I wouldn’t take it quite so literally – if it’s a general guideline it’s more ‘things to consider’. Follow within common sense for your own sit.
From a sitter’s perspective, it helps to know what the HO expects with foodstuffs: let your sitter know if they can help themselves to things, or stipulate more specifically what they can use. If there are foods that will go bad (produce, dairy), do let them know the sitter can use them up or just chuck them if they don’t want them. If you have leftovers or things that won’t be appealing to a house sitter, remember to chuck them out before you go. If it’s more than a couple of days, leave a little space for them to put their own food in there.
Been a sitter for 5 years, and most owners do not take the fridge suggestion in full. Many make rooms for sitters’ stuff, but more often, they tell me to use up what is perishable and most condiments. I only minded when I had to clean out moldy items in the fridge.
Appreciate a clean bathroom, but I usually end up cleaning it before settling in.
Thanks for reviewing the checklist; it feels some owners do not bother.
Hello, @Jan44 I would like to wish you a very warm welcome to the community forum. Thank you for contributing to this thread.
What a lovely way to welcome sitters into your home.
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Best wishes Carla
Hi @katareeves
For a long term (month or more)sit we clean out the refrigerator completely. We empty a couple of shelves in the pantry for the sitter, We empty a bureau in the sitter’s room and remove any of our clothing from the closet . We also clean out one side of the bathroom drawers and the medicine cabinet. We expect out L/T sitters to move in and treat our home as theirs.
For a short term sit we don’t go to that extent but always have an empty closet and bureau for the sitter.
I received this same email before my sitters, so I believe it is something that THS is doing now. However with that said, I am on as both a HO and Sitter. I would not willy nilly throw out things from the refrigerator as a sitter and as a HO, I will always leave a clean fridge, but no one throws out my condiments. When I get to a sit and doing a tour, usually there is a time we open the frige to show me space or whatever and if I see perishables, I ask, do you want me to keep those for you or do you think they will go bad, they usually tell me to eat them. I never throw away anything if it isn’t told to me by the HO.
I have! Both fridge & freezer so stuffed full that there’s been no room for my fresh items (which I need as a vegetarian) and it’s happened about 30% of the time, mostly for shorter weekend bookings. The longer term sits clean the fridge and freezer well!
As a Home Owner you get an email from THS a few days before the sit.
I don’t have one to share but from memory, yes clean the fridge, empty a drawer for them, clean everything. I’ve never thrown away things that are still good. Yes I throw out any leftovers. Sitters have free range to our kitchen. Help yourselves!
The cleanliness list is a form and you don’t need to worry. Your fridge should be clean and for sure get rid of rotting food, but if you have perishables that will make it 3 days, don’t junk them, but offer to let the sitter help themselves especially to condiments which aren’t worth buying for a short sit. You’ll still need to somehow manage to leave enough room in the fridge – even if it means giving away some food to a neighbor – for the sitter to store their 3 days or so worth of food. I’d probably smell the mayo and check on the dates of some stuff, but don’t drive yourself nuts! (If you are going to do this on the regular, you might consider getting some food labels so you can mark when the mayo or other such was first open.)
I would make sure your fridge is clean and organised enough to allow for at least some space for HS to store things should they need to. I’ve stayed at some homes with some pretty nasty fridges and it was clear that they made no effort to accommodate for things I may want to add like takeaway in the case of a short weekend stay.
Disposing of anything that will clearly go off while you are gone is a reasonable ask.
You don’t necessarily have to throw away every open container, but applying “common sense” to how you approach things is a good place to start. I put that in parentheses because I know everyone has a different definition.
Generally though…clean, space for HS to store things, nothing that will spoil while you’re gone left behind. When in doubt, ask the HS if they want you to leave something and they will tell you.
Just seen this. Now I know why one sit I did and the fridge was completely empty. Owners stated it was a stipulation from THS, as I mentioned I had never seen such an empty fridge. Not even any butter or milk. I would rather nothing thrown out, as happy to use condiments and any salad, vegetables, cheese, roast chiken and home made soup etc. I like to see how creative I can be with any leftovers. If anything goes bad I can throw it out but happy to use whatever is still perfectly fine.
No you don’t need to throw out mayonnaise or anything that can actually be eaten by your sitter. What they mean is perishables that can’t be eaten by the sitter or about to go off (milk, half-eaten take out etc.) Space in the fridge is important and awesome so the sitter can fit their own groceries relative to the timeline. A shelf or two is awesome. Let them know what they are welcome to use.
I am so happy THS are sending out a preparation email to HO’s, so helpful all round.
I agree-- I arrived for a sit the night before pet parents left, and in the morning found them throwing out eggs and vegetables. I realized it would be too much for me to tell them to get those things out of the trash, but regretted I didn’t ask them politely beforehand. I hate waste.
I never throw away anything if it isn’t told to me by the HO.
