🕵️♀️ Top 5 Questions to Ask a House Sitter (Before You Hand Over the Keys!)

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and invite a Housepawty sitter into your life - and your lounge. Bravo! We love a trust fall moment. But before you hand over the keys and instructions for watering the finicky fiddle-leaf fig, let’s talk about what really matters.

Here are our top 5 questions to ask your potential sitter to make sure your home and fur-babies are in the right hands (ideally ones that don’t feed toast to your cat).

1. Do you come alone… or is this a team sport?

This isn’t Love Island: House Edition. You deserve to know if your sitter is planning to rock up solo or if you’ll be hosting their boyfriend, gran, or emotional support ferret too.
Ask clearly:

“Is it just you staying, or do you have any plus-ones (human or otherwise)?”

It’s not about being unfriendly - it’s about keeping things safe, respectful, and aligned with your expectations. And your parrot probably doesn’t want to adjust to more new faces than necessary.

2. How will you juggle your own life while staying in mine?

Your sitter might have online meetings, Pilates classes, or a sourdough starter to check on at home. Ask:

“How will you balance your personal responsibilities while house-sitting?”

You want someone who can genuinely commit to being present - especially if you have a clingy cocker spaniel or a complicated bin day schedule.

Bonus points if they reply with a colour-coded Google Calendar.

3. What’s your ‘uh-oh’ plan if things go sideways?

We’re not trying to manifest doom here, but… stuff happens. A burst pipe, a sick pet, an unexpected ghost sighting (hey, it’s possible).
Ask:

“What’s your plan if something goes wrong? Who would you contact, and how would you handle it?”

Look for answers that include common sense, calm thinking, and at least one emergency contact who isn’t just “my mate Josh who once fixed a washing machine.”

4. Have you ever had a ‘Housepawty Drama’ before? How did it end?

We’ve all had moments - awkward chats, mismatched expectations, maybe even a fridge dispute. What matters is how people deal with them.
Try asking:

“Have you ever had a disagreement with a homeowner? How was it resolved?”

A sitter who can own up to past hiccups and explain how they handled things with grace is probably someone who will do the same for you.

And no, storming off with the cat in tow doesn’t count as conflict resolution.

5. What makes you a Housepawty legend-in-the-making?

It’s not just about feeding pets and not burning down the kitchen. Ask:

“What do you love about house-sitting? What makes you great at it?”

You want someone who sees this as more than just free accommodation. Maybe they love bonding with animals, maybe they have a weirdly intense interest in hedge maintenance - whatever it is, passion matters!

Bonus Round: Quick-Fire Fun!

If the vibe’s right, toss in a few lightning-round questions:

• “How do you feel about indoor plants that are basically on life support?”
• “Do you know how to reset a Wi-Fi router without crying?”
• “What’s your go-to pet-sitting anthem?”

Because at the end of the day, you're not just looking for a sitter—you’re inviting someone to pawty in your space. And every good pawty starts with the right guest list.

Need help matching with your perfect Housepawty sitter? We’ve got you. Check out our platform to browse friendly, verified humans who love your pets as much as you do - ghost sightings not guaranteed.