House Sitting Tips for the Holidays

The holidays are often the best times to land a temporary job as a house sitter. People are going on vacations or going out of town to visit relatives, and they need someone to feed the pets, water the plants, and guard their homes. If this is your first time house sitting, or maybe even your first time hiring a house sitter, it is important that you use common sense and follow these simple tips for house sitting during the holidays.

Make a list and check it twice. A good house sitter should be responsible and have common sense. However, even with common sense, sometimes it is easy to forget to do certain chores in a strange or different setting. If this is your first time to house sit during the holidays, or maybe your first time to house sit for a different family, make sure to make a list of questions to ask the homeowner before they leave. Ask questions that show that you are ready to take on some responsibilities. For example: How long will the homeowner be gone? Is there an emergency number or numbers that can be contacted? What are the neighbors' numbers and will they be in town? How many pets are there? When and how often should they be fed or walked? Are there any plants that need to be watered and what is their watering schedule? Does the home have a security system, if so, what is the security code and number to the security company in the case that the alarm goes off? Are there any rooms in the house or food in the fridge that are off limits? Is there a spare key to the house that is hidden somewhere? Are there any other special instructions? Be sure to ask the homeowner the questions on the list and have them write down the answers in list form. If you are the homeowner, make sure to make a list including answers to all of these questions for the house sitter. Check the list twice to see if anything has been left out before giving it to the house sitter. If you are the house sitter, check the homeowner's list twice and put it in a visible place where you can remember to look at it and follow it daily.

Let someone else know. Good and open communication is a great way to stay safe during the holidays. Houses that are left vacant during the holidays are often easy targets for vandals and thieves. If you are going to be the house sitter, let a neighbor, relative, or close and trustworthy friend know where you will be and for how long. Tell them to call and check up on you or drive by at least once during the day and once in the evening. If you are the homeowner, let a close and trustworthy neighbor know how long you will be gone, who will be house sitting, and if your house sitter has a car, let them know what kind of car they drive. Make sure that someone keeps an eye and ear out for anything suspicious and make their phone number available to the house sitter in the case of an emergency.

Check all locks, windows, doors and lights. A secure house during the holidays is the best way to rest, relax, and celebrate worry free! If you are a homeowner, make sure that all windows and doors are secured and locked before leaving. Also make sure that all lights are in working order inside and outside, including security and flood lights. Try to fix any broken lights and/or make the house sitter aware of any lights that don't work before leaving them in the dark. A dark, abandoned looking house is an easy target for a break in and you definitely don't want to put your house sitter in harm's way. If you are a house sitter, check the house as soon as you get there. Make sure that all windows and doors are secured and locked. Flip all of the light switches for the lights inside and outside of the house to the on position to check if they are all operational. Make a note of any lights that don't work. Don't leave all of the lights on through the evening, there's no need to be wasteful or run the light bill up. Just leave an outside light on in the front of the house, one in the back, and what ever light you may need inside of the room in the house that you will be occupying the most. Also, make sure to park your vehicle where it can be seen in the driveway or by the front curb, in a well lit area, so that it is obvious that someone is at the house.

Be responsible! The key to keeping your home safe while out of town is choosing a responsible and trustworthy house sitter. The key to landing another house sitting job is to be a responsible and trustworthy house sitter. Don't pick a party animal or an airhead that lacks common sense to be your house sitter, and don't be a party animal or airhead without common sense if you are chosen to be a house sitter! Remember, that in today's technologically driven society, personal surveillance is cheap and accessible; a camera could be hiding in any corner or crevice, ready to capture someone's dirty deeds.

If during this holiday season you have landed your first house sitting job, or maybe you are leaving town and hiring a house sitter for the first time, use common sense. Make a list and check it twice, let someone else know, check all locks, windows, doors and lights, and always be responsible. Follow these tips, and you're sure to have a great house sitting experience during the holiday season!