Leaving town for the winter? Whether you’re chasing warmer weather or finally taking that much-needed ski trip, leaving your house in someone else’s hands is a big deal for them and for you, so it is a really good idea to do what you can to make things easier for them, while also ensuring that you come back to your home in the best possible shape, right?
That being the case, let’s take a look at a few things you can do before you head off on your travels, to make sure that your house sitter has the easiest possible time, and your home is as well looked after as it can possibly be.
1. Clear the Snow Drama
Snow is beautiful—until your house sitter has to shovel it at 7 a.m. Do them (and yourself) a favor and leave them a snow blower shovel. This magical gadget combines the power of a snowblower with the portability of a shovel, making snow removal a breeze. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and will save your sitter’s back from an early retirement. Bonus: they might even send you a thank-you text instead of passive-aggressively piling the snow in front of your garage.
2. Lay Out the Ground Rules (Literally)
If you’ve got pets, plants, or anything else that requires care, spell out the specifics. Write a clear guide that answers questions like:
- How often does Fido need to go out, and which leash isn’t chewed to bits?
- Are your houseplants sensitive divas who need misting, or are they succulents that thrive on neglect?
- What’s the deal with the thermostat? Is it set to “tropical paradise” or “barely tolerable tundra”?
Details matter. The fewer guesses your sitter has to make, the smoother things will go.
3. Tech to the Rescue
Make their job easier with a little smart home tech. A smart thermostat like Nest can keep your home at the perfect temperature without constant fiddling. Smart plugs are great for controlling holiday lights (because nobody wants to untangle themselves from a glowing mess at 11 p.m.), and a video doorbell like Ring lets them monitor deliveries without leaving the couch. Tech = happy sitter.
4. Emergency Contacts FTW
Winter can be unpredictable, and sometimes, so is your plumbing. Leave a list of emergency contacts, including:
- Your trusted plumber (because frozen pipes are the stuff of nightmares).
- Your neighbor, who knows where the circuit breaker is and won’t mind lending a hand.
- Your preferred snow removal service, just in case the snow blower shovel isn’t enough to tackle a blizzard.
Your sitter will thank you for making their “what if” moments way less stressful.
5. Keep It Cozy
If you want your sitter to love you forever, make their stay as comfortable as possible. Stock the pantry with snacks, leave fresh bedding, and maybe even throw in a couple of streaming service passwords. A happy sitter is a motivated sitter, and a motivated sitter is more likely to take care of your house like it’s Buckingham Palace.
6. Label Everything Like You’re on a Home Makeover Show
Your house sitter doesn’t live in your house, so they don’t know that the “third drawer on the left” is where you stash the dog treats or that the remote for the TV is in the other basket. Save them the scavenger hunt and label the essentials:
- Keys for different doors? Label them.
- Weird light switches that don’t make sense? Label those too.
- The drawer where you keep your cat’s laser pointer? Yep, label it.
Clear labels = less confusion = a happier house sitter.
7. Show Them the Ropes (Literally, If You Have Pets)
If your sitter is caring for pets, give them a crash course. Show them how to harness the dog, which toys won’t immediately disintegrate, and where the litter box cleaning supplies are hidden (because nobody wants to guess their way through that). If your pet has quirks—like an irrational fear of the vacuum or an obsession with chewing shoes—give your sitter a heads-up.
8. Plan for Winter’s Worst
Winter loves throwing curveballs, so think ahead:
- Stock up on de-icer and shovels (yes, plural—backup tools are a must).
- Check your heating system before you leave. No sitter wants to wake up to a house that feels like the inside of a freezer.
- If you’re in a particularly snowy area, make sure there’s a backup plan for clearing your driveway in case of a major storm.
9. Wi-Fi Is Life
This one’s non-negotiable. Leave the Wi-Fi password in plain sight—maybe even frame it, just to be extra. Your sitter will appreciate being able to stream their favorite shows, check the weather, and look up “how to stop a dog from barking at snowflakes” without using up their data plan.
10. The Fridge Is a Friend, Not a Science Experiment
Clean out your fridge before you leave. Nobody wants to house-sit and discover last month’s lasagna turning into a science project. Stock up on fresh essentials and leave a note about anything they’re welcome to eat (or avoid entirely).
11. Say Thanks
Your house sitter is doing you a solid, so show your appreciation. Leave a small thank-you gift, like a coffee shop gift card or a cozy blanket. Even a handwritten note goes a long way in saying, “Hey, thanks for keeping my house from falling apart while I’m off living my best life.”
12. Follow Up (But Don’t Hover)
It’s okay to check in once or twice, but don’t be that person who bombards their sitter with hourly texts. Trust that you’ve set them up for success and let them do their thing. After all, you picked them for a reason!
Making life easier for your house sitter isn’t just about being a good host, but it will also go a long way to ensure that your hoe stays safe while you are away too, so it is undoubtedly a good thing to do, even if it does add one more thing to your pre-travel to-do list. And, you know what? If you get a reputation as being a good person to house-sit for, then you will never have trouble finding someone good to take care of things while you’re away in the future, which can only be a good thing, right?