My father had a saying “bend with the trees”
My husband has a saying “ nobody died”
These work for me.
But if an HO or sitter is deliberately cruel to any animal, furry, feathered, scaly or human, (or any other living creature that I’ve forgotten)
That, for me, is unforgivable 
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“A space where they don’t have to guess my intentions”
As a sitter I appreciate this so much! (Also, FWIW I think your puppy analogy is funny and applicable to many life situations.)
As for cutlery drawers and so on… if I have my friends over for a dinner party at my own home and they help with the dishes, things inevitably wind up where they don’t belong. I’m just thankful for the help—I’ll rearrange back to my liking the next morning. Unless they’ve totally overhauled your organization it seems a silly thing to get upset over (and I’m saying this as someone with OCD/neurotic tendencies lol, my condiment labels must always face forward in the fridge 
)
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I actually need to do that for me, we’ve only been in this house a year and I still can’t remember what I’ve put where, except that if it’s a kitchen utensil, then hopefully it’s in the kitchen… somewhere…
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Wow! I maybe would prefer a different system but I take pics of every surface when I arrive and make sure it looks identical when I leave, even if I have my own opinions how their system can be improved. 
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Im sorry to say that . But if you get mad over cutlery in the wrong drawer or pans in the wrong cupboard . Or your broom isn’t in the same place where you putted it , you’re not made for these kind of exchange. Then you should get a paid service that will take your pet to their home or a kennel.
Where humans cook their will be surprises. If you’re bothered you have to put back stuff they used, your household is not made for guests.
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I agree here, I was shown how to use them.
I am wondering how many sitters don’t tell you they are putting the pets in the bathroom, but do so anyway? Strange that she told you. I got a wonderful sit in LA recently because I am a retired widow and they had younger couples sit and make a mess of things, party. I don’t do much but take the dogs out. But because I am a good dog sitter, having had many over my lifetime, I don’t expect to do a major clean on the bathroom. I will leave it as neat as before, counters wiped, floors swept and swiffered. But I will take great care of your dog(s). So great dog care, but no bathroom clean. So far 5 stars, so I must be good at that part.
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I can see how frustrating some of these things are. As a sitter I have often washed the silverware tray. A couple times I forgot to take a photo before emptying it and worried that I did not get everything back in the correct order. However, I settle my mind by saying to myself, surely they will notice I washed it and forgive me if the forks and spoons are in the wrong slot!
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I’m wondering if that one sitter actually left your pets in the bathroom for too long and just didn’t clean up the result (or failed to notice.) It doesn’t improve the experience, but at least you’d know the sitter was courteous enough not to pee outside the toilet!
Just a note on expiration of spices and herbs.
I just checked my cupboards.
Black pepper 2016
Paprika 2011
well guess what, I REFILL my glassjars !! The pepper just yesterday.
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Why would you think I was ‘mad’ or even ‘bothered’? I said these were minor quibbles that would have no impact on my satisfaction with the sitter.
As a professed neatnik, my response is an amused puzzlement that someone would mix up K,F&S in each compartment.
I didn’t reply to your comment I just read through comments and gave my 2 cents .
Excellent idea to take photos of how the house looks and inside of drawers/cabinets upon arrival. Much easier to put things back in their place!
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Boosting just to see new people’s responses
Just to add one more thing. If I locked up personal items and they purposely use my items that were locked away. Yes, I would be quite mad.