so much more.

Curious about TrustedHousesitters? Here’s the breakdown of this wonderful community that I’ve been a part of since 2017.

Q: Do you get paid?

A: Nope. I stay in people’s houses for free in exchange for caring for their home and/or pets. Similar services where you get paid are usually built for finding someone local. If you want to stray outside your area, it can be hard to find gigs because they aren’t built to search in that way (from my experience). On the other hand, TrustedHousesitters was built specifically for people who love to travel. And it is a worldwide service!

And though I don’t get “paid” for this service, I am often given gifts, groceries, experiences, gift cards, and sometimes even cash.

Q: How long are the stays?

A: They can be anywhere from one night to months and months. Pre-pandemic, the stays I had were just a few days up to about 10 days, like a regular vacation. So, they work with anyone’s schedule.

But because I gave up my apartment and am technically without a home—and can work from anywhere—I’ve been choosing longer stays. I was in New Hampshire for five weeks, Cape Cod for four weeks, Colorado for seven weeks, and Washington for a month. But I’ve done many shorter stays as well, especially if it’s to get to a place I’ve been wanting to visit.

In between stays, I have home bases in Atlanta and Nashville with friends. Other than that, it’s Airbnb or a hotel if I’m not near a friend or family member or am on my way to my next stay.

Q: Does it cost to participate?

A: Yes, but the fee is nominal. To simply be a sitter or a host, the cost is $129-$259. To be both, the cost is $189-$319. So, basically, you’re talking the equivalent of just a night or two in a hotel.

>> BUT with my referral link, you can save 25%. Just click here to take advantage of it.

You’ll renew each year—and, hopefully, be glad you did.

Q: What’s the process?

A: After filling out your profile, it’s kind of like a job interview. You apply to a sit that you’re interested in and after getting a few, hosts will interview everyone to see who is the best fit.

And if you’re a pet owner, you upload pics and fill out your profile in such a way to entice people to come to your place. You’ll receive applications and interview people to see who you’d like to keep your pets.

Q: What kind of pets can you choose from?

A: There is everything across the board: from dogs to cats to entire farms to reptiles. You choose based on your experience and comfort level, and how well you can meet their requests or requirements. Again, just like a job. And sometimes people don’t have any pets but don’t want their house to sit empty or have plants that need to be watered.

Q: What about safety and security?

A: Yes, there’s an element of risk, but really, when isn’t there these days? For yourself, you can add a background check so hosts feel more comfortable. And as hosts and sitters, you review each other so you can hear about others’ experiences.

But that’s the gist of www.trustedhousesitters.com! Pretty easy and straightforward. I’ve certainly enjoyed it in the past and am grateful to be a part of it.

So, what do you say? Want to travel the world and stay for free?

MY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

And now you can see why my Prius is full! 🙂

*updated June 2024