How to prepare your home for a house sitter
A practical checklist for pet owners — what to leave out, what to write down, and what nobody thinks of until the night before they leave.
Most of my house-sitting clients are, by nature, organized people. They make spreadsheets. They print itineraries. And they still, almost always, forget a few things the night before they leave. Here’s the checklist I wish every client had — broken into “stuff that matters” and “stuff that’s nice.”
The night before — stuff that matters
Food, where it lives. Show me the kibble bag, the wet food cans, the treats. If anything’s measured (e.g. “1 cup at 7am”), tell me in cups, not “their normal amount.” Leave a measuring cup in the bag.
Medications, on the counter. Pull every medication your pet takes out of wherever you store it and put it in one place — kitchen counter, hall table, wherever’s obvious. Even meds you administer “just in case” or “if needed.” A note on each one with name, dose, and frequency.
Vet info, on the fridge. Vet name, address, phone number, your pet’s name as it appears in their chart, and any account numbers if applicable. After-hours emergency vet too — for Lane County that’s usually Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Springfield, but write down your preference.
Your contact info. Your phone, your partner’s phone, your hotel or Airbnb if you’re traveling somewhere with spotty cell. Also: a backup contact in case neither of you can be reached — a sibling, a parent, a close friend. We hope I never call them, but it’s the kind of detail that matters at 11pm on a weird night.
House logistics. Garbage day, recycling day, mail handling, package handling. Where the breaker box is. Where the water shutoff is. Wifi password (very useful — I do work between visits and often during sits).
Keys, codes, lockboxes. Sorted before I arrive, not improvised at the last minute.
The night before — stuff that’s nice
**Your pet’s “person.” If your pet has a person they tolerate when you’re gone — a neighbor who’s done past sits, a kid down the street they like — let me know.
The bathroom thing. If your dog has a particular bathroom routine (“she will only pee in the back yard, never on a walk”), tell me. If your cat sometimes pees outside the box and there’s a spot to check, tell me.
The food thing. Picky pets often have a workaround you’ve figured out — “warm the wet food for ten seconds, mix in a tablespoon of bone broth, hide the pill in cream cheese.” Write it down. I’d rather follow the system you already invented than improvise.
The thing your pet’s scared of. Garbage trucks. The vacuum. The mailman. Children on scooters. So I know what to plan around.
A current photo of your pet with their name and any distinguishing features. (For lost-pet posters, in the very rare case it’s needed.)
The “if I’m home” rules. Are they allowed on the couch? In the bedroom? On the bed? Let me know — pets will absolutely test new boundaries with a new sitter, and I’d rather match your house rules than guess.
The day you leave
Walk through the house with me, briefly, if our schedules allow. Even if we already did a meet-and-greet, ten minutes with everything-where-you-left-it is gold. Show me where the spare leash lives. Show me the litter scoop. Show me the spot where the dog likes to sit.
Leave their favorite thing out. Toy, blanket, hoodie of yours that smells like home. Especially for the first 24 hours — it helps your pet settle.
Don’t act sad. I know it’s hard. But pets read your emotional state. A cheerful “see you soon!” lands much better than a tearful goodbye, even if it kills you to fake the cheer.
What I bring
Mostly nothing — I leave your house the way I find it. I bring my own toiletries, my own laptop, and food for myself. Your kitchen is yours. Your shampoo is yours. I’ll wash the sheets the day I leave.
If you’d rather I not use the kitchen at all, just say so. I’ll grab takeout. No drama.
What you’ll get from me while you’re gone
A photo and a short note every day. More if something fun happens. Sometimes less if your pet is just doing their thing — I don’t want to spam you with sleep photos every two hours.
If anything is wrong — appetite off, behavior off, anything that gives me pause — you’ll hear from me right away.
And finally
Try to enjoy your trip. Your pet is fine. I’ve got this.
— Sarah