Preparing Your Home Before a House Sit: What You Really Need to Do
The quality of a house sit depends as much on the owner's preparation as on the house sitter's quality.
An excellent house sitter with vague instructions will improvise. And improvisation in an unfamiliar home with unfamiliar pets yields random results.
Here's what makes the difference.
The Home Guide: Really Do It
The home guide on Guardiens is structured so you don't forget anything. Fill it out completely before each sit, not in 10 minutes the day before you leave.
Sections that are really lacking when they're empty:
Equipment:
Location of the electrical panel, the main water shut-off valve, the boiler. Restart instructions if the boiler has a specific procedure. Alarm code if you have one.
Pets:
Exact ration in grams or measures. Not "a handful," a precise measurement. Meal times. Medications with dosage and administration time. Normal behaviors and warning signs.
Contacts:
Your usual veterinarian with address and number. Local emergency veterinarian number. A trusted person. Trusted tradesmen if your house is old.
Your Contactable Number:
Even if you're going abroad, your house sitter must be able to reach you within a maximum of 30 minutes.
Security: What Is Always Forgotten
Access:
Test the key with the house sitter when you hand it over. Not on the evening of your departure when you have your suitcases in hand.
Alarm:
If you have an alarm, make sure the house sitter knows how to deactivate and reactivate it. Test it in their presence.
Exterior Access:
Gate, garden shed, technical room. The house sitter must have access to everything they might need in an emergency.
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Pets: Critical Information
What house sitters miss the most:
Normal vs. abnormal behaviors. "My dog eats little the first evening when I leave, that's normal" is information that prevents a panicked call at 11 PM on the first night.
Medical specificities. If your cat has a heart murmur and takes a daily tablet, the house sitter must have this information in writing, not just verbally mentioned.
Stress triggers. Is your dog reactive to bikes? Does your cat hate loud noises? The house sitter must know this before discovering it during the sit.
What You Can Leave for the House Sitter
It's not mandatory, but house sitters sincerely appreciate:
- Some basic kitchen products (coffee, tea, pasta)
- A handwritten welcome note
- Recommendations for restaurants or local spots
- Information about local people (those who can help, those to avoid)
It's not a hotel, it's your home. A house sitter who feels welcomed will take better care of your space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing for a House Sit
How much time does it take to properly prepare your home before a house sit?
Allow 2 to 3 hours to correctly fill out the home guide and prepare everything the house sitter needs. Don't do it the day before; do it a week in advance to have time to answer the house sitter's questions.
What information is essential to provide to the house sitter?
The location of the electrical panel, the main water shut-off valve, and the boiler. The exact routine of your pets (meals, potty breaks, medications). Emergency contacts: veterinarian, a trusted person, plumber. And the Wi-Fi code.
Should I meet the house sitter before I leave?
Yes, ideally 1 to 2 weeks before, not the day before. This meeting allows your pets to approve the house sitter in your presence, and for the house sitter to visit the house without departure stress.
How can I ensure my pets are well cared for during my absence?
Write down their routine: exact grams of food, outing times, usual behaviors, warning signs. The more precise it is, the less the house sitter improvises. Improvisation in an unfamiliar home yields random results.
What if I forget something important after I've left?
Contact your house sitter directly via the Guardiens messaging system. House sitters are selected for their proximity; in case of an urgent material oversight, they can also contact a local community member or the appropriate emergency service.
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