What Food Do You Leave for Your House Sitters?

You hired your first house sitter and are nervous about preparing for them.

But you might be wondering if you need to leave food for the house sitter or not? f

You want them to be comfortable. You want this to be a positive experience.

It would be great if this house sitter would come back next time you need one!

A little common sense goes a long way, but there is a lot of helpful advice. Keep reading for tips to prepare for your house sitter.

Should You Buy Food For House Sitter?

You can buy food items for your pet sitter if you want. But they won’t mind if you don’t.

Many house sitters appreciate being allowed to help themselves to basic ingredients.

Maybe they want a homemade meal, but don’t want to buy spices to use just a dash. Let your sitters know that they can use your spices!

Many homeowners encourage sitters to use up anything in the fridge that might go bad. The sitter should eat it than to throw it out! If you don’t want them using up the entire fridge, be clear about that.

A thoughtful owner may leave them a lovely meal for the first night. Getting settled in can make it hard to eat a proper meal!

One other consideration is the closest supermarket. If it’s not close by, it may be difficult for the pet sitter to make a supermarket visit.

What Should I Stock For A House Sitter?

Basic foods and hygiene items are great to have for your sitters.

While most people will bring their toiletries, everyone forgets their shampoo sometimes.

You may want to let the sitter know to replace any basic items that they use up.

Make sure you’re stocked up on toilet paper and similar items. Nobody wants to realize they’re out of toilet paper at the last moment!

Pet owners should stock up on pet food and poop bags. Your pet sitter is not responsible for buying any pet supplies.

It is a good idea to leave some cash in case they may need to grab something for your furry friends.

Should You Buy Groceries For A House Sitter?

It is thoughtful to buy groceries for your sitter. However, most sitters do not expect it.

If they’ll only be there for a couple of days, you could stock up on a few essentials. If they’ll be there longer, then it would be nice to have some basic pantry items.

However, most professional house sitters will plan to buy their food during assignments.

If you want to be a hospitable homeowner, you could always leave a bottle of wine on the wine rack. Make sure to also leave a note that it’s a gift for them to enjoy!

If you want to have some food on hand, ask about dietary considerations. Maybe they have some restrictions or preferences. This will help if you choose to buy some groceries.

How Do I Prepare My House For A House Sitter?

Many lovely owners like to prepare their homes for their sitters. This helps to create positive experiences with sitters.

If you’re a quick getaway owner, it would be nice to have someone who likes coming to your home at the last minute! Providing them with a great experience will encourage them to return on short notice.

While you can research a friendly community forum for lots of ideas, we can summarize them for you.

Communicate clearly and provide a friendly experience. This allows full-time sitters to thrive. 

Create a house sitter checklist to ensure that everything goes smoothly. There are different types of house sitter checklists.

Make a list of everything you need to do ahead of time. Another list should detail everything the sitter may need. And another list can explain tasks that are expected of the sitter.

Make sure they have everything they need. They might need emergency contacts, alarm codes, and a wi-fi password.

Make sure your home is welcoming. You might have some dirty dishes, but make sure they’re not walking into a dirty home. Reliable house sitters will feel more comfortable in this environment.

Finally, make sure they understand your expectations. Leave them your contact info in case they have any questions or something goes wrong.

You might be nervous about your first house-sitting experience. Just remember that house sitters make up a wonderful community and most of them are amazing!

While your first encounter may just be a polite exchange, you can build a solid relationship. You might even find that this awesome sitter will help you out every time you travel!