What to pack for a house sit: it's in the bag

First of all, congratulations on securing your house sit! Assuming you’ve met in person, over the phone or via video call with the pet parents and ironed out their expectations for your stay, now’s the time for the fun part - packing for your house sit. 

If you’re not quite a well-seasoned house sitter just yet, you might be wondering what on Earth you need to pack - the basics for a trip away, naturally. But what about other household bits for the pets and house? Well communication is key when it comes to knowing what’s yours to use, to bring, and to replace. So below, we’ll explore what you’ll need during your house sit, alongside which items you might need to agree on with pet parents before your stay.

Groceries

During your stay, it’s your responsibility as a sitter to provide your own food. While some generous pet parents might leave a fridge full of delicious treats and a fruit bowl on the side, others will expect you to bring your own groceries from the off. The best way to handle this? Discuss with pet parents what’s yours to use (think cupboard essentials like herbs, spices, seasonings and cooking oils), and what they’d prefer you didn’t touch (like their rather expensive single malt whisky!). A handy rule of thumb here is that if you don’t have permission, don’t eat or drink it. 

So whether pet parents leave a fridge of goodies or not, it’s your responsibility to bring in your own food once it’s run out. Plus, it can be a nice gesture to leave a few basic essentials (like bread and milk) behind for pet parents after their long journey home.

Clothes detergent

This may not be something you think of, but during a long sit, you’re going to want to wash your clothes! Bring a travel-sized bottle of clothes detergent that suits you - the last thing you want is to have a reaction or use something that you didn’t get permission for.

Clothes 

You might think we’re about to state the obvious here, but rest assured we aren’t about to remind you to pack clothes or to tell you that wearing pet parents’ garms is out of bounds (even though that’s all completely true!). What we would advise though is packing light - whether you’re hopping from house to house and making copious cute pet pals along the way, packing light is essential (and washing your clothes as you go, rather than packing more). While there may be more space to store your clothes during your sit (check where suits pet parents), space won’t be completely unlimited, and traveling with a smaller bag is a whole lot simpler!

Footwear

If you’re going to be caring for a new pooch pal, consider how much walking they’ll need (pet parents should give you their expectations on this front). Pack a pair of trainers or boots (that are made for walking), and make sure you consider the climate and what sort of other activities you’ll be getting up to during your stay. It may also be worth bringing a pair of slippers or a new pair of shower-safe flip flops if you prefer.

Bedding

While it’s the responsibility of pet parents to provide you with a place to sleep and bedding sheets (and a change of these) to sleep in, there are a couple of things you might want to bring as added extras to make your stay a little more comfortable for you. For example, you might want to bring your own pillow case, bed spray or even your own pillow if you’ve got a particular affinity with memory foam!

Local sim card

Local sim cards are especially useful if you’re going to be staying for an extended period of time, or if you’ve got various house sits secured for the same country in the near future. Some of the benefits of using a local sim include avoiding roaming charges, pay-as-you-go options are often cheaper, and contracts are very cheap if you don’t need a lot of internet data.

Travel plugs

Depending on where you’re traveling to, it’s always a good idea to bring along a local travel plug. That way, you can use your own electrical gadgets and appliances (like hair dryers, straighteners and chargers).

Electrical appliances

You might want to bring along your own hair dryer, straighteners or another appliance you’ve got a particular affinity with. While some pet parents may be happy with you using theirs, you should always check this first before going ahead.

Kensington lock

While where you’re staying should be safe and secure, it might give you extra peace of mind to make sure your laptop is kept as safe as possible. It’s super common for many of our members to work from home while pet sitting, so while keeping your laptop out of sight is always a good idea, a Kensington lock doubles its security. It’s a simple device (a bit like a bicycle lock) that attaches your computer or laptop to a stationary object, like a table.

International driving license

If you plan on renting a car while you’re away (always check pet parents are happy for you to drive with their furry family aboard), or pet parents are happy for you to use their car, you may need an international driving license. Just check which countries your current driving license is valid in and apply ahead of time if you need one for your sit destination.

First aid kit

Most homes will have a first aid kit of some description, but always double check this with pet parents if you’d like one to hand. And besides, it’s always an idea to bring a travel first aid kit with you - you need to be in good health to look after those new pet pals of yours!

Gifts

This is totally optional, but you may want to set off on the right foot with pet parents by arriving with a small gift for them and their furry family. If packing a gift is going to be difficult, leaving a small gift behind to thank pet parents for your stay is always a lovely gesture. 

Tips on social media etiquette for house sitters

While snapping away with your new pooch pal and sharing your adventures online feels like the most natural thing to do when you’re having a good time, there are a few things to consider before going ahead. Explore our tips on social media etiquette for house sitters to make sure you’re not sharing anything you shouldn’t.