Entrusting your beloved home to a house sitter is never easy, especially if it’s your first time doing so. Whether you’re heading away for an important business trip or merely taking a vacation to relax, picking the right house sitter and setting the guidelines for how they should behave can be a complicated and stressful affair. Luckily, you can rely on these easy-to-remember tips to make the process as stress-free and successful as possible.
Don’t be afraid to put your foot down
Let’s face it – you probably don’t need to implement a ridiculously strict list of rules that necessitates your house sitter records every little thing they do when they’re on your property. Nonetheless, as a homeowner, you’re completely within your rights to set some guidelines that will help steer your house sitter’s behavior while they’re looking over your abode. Don’t be afraid to sometimes put your foot down, in other words. After you’ve established how to pick a trusty house sitter, then, you should set about writing them a brief list of notes that they can rely upon if they have any questions while you’re away. After all, no one wants to get an unnecessary call while they’re on a vacation if it can be avoided by writing down instructions beforehand.
First and foremost, you should establish a list of things that should absolutely never be touched, no matter what the circumstances may be. Barring any event except perhaps a fire or another tragedy that might cost you your beloved possessions, you should clearly identify which objects are completely off limits. Your medicine cabinet, your bedroom, a priceless work of art of a family heirloom – essentially anything that you consider deeply personal or too invaluable to be tampered with should go on this list.
After you’ve clearly marked certain things or rooms off limits, you should also help your house sitter out by reminding them what they can do. After all, you’re unlikely to find a house sitter who’s going to just sit still in a chair all day – human beings naturally like to move around, so don’t be afraid to remind them what they’re free to do. Few people would begrudge their house sitter the option to relax while watching the television, for instance, and no one can deny a house guest the right to use the restroom. Of course, it’s just important that you remind them that the place should remain tidy, and that if they make a mess, they should clean it up.
If you’re having a hard time figuring this process out, check out this handy checklist home owners should create beforehand to expedite the house-sitting process. Be sure to make your intentions about the kitchen very clear – some people are okay with the house sitter helping themselves to the food in the fridge, for instance, but germaphobes or people with special dietary needs or allergies may be different. It’s also perfectly okay to let them use your dishes or silverware, but it’s probably best to keep the safe china off limits – after all, a mistake that sees one of your expensive plates dropped on the floor could haunt you for weeks after the fact.
If your house sitter will be there for a while, for instance, if they’re in a cool city like Los Angeles, be sure to be a little more lenient with the rules. After all, that’s simply a part of the bargain for long-term stays. Giving them some clear space of their own to become cozy will ensure they don’t mess with your belongings, either. Above all else, strive hard to find a trustworthy sitter, make your rules clearly interpretable, and then put your faith in them and enjoy your time away from home.
