Essential Questions to Ask Before Accepting a House Sit

Start with the basics and then move on to the details. How many pets are there, what are their names, what breeds are they, and how old are they? This may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how often an ad says "two cats" when in reality there are two cats, a dog, and an aquarium full of fish.

Ask them in detail about their daily routine. What time do they eat? What do they eat, and how much? Where do they sleep? Do they have regular walking routes or favorite parks? Pets are creatures of habit, and if you stick to their routine, it will make things a lot easier for both of you.

Health is of the utmost importance. Ask about any medications, allergies, or existing health issues. Find out if any of the pets are on a special diet. If a pet needs medication, ask for a demonstration before the owner leaves; "twice a day with meals" can mean very different things to different people.

Behavior is just as important as health. Do the dogs get along well with strangers? Do the cats go outside? Are there any possessive tendencies, separation anxiety, or overreactions you need to be aware of? These aren't necessarily reasons to walk away from the sit, but you do need to know what you're getting into.

Also ask about how the pets get along. Do the dog and cat get along well? Does one pet bully the other during mealtime? Is there a pecking order you need to be aware of? If you know how the dynamics work in the household, you'll avoid any surprises on your first day.

You're moving in with someone else, and that always involves a period of adjustment. Make sure you've taken care of the practical details before they leave.

Ask for the Wi-Fi password and network name, and make sure you have them written down before they leave. Also ask for the login credentials for streaming services, if they're willing to share them. Ask about the heating and cooling system, especially if you're staying in an unfamiliar climate. Nothing ruins a stay faster than not knowing how the thermostat works at 2 a.m.

Parking is an important consideration if you're coming by car. Is there a garage, a driveway, or street parking? Do you need a permit? Are there any parking restrictions you need to be aware of?

Ask about appliances that aren't immediately obvious. How does the washing machine work? Are there any quirks with the oven or dishwasher? Where is the vacuum cleaner? Do you need to dispose of trash and recyclables in a specific way? These may seem like small things, but dealing with an unfamiliar washing machine when you need clean clothes can quickly become a hassle.

Home security is also important. How do the locks work? Is there an alarm system, and how do you arm and disarm it? Are there security cameras, and if so, where? On GPS, homeowners are asked to list the locations of the cameras in their listing; this is both a legal and a privacy issue, and reputable platforms ensure that this information is clearly stated.

Ask if there are any areas of the house you're not allowed to enter or rooms you should keep closed. Some homeowners have a study or bedroom they'd rather you didn't use. It's better to know this in advance than to accidentally cross a line.

Many of these practical details should be included in the welcome guide for homeowners about GPS, which contains separate sections on using the home, connectivity, and device instructions. If any information is missing from the guide, be sure to ask; it's better to clarify things now than to get confused later.

Misaligned expectations are the main source of friction when house-sitting. Make sure you're on the same page before the house-sitting begins.

How often does the pet owner want to receive updates? Some people want a photo of their pet every day. Others just want to know if anything goes wrong. Make this clear in advance so you don't under-communicate with a worried pet owner or overwhelm someone who just wants to relax during their vacation.

Which communication method do they prefer? WhatsApp, text message, email, or GPS-based messages? Choose one channel and stick to it. Sending messages across multiple platforms leads to information getting lost.

Ask about guests. Can you invite a friend over for dinner? Can your partner stay the night? What about guests who stay overnight? These rules vary widely from one homeowner to another, and simply assuming they're the same can lead to problems.

Are you expected to do more than just take care of the pets? Some homeowners expect you to do occasional household chores, water the plants, pick up the mail, or move the car. These are reasonable requests, but you should be made aware of them in advance.

Discuss the logistics of arrival and departure. What time can you arrive? When do you need to leave? Is there a time when you can join them in their daily routine with the pets? Even just a few hours of overlap will make the transition much smoother for the animals.

You hope you'll never need this information, but you definitely need to have it on hand.

Write down the veterinarian's name, address, and phone number. Make sure to include not only the name of the practice, but also the actual address and a direct phone number. Ask if there is a designated veterinarian for emergencies outside of regular business hours, as the regular veterinarian and the emergency veterinarian are often located at different sites.

Ask for the pet's insurance information, if available. In an emergency, you don't want to have to hesitate about whether to give consent for a procedure because you're not sure if the costs will be covered.

Who is your local emergency contact? This should be someone in the neighborhood who knows your pets and can help if something goes wrong. A neighbor, a family member, a friend—someone you can call in the middle of the night if the dog gets into something he shouldn't.

Ask where the first-aid supplies are kept. Does the homeowner have a first-aid kit for pets? Where are the cat carriers kept, in case you need to transport them quickly?

The GPS Welcome Guide includes a separate section for emergencies, where homeowners can list their veterinarian's contact information, details about emergency animal care services, and emergency contacts. Please make sure this section is completed and up to date before the pet-sitting period begins.

Discuss the owner's wishes regarding medical decisions. What is the budget limit for emergency veterinary care? Are there any procedures they would prefer to avoid? If the pet has a chronic condition, when should you call the vet, and when is it better to wait and see? By having these conversations before anything happens, you can avoid feeling paralyzed by pressure when making important decisions.

If you are familiar with the area, your stay will be safer and more enjoyable for both you and your pets.

Ask about walking routes for dogs. Are there any areas nearby where dogs are allowed to run free? Are there any dogs in the neighborhood that your dog should avoid? Are there certain paths that the dog is familiar with and expects to walk along? A dog that suddenly stops during a walk is likely trying to turn off toward its usual route.

Ask where the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and hospital are. These are practical details you'll want to know, especially when you're new to an area. Check to see if there are any food delivery services that deliver to that address.

Are there any things you should be aware of in this neighborhood? Animals that might scare your pets, construction noise at certain times, or a neighbor who always lets his dog run loose? Local knowledge helps prevent local problems.

Ask your neighbors. Which neighbors know you're home? Is there someone next door who keeps an eye on things? Does any of your neighbors have a spare key? It's reassuring to know there's someone nearby who won't be startled by a stranger in the house.

Public transportation is essential if you don't have a car. How far is the nearest bus stop or train station? Is there a bike you can use? It's no fun to be stuck at a house-sitting job in the suburbs without a car or access to public transportation.

Not every job is a good job, and the answers to your questions can help you identify any potential issues before you commit.

Vague answers about pet behavior. If a pet owner seems evasive when you ask questions about aggression, irritability, or anxiety, that's a red flag. A responsible pet owner is open about their pet's challenges because they want the pet sitter to be prepared and not face any surprises.

No vet information available. If a homeowner can't tell you who their veterinarian is or doesn't seem concerned about emergency plans, it raises questions about the care the pets receive and the support you can expect if something goes wrong.

Excessive rules without context. A long list of rules is fine, as long as they're accompanied by explanations. "Don't let the cat near the balcony" makes sense. But a homeowner who sends you three pages of rules and seems to worry about everything might be hard to please, no matter how well your stay goes.

Reluctance to do a video call or meet in person. Most reputable homeowners want to talk to you first before booking you. If someone insists on booking you right away without having had a proper conversation, they may be desperate, which means other sitters may have already turned down this job.

Downplaying the workload. "The dogs are super easy," followed by a care guide that reads like a thesis, is a contradiction worth noting. Some pet owners genuinely don't realize how much work their pets entail, because they've made their routines second nature over the years.

No overlap offered. A homeowner who wants to leave as soon as you arrive—or even before that—doesn't exactly make things easy for you. Try to arrange for at least a few hours of overlap so you can get used to the pets' routine while the homeowner is still there.

You don't need to bombard the homeowner with a checklist of 50 questions in a single conversation. Spread your questions out over your initial messages, the video call, and when you arrive.

Start your first conversation by covering the basics: pets, dates, and general expectations. Save the practical details—such as Wi-Fi passwords and trash collection days—for a follow-up message or for the day of arrival.

Ask the owner to put together a written guide. Most experienced GPS owners already have one, but if they don't, suggest it. A document containing feeding schedules, the veterinarian's contact information, emergency contact details, and instructions for the home is invaluable.

When you arrive, take photos of everything that's important: the thermostat settings, the alarm panel, the labels on the pet food, and the emergency numbers on the fridge. If you have these saved on your phone, you'll never have to dig through notes to find them again.

Trust your instincts. If the answers to your questions make you feel uneasy, if something doesn't feel right, or if the homeowner brushes off your concerns as unimportant, then it's perfectly fine to turn down the offer. A bad house sitting job can be exhausting and lead to a negative review. A good house-sitting job boosts your confidence and your reputation. Making wise choices is one of the most important skills a house sitter can develop.

The best conversations are those in which both parties start off with clear expectations and open communication. Your questions aren't just there to protect yourself; they also show the homeowner that you take this seriously. And for that reason alone, they're more likely to choose you.