How to prepare for your house sitting hosts’ return

You’ve diligently cared for your host’s home and beloved pets, ensuring a worry-free getaway for them. Now, as the house-sitting assignment comes to an end, it’s your chance to excel once more. Traveling can be stressful, and your hosts will probably arrive tired. This is your opportunity to shine by making their return home as smooth and pleasant as possible. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through essential steps to ensure a smooth transition as your hosts return home, further improving your chances of becoming their go-to house sitter for future opportunities.

Cleaning and Tidying Up

As your house-sitting assignment comes to a close, it’s crucial to ensure that the homeowners return to a welcoming environment. Start by refreshing the home. While there’s no need for an extensive cleaning spree, consider tasks such as tidying the bathroom and kitchen, providing fresh air by opening windows, vacuuming the floors, and disposing of rubbish.

Take care to clean any pet-related messes, such as cleaning litter boxes to ensure the home is free from unpleasant smells.

Don’t forget to gather your personal belongings and store them neatly in your designated room. If your departure is imminent, stripping the bed and (if time allows) washing the sheets and towels you’ve used will be seen as a considerate touch.

Small Gestures, Big Impact

While returning to a clean and orderly home will be the best welcome sight for your hosts, there are additional things you can do to leave an even better impression.

If a car is available, offering to pick up your hosts at the airport or train station is a thoughtful gesture.

You can also consider preparing a “welcome home” meal with light refreshments, or leaving some basic items in the fridge for them – something to ease their return to their daily routine.

If cooking is not your thing or you’re unsure of their dietary needs or preferences, a simple but heartfelt “thank you” card provides a nice touch.

A small bouquet of fresh flowers to go with the card will add extra warmth and colour.

Checking Out and Handing Over

In some instances, you may need to leave before your hosts return. In these cases, take the time to prepare a “checking out” note that goes over all the tasks you’ve done prior to leaving, such us when the pets were last fed or walked, when the plants were last watered, and what areas or items have been freshly cleaned.

Ensure that the keys are returned as agreed upon, be it leaving them in a designated hiding spot or with a friend or neighbour.

Do keep a copy of all written conversations related to the house sit, even beyond its conclusion, should any questions or concerns arise later on.

For yourself – photos/video of the house

In the end, if you’ve handled this phase of your sit well, the owners will feel like they never left at all, and they’ll be glad to have you back in the future.

However, even if you feel confident that the home owners will be delighted with the condition of the home upon their return, it’s a good practice to document it with photos or videos just beforehand.

Although most housesits are problem-free, misunderstandings and disputes do occasionally happen. Having photographic proof of the state you left the home and pets in can prove to be invaluable in protecting your reputation.