Founder note: my wife Natallia and I have completed dozens of sits across Europe since 2017. The advice below is what we wish someone had told us early on — and reading the other role's tab is the fastest way to be great at yours.
Treat the first messages as the start of getting to know someone, not a final decision. Ask about their experience, why your home and pets appeal to them, and how they like to stay in touch during a sit. A relaxed, specific conversation — and a quick video call before you decide — tells you far more than any checklist.
Our "Verified ID" badge means someone has completed a Stripe Identity check — government-issued ID and a live selfie. That's the foundation, not the whole picture. Layer in:
- Read every review, especially the longer ones — patterns matter more than single ratings.
- Look at their imported reviews and references — proof a sitter has brought from other platforms, or from people who've hosted them before.
- Have a video call before you confirm. A 15-minute conversation tells you more than a hundred messages.
- If something feels off, trust that feeling. There are always more sitters.
The cleanest sits all have one thing in common: a one- or two-page document the homeowner sends a week before. It covers feeding routines, vet contacts, the wifi password, what to do with the trash, your travel dates and how to reach you in an emergency, plus any quirks the home or pets have. Sitters love this. They feel prepared and you sleep better.
A sitter doesn't have your muscle memory — they don't know the cupboard door that sticks or the shelf that wobbles. Before you leave, tuck anything valuable or breakable somewhere safe. It saves an awkward "something broke" message and lets your sitter relax into your home instead of tiptoeing around it.
Share as much of your home as you like — photos of the rooms, the garden, the view all help the right sitter picture themselves there. The one thing we keep private is your exact address: discovery shows only an approximate area, and the precise location is shared with the sitter you accept. Hand over entry details once you've chosen someone.
Most successful sits have a daily message in the first 2-3 days, dropping to every other day or every few days as trust builds. A photo of the pets, a quick "all good here." Set this expectation up front so the sitter knows what you want, and you don't worry when there's silence.
Identify a neighbour, family member, or friend within 30 minutes who can step in if anything happens — illness, emergency, or an unexpected sitter cancellation. Make sure your sitter has their contact. This costs nothing and is the single best safety investment you can make.
This is the one that matters most. Pets notice a stranger in the house, and the sits that go well are the ones where the sitter truly enjoys the company — the early walks, the lap cat at midnight, the routine. If you're mainly after free accommodation, it shows, and it isn't fair on the animals. Apply to homes and pets you'll be glad to care for.
If a listing needs daily insulin injections for a diabetic cat and you've never given medication, it isn't the right sit for you — however amazing the destination. The best sitters know what they're great at and apply only to those sits. A strong reputation comes from doing what you do well, not from taking on more than you can handle and hoping it works out.
This is a two-sided trust exchange.
- Ask for a video call before confirming. See the home, meet the pets on screen.
- Read the listing carefully. Listings with vague routines, no photos of pets, or pressure to commit fast are red flags.
- Check whether the homeowner has reviews of past sits on the platform.
- If a homeowner pushes you to sign or commit before you've fully understood the responsibilities, walk away.
While you're still deciding, keep chatting inside HouseSit. Messages here are timestamped and saved, so whatever you agree — dates, duties, what the host promises — is on the record if a sit ever goes wrong and you need us to look into it. It also means you're not handing out your phone number or email before you've decided to trust someone. Once a sit is agreed and you'd rather swap numbers for day-to-day coordination, that's completely normal — what matters is that the decision happened here.
Before you book travel, confirm the essentials with the host: exact dates, arrival and departure times, the pet-care routine and any medications, house rules (smoking, guests), wifi, whether you're expected to cover any costs (utilities, for example), emergency contacts, and where the vet records are. Then send a short message that recaps what you agreed — it keeps you both on the same page and prevents surprises on arrival.
Some homeowners want daily photos. Others prefer minimal interruption. Ask up front. When in doubt, send more. A quick photo of a happy pet on day one buys you trust for the rest of the sit.
Save the closest 24-hour vet on your phone before the homeowner leaves. Know where the first-aid kit, fuse box, water shut-off, and emergency keys are. Have the homeowner's contact and at least one local backup person — neighbour, friend, family member — written down somewhere not on your phone (in case the phone dies).
You won't have muscle memory for someone else's home — the low beam over the stairs, the cupboard that opens the other way, the wobbly shelf. In nine years we've broken our share of cups and banged our heads more than once. Take the first day or two slowly, keep anything that looks precious well clear, and if you do break something, just tell the host — when you're upfront about it, they almost always shrug it off.
Your reputation is the most valuable thing you build here. Sitters with five-star records get picked first, land the best sits, and have hosts reaching out to invite them. And they didn't get there with heroic effort — they left every home a little cleaner, restocked what they used, and left the host a warm, honest review when the sit went well. Reviews go both ways here, and that goodwill comes back to you.
Pet got sick, a pipe burst, or something just feels off — don't wait. Message the host, document with photos, and for anything urgent call local emergency services first. The earlier you flag it, the easier it is to handle; silence only makes things worse.
