How to Create a Checklist for the House Sitter

The plans are complete for your vacation and you have someone lined up to look after your home. To make the experience worry-free for both of you, create a detailed checklist that will prepare them to handle any situation. Make sure your neighbors know that someone else will be either at your house or checking in on it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Provide the house sitter with the key, alarm information and show them where the shutoff points are for water, electricity and gas.

2. Provide the house sitter with the details of your trip, including the complete itinerary and contact numbers to reach you in an emergency. Have them keep this in their own home, not yours.

3. Detail a list of all actions required and their frequency, for example, how often to water plants, open or close shades or anything else that needs regular attention. Make a schedule with specific dates that specify all items to be completed on a particular day.

4. Be clear and specific about what rooms they are allowed to use if they are staying and whether or not they may have guests.

5. Put your mail on hold until your return. Also, hold the paper if the person watching your house is not actually staying there. Otherwise, specify a safe place for them to store all of your mail and papers while you are away.

6. Be sure to let them know what lights come on automatically and when.

7. Define clearly what you consider to be an emergency. Give examples of when you would expect to be contacted.

8. Have them set out the trash on the required day and return the empty cans as you would.

9. Provide a backup person for them to call if they cannot complete the job or need help.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have plants and can move them, put them in one or two rooms to make sure none are forgotten.
• If you have a repair person that is familiar with you and your property, their contact information will be helpful for minor emergencies that could be addressed without your intervention.
• If you are not familiar with your house sitter, lock up the liquor cabinet.
• Do not leave sensitive personal information around the house while you are away.

[petsitterteija]

on 7/16/2009 good and useful advices