I have used THS for a number of years and have generally been very happy with my sitters. But the last several sitters have eaten all the perishables and not replaced them before my return. It is disconcertiong to come home tired and bleary eyed and not have any milk, eggs, bread, vegetables or fruit. Should we not expect sitters to at least replace some of essential food items? Do I have to explicitly put this in the instructions for each sitter?
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In every one of our sits the HO has said help yourself to any perishables. Our response is always to say thanks and we will replace anything we use with fresh for your return. In each instance the HO has insisted that we don’t need to do that but we do anyway.
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I never expect sitters to stock my fridge when they leave, and I’d be uncomfortable putting that in the “instructions”. I don’t personally think it’s their responsibility, although it is always nice if they ask. Sitters often leave perishables but aside from extra eggs or an unopened container I’d rather the fridge just be empty and clean when I get home. We keep milk and bread in the freezer for our first day back.
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I don’t usually eat anyone else’s food, and certainly not without an explicit invitation. Usually, I throw away stuff that’s near spoiling. If food is still in good condition, I’ll put it in the freezer if it’s stuff that can take freezing. Like many fruits and vegetables can be thawed and used in smoothies or soup, if the host cares to use them later.
Personally, I have zero interest in cooking and tend to order delivery and don’t need anyone’s food or ingredients. I just want clean fridge and freezer space.
If a host wants some food for when they return, I suggest they say so. And don’t expect a sitter to pay for it unless they’ve essentially discussed welcoming food and departing food. Or if the sitter offers to treat.
Personally, depending on when hosts will return, I ask whether they’d like for me to take delivery of food they order at their expense or if they’d like for me to pick up a few things. Like I don’t mind springing for milk, bread, eggs and such, even if I’ve eaten nothing of theirs. That’s on top of leaving hygienic food and drink if I have some left from my stay, because I fly in for sits.
Depending on time and human connection, I sometimes invite hosts or they invite me for meals after our sit. For instance, I’ve followed sits with hotel stays and have dined with hosts after they’ve had a chance to decompress from their travels.
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If you want vegetables and fruit replaced, yes, you would have to tell me explicitly.
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IMO, no. If you’re leaving perishables, that’s your choice. Those items will either need to be used by the sitter, or disposed of by the sitter. It’s not the sitter’s responsibility to do a fresh grocery shop for you once they’re gone!
We arrange an online grocery delivery when we return from our travels. Perhaps that would be a good option for you too?
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When it comes to perishables, we are usually told to eat anything that would have gone bad by the time they returned. For the most part, I don’t feel the need to replace things that would have been thrown out otherwise. Though we do replenish milk if we have used it, in case they need it for morning coffee–don’t want them to have to make a trip out if they are tired from their travels. I would replace something like bread though since that can last a longer time.
Now if the trip was shorter, or if it is a type of perishable item that has a bit of a longer shelf life ,and these items would have stayed fresh until the HO returned, I would replace them if used.
When it comes to food, everyone is different. I have had HOs who insist we make ourselves at home food-wise and eat whatever we want, and don’t expect anything to be replaced, and I can tell they mean it. These are usually people who have stacked fridges and pantries and probably don’t even know half of what they have! But even in these cases, we are conservative about what we take, wouldn’t use anything that is very specialty or expensive, and will often replace certain items anyway.
Then we have people who explicitly ask us to replace anything we have used, unless it was almost empty. In these cases, we would only use things that can be easily replaced and aren’t too expensive.
If I were a HO, I probably wouldn’t ask a sitter to replace perishables that I wouldn’t be able to use anyway. But if these sits are shorter ,and the items would not go bad by the time you got back, then it isn’t unreasonable to ask that they replace them, if that is your preference.
If a HO wants anything used to be replaced, or only offers certain items to the sitter, that is perfectly fine and I think most sitters would honor those requests. While I appreciate when a HO is really generous about using food in the home, that is not something they are expected to provide the sitter, so I don’t take offense when the offerings are more limited to cooking basics,etc. or if they request we replace anything we use.
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It’s inconsiderate, and just like HOs get an email from THS about preparing the house, sitters get a similar email that mentions replacing stuff. Some of this may depend on where you are and how easy it is to get to a grocery store. Sometimes stuff might not have even been used, but because it’s perishable, the sitters might have thrown it away – so under those circumstances should they be buying you replacements?
There is not harm in mentioning in your Welcome Guide to please feel free to… but please replace … if you use it.
There is no harm, but I would be put off. If they would not have had a sitter, would the HO have taken their milk, bread, eggs etc with them? Cannot take fruit to California!
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To me, it is common courtesy to make sure Owners have at least milk, eggs, butter, and bread on return home.
If they left us fruit, I replace with the same fruit.
If they leave us vegetables that would go bad while the Owner is away, we try to use them up and might replace with something—i.e. scallions, spinach if it seems that is what the Owner tends to use.
If the Owner is returning from a trip and I know they will have jet lag, I always make sure there is enough food so they can make a simple meal or heat up some soup.
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I would look at Sitter reviews carefully. Not sure if I would put this in my listing or Welcome Guide. It sounds sort of petty. Maybe leave some cash with a note asking the Sitter to buy items for your return. Provide a list. “I would really appreciate it if you could stock my fridge with these items on my return. I really need milk for my coffee!!” At least this way, you have been clear, added some humor, and remove the disappointment of unmet expectations.
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As with so many issues, communication is the key: ask the sitter if they’d like any of these items, and explain (maybe in the welcome guide) what you’d like to find when you get home.
I would find it awkward if I was left things like bread and milk without being asked if I needed them - I have allergies, so anything like that which has been left as a kind gesture would probably have to be thrown out or frozen.
On my previous 2 sits I was left a fridge of nearly perished perishables which I couldn’t use and not much space for my own food, but I did make sure the HO in each case had fresh milk and bread to come home to.
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You are too good for the world.
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@lismac absolutely not - all that food would have just gone off. I just petsat for you for free covering all my own expenses - why do you need me to buy all your groceries?
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Ho usually leaves me with fruit eggs bread and milk cheese. I do the same for them if I can.
I don’t expect you to get ALL my groceries, I merely want a quart of milk and a little yogurt so I can have breakfast in the morning without having to go to the store. I figure if you eat my perishables it would be considerate to replace what you ate.
And BTW you got to use my home and all its amenities without having to pay either. It works both ways.
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@lismac all your perishables went off and went in the bin when you went on your holiday. Why make an assumption that sitters are tucking into some leftover nearly mouldy bits that you couldn’t finish?
Sitters have used the home because it was a requirement to fulfil the role of a petsitter. They don’t owe you groceries. The exchange aspect is pet care for accommodation.
Completely bizarre - and we sit full time - never heard of a HO demanding fresh yoghurt and eggs. What type of service do you think this is? Sitters aren’t your staff
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Please never assume and be clear. I’ve had so many pet parents tell me to eat whatever we want in the house. No replacement. They want us to feel comfortable. I even had one say, “we are so grateful you are here so that we can go on vacation. Help yourself to anything in the house” If they don’t say anything, we don’t touch their stuff but you cannot assume every sitter will do this. Last year on a sit, there was a bunch of food in the fridge. We didn’t touch it because the pet parent didn’t say anything. During one of our updates, we found out she had purchased that for us to eat but forgot to tell us. There’s all sorts of pet parents as well as sitters out there. I really hope that we get paired with ones who truly value us as guests instead of people trying to get a “free vacation” eating “all their food”
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I don’t eat the HOs food, although on almost every sit I’ve done I’ve been told to help myself to anything. I prefer to buy my own food. I will throw out perishables that have gone bad, but I don’t feel the need to replace things I didn’t use. Sometimes I ask if they’d like me to pick up anything for their return, but they’ve always said no need.
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@DianeS I’ve never even thought about making sure the pet parent had milk and bread to come home to. Your on another level. I’ll probably never do that but bravo!!
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I wouldn’t dream of asking a sitter to leave food for me. They’re in my home to care for my cats, they’re not housekeepers.
I worry the pet sitter will get bored and am grateful to come home to a house in the same state I left it, with happy cats.
If I’m to get home late, I’ll leave something in the freezer for breakfast until I can get to the shops.
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