Finding the right sitter for you and your pet can often be about building a connection.
Recently, I’ve been reading some older forum discussions where members have shared some lovely stories about small acts of kindness, or welcome packs for sitters who are coming into their homes for the first time - there’s also this THS guide to help you prepare for your sitter.
I’m curious, what do you do to welcome sitters to your home for the first time?
What tips would you offer Pet Parents who are new to THS to help them connect with their chosen sitter?
Some suggestions that I’ve seen in the forum;
- A complete Welcome Guide
- A video call ahead of the sit
- Emergency contact info
- Space in the fridge/freezer for their own food (depending on length of sit)
- Recommendations about things to do in the area
Also, check out this discussion, where sitters share their tips to connect with pet parents.
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I would add to your list:
- In the bathroom, remove your own products from the shower, bathtub, and countertops so that the sitter has room for their own things
- In the bedroom, clear out at least a few drawers in the dresser, and / or shelves in the closet, and either leave a foot or so of closet hanging rod clear, with empty hangers, so that the sitter has space to unpack and hang clothes (depending on length of sit - for a 3-night stay a sitter may not need this, but for a week or longer stay it will be appreciated)
- in the kitchen, clear off your countertops so that the sitter has room to prepare their meals
- give complete and accurate details of your pets’ personalities, behaviors, likes/dislikes, routines, any medical or adoption histories, etc., in your HO profile so that sitters can make informed choices and not waste your or their time applying for sits that they do not yet know they would not be able to accept
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@MRorMRS it sounds so simple, but just having space for their own stuff totally makes sense.
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I do shorter sits - up to two weeks approx., so for me it would be enough to have my bag/ suitcase somewhere. But some place for clothing for sure.
Important is place in fridge. In warm locations and/ or longer sits I would very much appreciate freezer space. Just a little bit, for some ice cream, a pizza or similar.
I find that fridge space has often been made available, while the freezer could be really packed… 
. Well, I can relate, absolutely. Just a mention.
Thoughtfulness when it comes to a clean and tidy home where it is room for me is important, more so than 
and 
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Clearing the kitchen counter tops is a big one for me. I don’t ask hosts to do that, but if the kitchen is clear it’s sooooo welcoming!
I once shared a kitchen counter top with 5 different cat bowls. That’s right, whenever I prepared food I had to know that these cats that just walked out of the litter box were now sharing my food prep space. 
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From reading discussions across the forum, another good point is to ensure that the Camera and Recording Device policy is being followed.
To summarise;
- Disclose any recording devices e.g. Ring doorbell etc
- Disable any camera or recording device which is inside the property
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I’m guessing you are a sitter, but I could be wrong. Maybe you are a home owner with a much nicer home than mine! Here is the thing: People live in their homes. If it isn’t a long sit -like a month or longer, it’s simply unrealistic to expect people with a single bathroom to clear out all their stuff. A more realistic approach is to clean the bathroom and if possible leave some space – a drawer or maybe even just a small bin or tray that a sitter can use. It’s also necessary to put away anything you specifically don’t want the sitter to use – eg prescription meds, expensive bath salts, etc. It’s also nice to leave out basic toiletries like soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste as many sitters won’t be travelling with stuff.
Similarly with clearing out drawers. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a sit yet where there was actually drawer space in the bedroom! I have a dresser with an ikea type shelving unit on top of it, so I manage to remove 4 boxes from the shelving unit, creating a litte space for a sitter’s things. But the bedroom closet is where I’m putting that stuff and it gets piled high when I have sitters, so nope, can’t leave “a foot of room” and many people don’t want to “share” their closet. My solution – I can clear some hanging space in my coat closet and that’s what I do. Sitters get the closet space but not in the bedroom.
I also recently bought a couple of suitcase holders which are foldable and easy to store. Those go in front of the two small bedroom closests.
It’s unrealistic to expect homeowners to upend things and basically do a move out as they might for airbnb for sitters who maybe come a few times a year. It’s not unrealistic to expect them to make an effort and do something, to figure out a way to have drawer space even if it means somehting portable and foldable or hanging space even if it’s some hangers on a coat rack.
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Suitcase racks are an awesome thing to find in the sitter’s bedroom! Plus they’re inexpensive and don’t take up much space when not in use - they can slide under the bed or behind a dresser. For bathroom space, I’ve done sits where the owner had their things covering every horizontal surface, including the windowsill, shower wall racks, top of toilet tank, the entire vanity top, wall shelves, and even some items on the floor. Just bottles of shampoos, soaps, lotions, candles, knickknacks, you name it. It helps for the HO to think like a sitter or house guest before they offer temporary space for a housesitter.
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When I am tempted to move any of the hosts’ stuff, I take a photo first, then load all the items into a paper bag. At the end of the sit, I refer back to my photo and place each item exactly as it was at the beginning of my sit! Voila!
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That’s a nice idea that I wouldn’t have thought of.
Similar to what @MRorMRS said, part of any mutual exchange is putting yourself in the other person’s shoes (as best you can).
I have to admit, over the course of a working week, many of my toiletries end up being lined up across dressing tables and bathroom shelves, then at the weekend I tidy them all away.
I understand that sitters want a fair exchange. I believe there are simple things homeowners can do to make sure sitters are comfortable even in small spaces, but sitters here is how I see it:
If you are a sitter, think of yourself as a guest with invisible hosts. You wouldn’t expect your hosts to clear out their only bathroom. You aren’t a tenant. It’s not a hotel or airbnb. It’s someone’s home and they’re coming back to it soon. You can still use a bathroom even if someone’s medications are in the medicine cabinet and you have to store yours in the lovely tote they provided.
If you are a homeowner, imagine a very honored guest is coming and you are going to go out of your way to make them comfortable and welcome. That might mean throwing some stuff in the closet if you don’t have bins in the basement. It does NOT mean eliminating your presence and getting rid of family pictures or even things that make your home your home. It does mean making room in your fridge and checking to make sure you don’t have anything in it that can kill someone. It does not mean making sure it’s bare like no one lives there.
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It’s easier in places where space is less expensive, so hosts are more likely to have guest quarters. Sitters who want such space can focus more on such sits. If quarters are tight, the more likely sitters should expect clutter.
Personally, I live out of my suitcase and don’t need much space when sitting or otherwise traveling. But I value spacious nesting, so I’ll never go nomadic. Always happy to go home.
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Everyone tolerates different levels of clutter.
We have stayed in large homes with tons of storage space, and the owners still leave a bunch of stuff on the bathroom counter. There are multiple drawers, cabinets, medicine cabinet, and a large walk in closet!
I get it—on the counter makes it quick and convenient to use, rather than taking the item out of a drawer or cabinet.
I was responding specifically to the suggestion that the medicine cabinets etc be cleared for the sitter. I get talking about “clutter” as in the items left on a counter or vanity. I was specifically responding to the idea that medicine cabinets etc be cleared out like nobody lives there – unless I misread something.
My own recent solution to my very small bathroom with limited storage space is this:
We have a medicine cabinet. We aren’t going to clear it before a sit. We have a couple of shelves above the toilet in which we store some other stuff. There is no other space to store other stuff. We don’t have a vanity. We don’t have a lot of stuff stored on the sink top. I wouldn’t consider it cluttered. We have a toothbrush holder with room for the sitter’s toothbrushes, and a cup like container that holds toothpastes and floss. There have been no reviews saying that the space is cluttered or that there was no room for sitter stuff, but sometimes when I see “tips” from sitters for welcoming sitters, I feel like I’m getting the message that my home doesn’t measure up and never will. I probably need to spend less time on the forums.
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It sounds like you’re being a considerate host, even with limited space.
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When I first joined the forum it really depressed me. I was astounded at what people were expecting and sooner of the horror stories made my blood run cold!
I kept my few bits and pieces in a small ziplock freezer bag. It usually fits somewhere in the bathroom.
I hope home owners see this and realize “THIS MIGHT BE ME”! Why should a sitter have to do this? Just go into your bathroom and open your eyes, see what space you can clear for someone else’s toiletries, soap. shampoo, toothbrush, hairbrush, bathrobe, etc.
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I would hate to go to a home that had been stripped of its personality. Even when booking an Airbnb I look for ones that are someone’s home or second home so that it feels lived in.
I travel very light and I sometimes feel guilty if a homeowner gleefully shows me all the cleared space to store my things, the extent of my toiletries is a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand cream, and a lipstick. 
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my current sit has a SUITCASE RACK, and I love that, as I generally dont fully unpack for a short sit, I have no ballgowns, just t shirts, jumpers and easycare trousers mostly.
saves me lifting case onto bed each time I want something. Twin rooms are also good for this same reason.
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