Greetings All! We’ve booked our first sitter. We’re a little nervous, but we’re excited to be a part of this community.
Question. I’ve searched for tips on what makes a quality Welcome Guide, but haven’t found anything. Can anyone suggest an article? We want the sitter to have a great experience!
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Welcome to the forum! If you do a search of “Welcome Guide” on the forum, you’ll find other posts and tips, etc. related to the guide. Also, if you do a search for “Welcome Guide” on the THS main page, you’ll find more information on how to create the welcome guide.
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Good job making a great Welcome Guide!
If you have not already started to create it on the THS website, and you would rather use Word or Google Docs, you might do yourself a favor and use the THS Welcome Guide simply as a template, but create a pdf instead on Word or similar.
This is easier to print a hard copy to have on the kitchen table for the sitter. It is easy to send as an email to the sitter as soon as you have it done. It is easier to edit as you go along on this journey as a host.
It is always a good idea to get your sitter’s cell number and email address asap (and give them yours), so that communication is easier.
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One of our HO had the instructions for each pet printed and laminated. It was great when checking quantity of food, medication etc. It would be handy if you had lots of plants for a similar list. Think about all the things you need to know if you were unfamiliar with your home.
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Welcome to forum @MikeAustinTexas !
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By filling in all the sections you will have a great guide. You can make printed guide for the house using the online welcome guide format.
Add how often and what kinds of updates you would like to receive. Decide if you want to use text, what’s app, email.
Include what time zone you will be on.
Mention any quirks about the house.
You want the welcome guide to help the sitter be self sufficient while you are away and not need to contact you on your vacation.
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Welcome to the Forum @MikeAustinTexas 
I updated the title of your post to see if it attracts some more replies from our members!
You might find these Forum discussions interesting:
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I use a Word document as a WG. I’m happy to share mine with you. I’m also in Texas, BTW, but not Austin.
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Once your guide is complete, it’s a good idea to have a friend or family member read through it — ideally someone who’s not deeply familiar with your home. They’ll often catch things that might seem obvious to you but aren’t so clear to a stranger.
From my sitting experience, one of the most commonly overlooked sections in pet care guides is what to do in an emergency. Make sure you’ve included:
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Where to find the pet carrier
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Contact information and location of the nearest emergency or after-hours vet (often HOs leave ‘regular’ vet info but no info on what to do if the pet gets sick at 5:01 pm and the office is closed!)
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A clear note about whether you’ve left written authorization for treatment
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A payment method or plan in case urgent care is needed
Even short delays can make the difference between saving a pet and not — so clarity and preparedness here are essential.
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I’ve been growing my guide, which now consists of separate documents which are also shared digitally. (If sitters open my official welcome guide, they’ll see little informaiton and mostly: “See Google Document.”)
Recently I got a binder and sections. I don’t have it fully sub-sectioned off, but I like the Airbnb type binder with pockets. I don’t have great coupons or anything in the pockets, but I do have the laundry card clipped on as I live in an apartment with a communal laundry in the basement. The sections are: Home Guide and Care/ Cat Care/ and Neighborhood Stuff. A vet emergency authorization letter and payment info also goes in an envelope in a binder pocket.
I have a video house tour, and video feeding demo for cold handovers.
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Hi Lassie!
That would be great, thank you so much. What would be the best way to do that?
We’re new to this and really want to give our sitter all the info she needs to be successful!
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I second the idea of have a printed, laminated welcome guide for the sitter. I did 3 sits in the Austin area last Jan. Mention the stuff around, like the winery etc. All emergency stuff. I would suggest having an extra key hidden, unless you have a code lock. Since a post about a sitter locking themselves out was posted recently.
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We have the THS Welcome Guide plus a House Manual. The latter is pretty extensive and really too much for the THS Welcome Guide to handle. Effectively, our THS Welcome Guide serves as a key-points summary of the House Manual while the House Manual fleshes out the nitty gritty details like spa maintenance, water and power mains, hikes and attractions in the area, recommended bakeries, restaurants and cafes and so on. There is just too much stuff to convey using the THS Welcome Guide template.
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