House Sitter Printable – Free Checklist For When You Are Away

This super sweet House Sitter Printable relieves your concerns at the door while you leave your home in the hands of a sitter. All of the necessary questions that the sitter may encounter are addressed in this one page sheet. You can combine this sheet with the Pet Care Binder or the upcoming Vacation Binder to set your home’s caretaker up for success while you are away. 

Vacations should be relaxing and fun, and this printable helps you get away in peace knowing that your sitter has everything needed to take care of your home…and maybe your pet as well! 

🏘️ What Preparations are Needed

Before you leave on vacation, invite your house sitter over and review your completed printable. Guide them through your home, even if they have been to your house a few times, they will be viewing it from a different perspective now.

Start from scratch and give them a full tour.

Have your sitter come over at least a week beforehand. This allows both of you time to process if there are any outstanding questions going forward before you leave for your time away. 

Pro Tip: I like to write on paper or even a text of when I will be back and if I want the house-sitter to be there. This eliminates any miscommunication and provides respect to the house sitter for all they are doing for our family while we are away. 

🏡 Overview

This house sitting checklist printable is a one-page snapshot of everything a homeowner is looking for to guide a sitter taking care of their home. Giving them direction and guidance will springboard them to a successful house sit. 

The biggest things to note while house sitting:

Names of the Owners – I know this seems funny, but sometimes we know a neighbor by Jim and Sally but totally forgot their last name five years ago. It is best to write out your full contact information just in case. It will save an embarrassing situation.

Address – Make sure the full address of the property is on the sheet. In an emergency, you need more information than “the blue house 2 doors down from mine”

Security – Make sure the house sitter knows any security codes to the house and exactly how to use them. Have them practice a few times to make sure they are good to go before you leave your home in their hands. Also, make sure they have the phone number of the security company on the off chance they need it.

Special To-Do – Write down any special to-do list tasks that you need the house sitter to perform while you are away.  Examples would be: take the trash to the curb on Tuesday night after 6 pm, move the sprinklers before mowers come on Friday, and so forth. 

Emergency Contacts – These are great for all of us in an emergency. When something urgent is happening, our minds are not razor sharp. Assist the housesitter and give them all the numbers and contact information that they might need. Hopefully, they never have to use it.

Wifi Passwords – This almost goes without saying at this point, especially if you have someone spending the night at your home. Have them check that they can get your wifi to work before you leave. Spending the night with no wifi might be cruel and unusual punishment! 😀

Chores – I left a section for you to fill out any chores you need accomplished and checkboxes for the days of the week.  Examples: Pick up newspapers from the driveway, collect the mail, water the flowers, etc. 

Notes – This is a great section for any miscellaneous notes such as the bathroom door might stick if it rains, the garbage disposal is broken, you have to push hard to get the door to latch, etc. Add anything that you can think of that will make your sitter’s life easier. 

🏠 Download the Printable

This is for Personal Use Only!

🌲 Thank You Gift

I always bring back a thank you gift from vacation for my sitters.  They are taking time out of their busy schedule to help you, and I think it is important to show them how much you appreciate it.

It looks like it’s time for you to pack and go on vacation! Here’s wishing you a well-deserved time off!