House sitting etiquette - a guide for sitters

Starting out on your TrustedHousesitters journey? Exciting times! A world of unique travel adventures, cute pet companions, and a global community of like-minded pet people awaits you. 

For new sitters, there can be a lot to get your noggin’ around - from what exactly house sitting entails (pun most definitely intended) to how to prepare for a sit handover. Even for seasoned sitters, it can be difficult to know the right etiquette when it comes to house sitting - should you leave the owner you’re sitting for a ‘welcome home’ gift, for example? And who buys the loo roll?

There are a lot of questions - granted - but often nothing a little communication between you and the pet parent can’t solve. Still, to help you on your way, we’ve pulled together some of our members' most frequently asked questions on the topic - and shared the answers to them below. 

Should I replace items I use during a sit, such as paper towels or food items?

This is a great question to ask in the lead up to your house sit, and often, the answer will vary from sit to sit. 

In general, most pet parents are happy for you to use up any perishable items in the fridge (such as eggs, milk, or anything else leftover that would otherwise go bad), along with your basic items such as salt and pepper, herbs and spices, paper towels, and loo roll. It’s best to replace anything you may have used up in full, and while it isn’t necessary, it is a nice gesture to leave the pet parents with a few basic items for their return (such as bread or milk).

The key here is to have a good line of communication with the pet parent and make sure everyone is on the same page. We’d highly recommend taking a read of this thread posted in our community forum, where our lovely members have shared their own thoughts and feelings on the topic at hand. 

Should you leave the pet parent a ‘welcome home’ gift? 

Unsurprisingly, our forum members have also discussed this great question at length! Again, while it’s not necessary, leaving a welcome gift for the pet parent is definitely a nice touch. 

There’s no need to go OTT with it, either - a nice homecooked meal for the pet parent’s return (just check if they have any dietary requirements or allergies first!), a nice bottle of wine, or a box of chocolates is sure to go down a treat. 

Some of our sitters have even opted to leave the pet parent a lovely hand-drawn portrait of their pets, or a 'welcome home' card written from the POV of their animals. Don't worry - you don't need to be overly artistic or creative to make a good impression - simply leaving a note thanking them for choosing you as their sitter can help you to leave a great lasting impression, get that 5* review in the bag, and - who knows? Maybe even an invite for a future house sit! 

Should sitters pay for utilities?

With the cost of more or less everything on the rise, the question of who pays for utilities on a house sit is a topical one, for sure. 

As all our sits take place on a money-free, trust-based exchange, it’s rare for a pet parent to ask their sitter to contribute to utility bills. That said, it is a matter best discussed between the pet parent and the sitter - for example, if you have a particularly long-term house sit planned. If this is an arrangement that both parties are happy with, then it should be arranged, negotiated and agreed well before the sit is confirmed. 

Can I have someone stay in the home I am sitting?

In short, no - sitters aren’t allowed to have any third parties (such as a friend or family member) stay overnight or enter the pet parent’s home without their prior (and clear!) consent. 

Sometimes, our lovely sitters will look for sits in certain locations because it’s nearby where a family member lives, and they may want to ask the pet parent if it’s ok for them to pop round for a cup of tea. Other times, like over the holidays, a sitter may want to know if it’s ok for a friend to pop over for a festive or Thanksgiving dinner. 

In these cases, we’d recommend sitters start this conversation well before the sit is confirmed. While some owners are more than happy to accept these requests, others may not be as keen - it’s entirely down to personal preference, and it’s important to understand and respect the pet parent’s wishes. 

Trusted tip: planning to house sit as a couple, as a family, or with a friend? You can add anybody you plan to bring along on the ‘reg to your profile by heading to your member dashboard > edit my profile. 

Can I take my own pet on a sit?

Again, this is definitely a conversation to have with the pet parent before the sit is confirmed - better yet, include this on your sitter profile and in your application message. 

While it's not super common for sitters to bring along their own pets, some of our sitter members do pet sit with their own animals in tow - which is totally fine, as long as the pet parent is happy with this arrangement and has agreed to this in advance. We'd also recommend having the pets meet one another ahead of the sit start date!

What’s the cleaning protocol when leaving a house sit? 

Just as you’d expect to arrive at a home that’s clean and tidy, it's expected that sitters leave their house sit in the same condition they found it.

You can check out our sitter cleaning checklist here for more advice from our Head of Community and pet sitting pro, Angela Laws. 

Can I post pictures online from my house sit? 

Exploring the world and meeting cute pets along the way? It's only natural you'd want to share such a thing with the whole wide world! But there's so much to consider when sharing things online - after all, a simple selfie could (unintentionally) reveal all kinds of personal information. 

We've covered this question in much more detail on our blog on social media etiquette for house sitters, but the short answer is this: don't share anything that could give away personal information, such as the home's location or any of the pet parent’s possessions, and always check with the pet parent first!

Should I expect any kind of payment or a tip from my owner?

The beauty of TrustedHousesitters is that no money passes hands - the only thing that’s exchanged is loving in-home pet care and a cozy place to stay. So, pet parents shouldn’t offer money for pet sitting services, and likewise, sitters shouldn’t expect it. 

Of course, tipping is a slightly different conversation entirely, and some pet parents (particularly those new to our wonderful community) may ponder this. Again, pet parents aren’t expected to leave a tip for their sitters, and our sitters don’t expect one. 

Our forum members had some interesting takes on the topic - while many of our sitters said they wouldn’t expect (or accept) a monetary tip, they agreed that a small gift or ‘welcome hamper’ with a couple of goodies they can enjoy during their stay is a lovely way that pet parents can show their appreciation instead.

Should I keep pet parents updated?

Check with pet parents how much communication they’d like while you’re caring for their pets, but many enjoy daily updates on how their furry friend is getting on back home. Super sitter, Karen Schuppert, shares her thoughts on communication with pet parents, over on our community forum.

“To reassure pet parents while away, regular communication is key. I pride myself on taking and sharing photos of the furry ones, both inside and out of the home. I’ve cared for a wide variety of pets - donkeys, pigs, fish, chickens and a tortoise - so documenting their personalities becomes as much fun as the care itself.”

For more pet sitting tips from Karen, check out her blog.

Of course, we’ve only just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to house sitting etiquette! So, if you’re wondering about something that's not on our list or have another burning question you’d like to ask, remember you can always head on over to our friendly community forum. 

Made up of pet people like you, it’s a great place to go to chat with other members - both experienced and new - and ask for advice and support along your house sitting journey. 

Helpful resources

• How to become a dog sitter - local and international
• 10 tips on how to become a house sitter
• How to become a pet sitter without experience
• How to write the perfect house sitter profile