Originally posted on June 25, 2024 @ 8:43 am
Leaving your home in someone else’s hands can be nerve-wracking. But a responsible house sitter often means peace of mind while you’re away, ensuring your pets are cared for, your houseplants stay alive, and your home is secure. But with so many options, how do you find the right house sitter?
Here are 3 key tips to help you find the right house sitter.
Seek Personal Recommendations
If you want to get real insights into a house sitter’s reliability and trustworthiness, personal recommendations are your best bet. They offer firsthand experiences from people who’ve actually hired the housesitter, giving you a solid basis for decision-making.
Start by reaching out to your immediate network – friends, family, neighbors – who’ve hired housesitters before. Ask them specific questions about how the house sitter performed, whether they stuck to instructions, and how they handled communication. In fact, it’s also a good idea to consider joining local community groups or online forums where homeowners really share their thoughts and recommendations.
Meet Face-to-Face
Meeting potential house sitters in person is crucial. It gives you a chance to really assess whether they’re the right fit beyond what’s on paper or over the phone. Plus, it’s an opportunity to gauge their demeanor, professionalism, and how well they’d mesh with your home and pets.
Schedule an in-person meeting at a neutral spot, like a coffee shop or your place. Prepare a list of detailed questions covering all the bases – previous experience, emergency handling, pet care routines, house rules, you name it. Pay attention to how they carry themselves, communicate, and respond to your questions. This face-to-face really gives you a feel for whether they’re the one for the job.
Trial Period
Really, you want to make sure it’s a good fit before getting into a longer house sitting commitment. That’s where a trial period comes in handy. It’s a low-risk way for both parties to test the waters and ensure everyone’s on the same page.
So, agree on a timeframe for the trial – maybe a weekend or a few days – where the housesitter stays at your place and handles their duties. Lay out your expectations crystal clear – tasks to be done, house rules, emergency protocols, the whole nine yards. Keep the lines of communication wide open during the trial, and touch base regularly to give feedback and address any issues. At the end of it, chances are you’ll really know whether they’re the one you want for the job.
So, when you’re looking to find the right house sitter, it’s all about seeking personal recommendations, meeting candidates face-to-face, and giving a trial period a shot. By following these steps, chances are that you find a reliable and trustworthy house sitter who will take care of your home and pets while you’re away.