House sitting: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What house sitting is

A house sitter stays at or visits your home while you are away, keeping it secure and lived in by watering plants, collecting mail and caring for pets. Homeowners use house sitters for trips, long absences or when a home needs regular checks.

Signs you need it

  • You are going to be away for several days or longer and your home will be empty for stretches
  • You have plants, a garden or a lawn that needs regular watering or care during the trip
  • You have pets that need feeding, walking or medication while you are away
  • Mail, packages or trash need collecting so your home does not look empty
  • You want someone to check the house for problems such as leaks, power outages or unlocked doors

What the pro does

  • Learn the house routine, including the alarm, the locks, the thermostat, the pets and the plants
  • Confirm the key, alarm code and emergency contacts in writing before you leave
  • Visit or stay at the home on the schedule you agree on, and log each visit
  • Water plants, feed pets, bring in mail and move trash bins as the instructions say
  • Check the house for signs of trouble, such as a leak, a power issue or a door left open
  • Send you a daily or visit note with photos of anything that needs your attention

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • How many nights the sitter will stay and whether they stay overnight or only visit
  • The number of pets, their care needs and any medication they need
  • How many plants, lawns or areas of the property need attention
  • Whether the sitter must handle mail, packages, bins or home maintenance tasks
  • How many visits per day are needed, and how long each visit takes
  • Whether the sitter must drive to the home or take care of anything outside the house

What a written quote should spell out

  • The dates, the visit schedule and whether the sitter stays overnight
  • The pets, plants and tasks covered, and the care instructions for each
  • How keys, alarm codes and access are handled, and when they are returned
  • What the sitter will do in an emergency and who they contact
  • How the sitter reports visits and any problems they find

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you have experience caring for pets like mine, and can you give references?
  • How do you handle the alarm and the keys, and where do you keep them?
  • What will you do if you find water in the house or a power outage?
  • Will you be overnight, and how often will you check on the house?
  • How will you keep me updated during my trip?
  • Will you sign a confidentiality agreement and agree to keep my address private?

Red flags

  • Asks to bring guests or family members to the house without your written permission
  • Will not share references from past house or pet sitting work
  • Wants to use your car, your internet or your payment methods without a written agreement
  • Cannot explain what they will do in an emergency

What you can do yourself

You can ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, set your lights on a timer, use smart plugs for the lights and arrange a delivery hold with the post office. Hire a house sitter when pets need daily care, when you have plants or a yard that need regular attention or when you want someone present to handle problems in the house.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required for house sitting. Ask instead for references from past clients, proof of identity and a written agreement on keys, alarm codes and access; check with your state or local business licensing office if the sitter operates as a registered business.

House sitting questions

Should I give the sitter my alarm code?

Only if you need to, and only in writing with a plan to change the code when the sitting ends. Many homeowners give a temporary code to the sitter rather than their own.

What if the pet gets sick while I am away?

Give the sitter your vet's name and number, your authorization for emergency care and a limit on what they may spend without calling you.

How do I know the house is safe?

Ask for a visit log with photos, and set up a way to see the house remotely if your smart devices allow it.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More business and office services guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request house sitting