Organized Living

HIRING A HOUSESITTER?
FOLLOW THIS 7-POINT CHECKLIST

Sometimes, instead of stopping the mail and boarding the pets, it’s easier to have someone stay in your home while you go away on business or vacation. Your home looks occupied, your pets’ routines aren’t disrupted and someone is on the premises to take action in the unlikely event that a problem occurs.

Assuming you have found someone trustworthy with solid references to take on the responsibility of housesitting, here are some tips to ensure a smooth experience for them and peace of mind for you during your absence:

1. Make a master list that puts all important phone numbers at your sitter’s fingertips. That would include, of course, your cell phone number as well as the phone number and location of the place(s) you will be staying. But don’t forget numbers like the vet, the local non-emergency police line, at least one neighbor that could be called upon in a minor emergency or to answer questions, and the numbers of your plumber, electrician, heating and air conditioning service providers, and cable/wireless providers.
   
   
2. If the house sitter’s responsibilities include taking care of pets and plants, write down detailed instructions as to how much food and water each one gets, how often and at what time of day. If you have bird feeders, don’t forget to leave extra seed. Put food, medicine, etc, in a place that is easy to find and access.
   
   
3. Place a large basket by the inside of the door for the house sitter to deposit mail. Decide whether or not you want newspapers saved during your absence. If so, provide another basket for those. If not, show your house sitter where and how to recycle them.
   
   
4. Indicate the days of the week that the house sitter might expect service providers to show up. Obviously, they’ll need to know when to put out the garbage and recyclables. But they might also appreciate knowing, for example, if and when someone will be coming to mow the lawn, clean the pool or spray for bugs, unless the house sitter is being paid to do those chores. Either way, be clear with instructions.
   
   
5. Decide upon set parameters on guests, smoking, other pets, rooms or equipment you do not want used in your absence, etc.  Put it in writing to avoid any possible misunderstanding and save everyone heartache.
   
   
6. Leave notes about quirks in the house they should know about. “Jiggle the handle and it works fine” or “The door must be shut tight for it to lock properly” are two examples.
   
   
7. Leave a supply of fresh towels and toiletries in the bedroom your house sitter will be sleeping in. Make sure outdoor lighting is in good working order. If you have an alarm system, write down how it works to avoid unnecessary alarming calls from the police.
   
   
8. Agree upon payment terms ahead of time. You may wish to leave complete payment for them before you leave, or pay half of the agreed amount prior to your departure and the other half upon your return. Cash is almost always preferred over a check.