I see how things go as to how generous I feel about the leave taking moment.. if coming from Spain I usually bring wine as an introductory gift.. thanks for choosing me. I leave the house as spick and span as I can. I groom the pets and make sure the dogs are well walked.
If it’s an idyllic place I sometimes leave a poem ( retired English teacher) I like acrostics.
If I’m leaving before the Home Owner returns I might leave a special note. (Now with WhatsApp we have already communicated to death lol. )
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
I go into overdrive if I’ve been asked to repeat before I leave lol
If there is a charity shop that raises funds for animal care or animal protection then I might buy something animal related.
Really I know I’ve given of my best so I do sympathize with sitters who don’t leave any present for the hosts. (Some hosts frankly deserve little consideration! )
Going from one sit straight onto another one may mean I’m rather tired.. it depends a little on the shopping opportunities as I often rely on buses in UK although I travel with a van in Portugal and Spain.
One grateful Home Owner offered 100 euros for us to return ( petrol money) but we hadn’t felt truly trusted till the end of the sit so we declined.
Love this idea. I’ll make a Welcome Home card from one of my hand-painted sketches.
We always leave a card and a small gift yes. For repeat sits that we do multiple times a year, I’ve shifted into donating that money to local cat rescues or to the rescue where the pets actually came from and the HO’s love that too!
As sitters, we are providing a service (free of charge). If any gifts are to change hands surely it should be sitters who receive them, not owners.
Most Times |I have left a card. I also pick a few flowers from the garden or hedsgerown and put in a small vase. If I know they will be arriving bacvk late I have sometimes made some home made soup or something for them.
It woul;d be nice though if home owners could bereminded that it would be nice if they clould leave a few things for their sitters. Wine, chocolates, crusty loaf etc. some have been really generous, and others just leave an empty fridge and nothing at all, yet can be demanding of expectations of you.
These two owners are both avid readers. I am too! As a treat they gave me a voucher to visit Blenheim Palace. It’s three miles away from the village and no direct bus service so I walked. Lots of exercise on a beautiful summer’s day at the largest Stately Home in the UK. A treat indeed. ( I walked the dogs before I left)
Came across the perfect gift for the pair who have left lovely food for my ten day stay.
A couple of doggy themed bookmarks.. probably the cheapest items in the posh gift shop! But perfect gifts, I hope.
I think that is the gift I leave. As I leave a sit today, sheets are clean, beds made, kitchen and bathrooms, scrubbed down. Though for the first time, leaving some flowers. As I passed a yard with a great garden two days ago, I complimented the owner. She told me that there were clippers in a plastic pocket and to help myself anytime. So I did this morning. No merchandise for me.
One of my recent hosts was generous, so I bought a couple of plants in appreciation.
I always leave a gift as sure, I’m looking after their home and pets, but they are trusting me with their pets and their home. And it’s allowing me to travel more and further. I don’t leave much, but I always bring a special tin with Dutch cookies with a card to say thank you. I see petsitting around the world not just as petsitting, I also see it as a way to get to know other cultures and I like to share mine; yes its just cookies but they’re really good ;). Plus I think it will make people smile when they come home and I like that.
I often will leave flowers or a plant - whatever looks good at the store. And I use a website that creates and mails postcards that I create with pics of the pet to send a thanks a few weeks after the sit. Pretty good deal as the card and postage aren’t much more expensive than printing a postcard and putting stamps on it - and mails cards internationally (its a German company but don’t know if they mail from Germany or have local offices).
DM me if you want a referral code that will get you a free card.
My last Three sits the day of my departure was the day the cleaner came to do two hours’ work. It made for a relaxed exit. I like to leave an unexpected gift, especially if the Home owner has been super thoughtful. It’s fun looking for the perfect gift. I like to put a lot of thought rather than money into it. It’s also a reminder of my visit as a sitter! I choose things that last. Flowers are ephemeral.
“Be a friend to find a friend” Is my motto.
Might you consider simple card of thanks in addition to all you do will complete your circuit of appreciation? Just a thought.
I like to leave the home spotless including the sheets I sleep in. I make a card from the city I’m from with a note of thanks. Leaves a simple joyous last impression and can be a keepsake reminder.
Flowers may be ‘ephemeral’ but most people love to receive them! If we leave before the hosts get back we always leave flowers, and a Welcome Home card- from the pets! If we are overlapping with them then we usually make a meal to share together instead- if timing fits.
i always bring a card from home that I use for a Thank you and welcome home-card when I leave. Other than that, it highly depend on the host if and what I would leave. I prefer to be reciprocal, if they leave me something I would leave them something and vice versa. It is not something expensive or time-comsuming as such, more a thoughtful token of appreciation and/ or a memento. Or if they have left me flowers, I could give them fresh flowers at their return.
A friend makes jam and chutney and sells it for a local hospice. I usually leave a jar, a thank you card, a pint of milk and a loaf of bread
I wouldn’t want THS branded stuff, for me it’s about a personal gesture not a corporate one
26 sits done and I still rarely leave gifts. My hosts don’t seem to care – they appreciate how well their pets and homes have been treated. Like I left nothing for my latest hosts and their review said they couldn’t imagine a better sitter. And they’d left me a pristine home, professionally cleaned, and two lovable, easy cats. Plus they’d left treats and a gift card, as well as treated me to dinner. They’d also said to help myself to food and drink.
We don’t leave a gift , but have on occasion printed one of the (many ) photos that I have taken of the pets as a Welcome Home Card .
We just always cook a meal for the HOs first night back or night after if they will be late, and also ask if they need any staples popping in fridge/cupboard. #seemstoworksofar