If you are planning a trip away from home, whether long or short you may need a housesitter. Perhaps you have pets, or a garden that needs tending or a property to keep occupied, read this blog. In this article we offer you some top tips on what to include in a housesitter’s checklist.

If you are a member of Housesitmatch.com we offer a template for this housesitters checklist briefing document to download. Check the Resources section accessible to all in the network.

What to include in a housesitter’s checklist

Whatever your trip whether it is a short week work trip or a long holiday you might need a housesitter. A housesitter is someone who is able to care for the house, water the plants and care for any pets. They will ensre that the home is lived in because often if a house is very empty, it is vulnerable.

Whether you found a sitter on a housesitting platform or hired one from a service you need a brief.  You might be ask a good friend who knows your property and pets to check in. However, you still need to leave a housesitter’s checklist. This list will show them what they need to do and things to look out for. It is important to note what you should include on a housesitter’s checklist. Read on to learn more.

1.    How to care for pets or any living things

Whether you have a few plants sitting on the windowsill, or some pets to care for you need to prepare. It is especially important to think about how to brief your   house sitter. You want to ensure they keep your pets and plants alive. So make sure to give detailed lists for each responsibility. Describe how much to water your plants if they need feeding.  You also need to describe when to feed the animals. Include any other general information that they will need. On your return, you can be confident that the living things that you left in your home will be fine. They will be ashealthy as when you left!

2.    Any time sensitive information

While you are away you might be expecting someone to come over to drop off a package. Also it might happen that the only time a repairman can visit is when you stepped out of the home. So make sure to write down any time sensitive information. This is important because your housesitter might need to know is happening in your absence.

Additionally, if they need any directions (such as ‘bring the package inside or the repairman should be done at seven’) make sure to write those down too.

3.    Make sure they know how to manage your home security system

If your home has a security system, even if it is a minor system that raises an alert, then you probably remember all of the countless times where you accidentally triggered it. Since you don’t want your housesitter to deal with a security system that they know nothing about, make sure to give them all the details that they need to handle the system.

Let them know any security codes, shut off switches, and anything else they need to do to manage your security code and also turn your system off if it gets triggered. Additionally, you might want to write down anything that might accidentally trigger the code.

Finally, make sure to teach them all about how to reset the home security system if there is a false alarm or a power outage or something else happens. Additionally, if you need to show your housesitter your access control systems, then you can show them all LiftMaster items you need before you leave.

Teach your housesitter what they need to know about your security system, and you will find fewer problems happen overall.

Prepare some emergency contact numbers

Of course, no matter how good your list is, something could still happen to your home and your housesitter might need to contact you. So make sure to list an emergency number where you can be reached without a lot of delays, and make sure to keep your phone nearby in case of a serious emergency.

Then you know that if the phone doesn’t ring, then everything is fine. However, if it does ring you can get to it and fix the serious problem.

Final thoughts on the housesitters checklist.

Once you have prepared your housesitters checklist or briefing document make a note of any feedback. It might be useful to keep the document and update it with any specifics that are mentioned by the housesitter.

Help when looking for housesitters – In summary

So if you are planning a trip and you need housesitters to keep your home, property and pets safe and well cared for in your absence look no further. We can help you at Housesitmatch.com.  We specialise in helping homeowners when they are looking for housesitters, to find the best possible match for their needs. So join us soon and we’ll help you to get started.

JOIN HOUSESIT MATCH TODAY

Further reading about housesitters

At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.

Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money

What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities

Preparing a home for a house or pet sitter