Part 6 of our Traveling Pet Sitter Series.
This is the final installment in our Traveling Pet Sitter Series.
Home Alone
The door is shut and here you are, your first stay as a traveling pet sitter. The host(s) have left and now their home and most importantly, their pet(s), are now your responsibility. What’s next?
We can’t go over every scenario you might encounter during a sit because even though we have done more than 50 sits, we have not encountered everything that is good or bad. But we can give you some tips to make sure the host(s) will be delighted with your sit.
“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” - Bobby Unser
First and foremost, make sure their pet(s) are comfortable. Spend time with them. Talk to them. Play with them. Maybe take a walk with them. Their well being is the top priority. We typically don’t plan on doing much the first couple days of a sit so we can spend time with the pet(s) in their home.
Before we start unpacking, we take pictures of the kitchen, bathroom(s), bedroom and any place where we might move something. We like to make sure everything is in the same place as we found them. Even if it is a short sit, trust me, take those pictures!
Follow instructions. You should have received a Welcome Guide for the pet sit. Read it carefully and pay attention to the night or day the the trash goes out, where the mail should be left, when to water the plants, etc. Also, anything in the kitchen that needs attention such as how to use and clean the pots and pans, what kitchenware to use and not use. Are you allowed to use condiments or spices? Did the homeowner graciously allow you to eat any of the food in the house? Whatever the instructions are for food, you should follow them to the letter.
Our last 4 trips we traveled by car so we have room to bring items that can make our sits more enjoyable than if we traveled by plane. At times we will bring our own sheets and towels. We learned early on that the last day of a sit can be hectic. We will put our own sheets on the bed at the beginning of the trip and fold the host’s sheets up. On the day before we depart, we wash all the towels and use our own towels that day/night. This way we are not rushing around on departure day trying to get all the sheets and towels washed.
This brings us to housecleaning. Our motto is ”make it as good if not better than how they left it” We clean all rooms we were in, including outside patios, decks, etc. The host may tell you to just leave the sheets and towels in the laundry room and they’ll wash them when they get home. But does anybody want to do someone’s else’s laundry when they get back from vacation? I think not. We like to have the clean sheets back on the bed and the bed made. All towels washed and folded.
Respect the home and the neighborhood. Be aware of “quiet time” in the neighborhood. Don’t invite people to the home unless prior approval is given by the host. If something breaks, tell the host right away.
Communication. Before the pet sit, find out from the host(s) how often they would like to be contacted. Do they want daily updates on Fluffy? Pictures? Videos? Also, be mindful of any time difference if your host(s) traveled to a different time zone. Whatever they want, strive to meet their expectations.
Be mindful of the time limits away from the pet(s). Some hosts may say Rover will be fine for 8 hours alone. Some hosts will say no more than 1 hour. Hopefully, you were made aware of and agreed to this time limit before the start of the sit. Whatever it is, you should abide by it.
Are you an avid coffee drinker? Tea? Smoothies? Find out from your host if they have a coffeemaker, blender, etc. If not, think about bringing your own if you have room. We drink coffee and have found not everyone has a coffeemaker. We bring a pour over system. One of our hosts had one and we really liked it. It's easy to use, takes up little space and travels well. K Cups are very popular and we have a reusable k pod we can fill with coffee. Anything you feel you absolutely need during your sit, take it with you if you can.
I was reading a pet sitter forum and one sitter had a great idea that we will now implement. Make a small card that states you are pet sitting and there are (number and type of pets). State that in case of emergency, please contact (host’s name and phone number). If the host has an emergency contact locally, you can provide that too. Put the card in your wallet next to your identification. If you are in an accident during the sit,emergency personnel will have the information and will hopefully contact the host so that the pet(s) can be card for.
The End Is Near.
The day of departure or a day or two before you leave the sit, clean the house, empty the trash, put everything back into place (refer to those photos you took when you first arrived) and replenish any food items that you have used up. We will sometimes go out and get snacks for the host(s) if they are returning late at night. Any kind of gift to the host is OPTIONAL. Neither the host or the sitter is required to give any kind of gift. We always leave a thank you card.
Make sure the pet(s) have been taken care of (fed, water bowl filled, litter box cleaned). If you are leaving before the host(s) arrive home, you can take photos or a video of the home just in case something should happen between the time you leave and the time the host(s) arrive home. You and the host(s) should have agreed beforehand about your departure time. Upon leaving, I always let the host(s) know we have left.
So For Now…
We hope you enjoyed the series! We have so much more to talk about! Please follow us to learn more about our adventures, how we do what we do and many money saving tips. Is there a subject you would like to cover? Leave us a comment!
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