Getting ready for an extended vacation can be an exciting time, but it can also be somewhat stressful when you start thinking about leaving your precious abode for weeks on end. Will your pets be okay with the sitter? Is the home going to be truly secure with no one there to watch it? These are the kinds of questions that can have you wanting to hire a house sitter before you leave, and rightfully so. However, simply leaving someone in your home with a few vague instructions isn’t the brightest idea. Instead, follow these guidelines to compose a checklist that will cover all the basics your house sitter will need to know while you’re gone.

1. Leave The Necessary Gear And Equipment

Leaving someone ill-equipped is a surefire way to have them cutting corners and falling short in their house maintenance routine. If you’re going to be gone for a long vacation, at some point your house sitter will have to do things like mow the lawn, take out the trash, and collect the mail or any packages that are delivered while you’re away. To ensure your sitter has everything needed to stay on top of any household duties, you’ll want to make sure the house is stocked with all the relevant equipment. Sites like Global Garage Reviews provide curated overviews of home and automotive maintenance products that will have your house sitter ready to tackle any challenges that come their way.

2. Summarize Your Weekly Process

Now that your house sitter has everything they need to keep things in order in your absence, it’s time to get to the checklist making. The best way to develop a comprehensive and overarching list is to simply keep a detailed record of every chore and upkeep duty you perform during the course of a week. You don’t want to hand your house sitter a lengthy journal, but you should be able to use your record of upkeep as a basis for a simple schedule without missing anything important. Building the list in this manner will require preparation at least a week in advance, but the resulting to-do list will be more accurate, and you’ll be less likely to overlook something.

3. Review The Checklist With Your House Sitter And Receive Their Input

At this point your house should be stocked with everything the sitter needs to do their job and they should have a specific schedule to adhere to, so now you’ll want to go over the list and invite any inquiries or input they may have. Addressing their questions before your departure will ensure that you’re not interrupted unnecessarily during your vacation.

4. The Importance Of Choosing The Right Sitter

In an ideal scenario, you’ll be able to find a family member or close friend to stay at your house while you’re out of town, but if you wind up having to pay someone to do it, you’ll want to be very selective with your candidates to avoid the possibility of theft, property damage, or just poor house-sitting performance all around.