Hi @CANCAN welcome to our community forum and to TrustedHousesitters it’s great to hear that you have confirmed your first sitters and it is a learning curve in the beginning.
There are many great articles on the website blog to help steer you through this first experience, like this one 10 questions to ask before your sitter arrives | TrustedHousesitters.com
Other more experienced community members will pass on their help and advice and there are many conversations on the forum around first sit experiences for sitters and owners, it’s always worth knowing this arrangement from the other side too.
When asking yourself the how, what or why, put yourself in the sitters “shoes” what would make you feel both welcome and comfortable for instance, have you provided enough information for them to know all they need to know about your pet’s needs, your expectations and your home, the welcome guide is their go to reference.
As far as how you manage the sit, this is an equal exchange arrangement and as long as everything is clear and agreed from the start then it will be a successful experience for everyone, especially your pets who are getting their very own, one to one companions.
We cannot stress enough the importance of good communication between you and your sitter so that you are all on the same page with expectations and arrangements …
Feel free to ask questions and do explore the forum …
Have a wonderful trip and welcome again.
Angela & The Team