Pet Sitting House Rules Checklist
A pet sitting house rules checklist for independent sitters covering rooms, alarms, supplies, guests, cameras, chores, thermostat, trash, packages, and privacy.
Quick checklist: what this should cover
| Part | What to include | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Access and security | Keys, codes, alarms, doors, windows, gates, garage, and lockup routine. | Security mistakes can be serious. |
| Allowed areas | Rooms the sitter may use and rooms that are off-limits. | Boundaries protect privacy. |
| Supplies | Food, litter, leashes, towels, cleaning supplies, medications, carriers. | The sitter should not search the home. |
| Home tasks | Mail, packages, trash, plants, lights, thermostat, and appliances. | Only agreed tasks should be expected. |
| Privacy and guests | Cameras, visitors, other service providers, and overnight rules. | Everyone needs clear expectations. |
Before service begins, please provide house rules for access, alarms, rooms, pet supplies, cleaning supplies, thermostat, trash, mail/packages, plants, cameras, visitors, and emergency home contacts. The sitter will use the home only for agreed pet-care and house-check tasks. Rooms or areas marked private/off-limits will not be entered unless there is an emergency involving the pet or home.
Why house rules belong in writing
Pet sitters work inside private homes, often while clients are away. Written house rules reduce guessing and protect both sides. The sitter knows what is allowed, and the client knows what will and will not be handled.
What to ask before the first booking
Ask where supplies are stored, which doors to use, how to lock up, whether alarms are active, where towels and cleaning supplies are located, which rooms are private, and whether any other people may enter during the booking.
How to handle household chores
Some light tasks are common during pet sitting, such as mail, packages, plants, lights, and trash. But chores should be listed and priced if they add time. The sitter should not discover a hidden chore list after accepting the booking.
Privacy and professional boundaries
House rules should clarify that the sitter enters only agreed areas for pet care and home checks. Clients should also disclose cameras and service providers. Privacy goes both ways.
How house rules improve repeat care
A repeat client should not have to re-explain everything, and the sitter should not rely on memory. Keep the house rules in the client notes and update them when supplies move, codes change, or routines shift.
What belongs in the notes after the first booking
After the first booking, add the details you only learn by doing the work: which door sticks, where the pet hides, which trash bin is correct, whether the garage keypad is slow, and where the client actually keeps backup supplies. Those small operational notes make the next booking smoother and help the sitter look unusually prepared.
How to add this to your client process
Put the short version on your booking page and the fuller version in your service agreement or welcome packet. Then repeat the key rule in the confirmation message when the booking includes that situation. A client should not discover an important policy only after something goes wrong.
Keep one master version of the policy and update every place it appears when you revise it. If your booking page says one thing and your agreement says another, the client will naturally remember the version they prefer. Consistency is part of being professional.
When to review this policy
Review this after holidays, storms, urgent requests, awkward client conversations, or any booking where you felt underpaid or unclear. If the same issue happens twice, it belongs in writing. A good policy is not static; it gets sharper as the sitter learns what real bookings require.
How this affects pricing
Any policy that changes the amount of time, risk, travel, privacy, or responsibility in a booking should connect back to pricing. If the work requires extra communication, extra cleanup, difficult access, special timing, or a higher chance of disruption, the quote should reflect that. A policy without pricing follow-through often turns into unpaid labor.
Use your calculator and your real calendar to check whether the service still makes sense. A small fee can be appropriate for minor extra work, but a longer visit or separate premium service may be better when the task changes the shape of the booking.
How to explain it without sounding rigid
Clients usually respond better when the sitter explains the reason behind the rule in plain language. The message can be simple: the policy helps keep pets safe, keeps the schedule reliable, and makes sure the sitter can provide the care promised. That tone is firm without being cold.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the sitter can find supplies without instructions.
- Not asking which rooms are off-limits.
- Forgetting alarm, gate, or garage details.
- Letting clients add chores that were not priced.
- Skipping camera disclosure in the house rules.
Simple workflow for using this
- Send the checklist before the meet-and-greet.
- Review important items in person when possible.
- Add final house rules to the client notes.
- Confirm any chores that affect price or visit length.
- Update the checklist when the client moves supplies or changes access.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a pet sitting house rules checklist?
Access, alarms, rooms, supplies, chores, thermostat, trash, packages, cameras, visitors, privacy, and emergency contacts.
Should house chores cost extra?
Sometimes. If chores add time or responsibility beyond basic pet care, they should be quoted clearly.
Should clients disclose cameras in house rules?
Yes. Cameras, pet cameras, doorbells, smart displays, and audio devices should be disclosed before service.