How to start a house sitting business
Specify the presence the owner is buying
A homeowner preparing to leave may say they just want someone to keep an eye on the place. That phrase could mean a short visit, an overnight stay, plant care, mail collection or several unrelated responsibilities. Your first business decision is to turn it into a clear service.
Choose between scheduled visits, overnight stays or a carefully defined combination. State whether the service includes watering plants, checking agreed areas, handling deliveries and caring for animals. Only accept pet care within your competence and with suitable arrangements; it should not appear as a casual addition to the house keys.
Set a service area that makes the visits practical. Consider travel, appointment windows and the time you are unavailable for other work during an overnight commitment. A long stay can occupy your calendar even when the active tasks are short.
Meet at the property before agreeing the instructions
Walk through the proposed checks with the owner. Identify the areas included, where supplies are kept and how access works. Ask about known faults, upcoming maintenance and other people who may enter. Do not take responsibility for a system you do not understand or a problem that needs a qualified repair.
Clarify expectations for heating or cooling controls, plants, mail and deliveries. Record only the information needed to provide the service. Avoid keeping sensitive documents or unnecessary personal details. Ask the owner to arrange specialist instructions or support for equipment beyond your competence.
Agree the contact who can authorize decisions when the owner is unreachable. Discuss what constitutes an urgent concern and who the qualified local providers are. Build the process before departure rather than relying on an informal promise to work it out by phone.
Establish a secure access routine
Decide how keys and codes will be transferred, stored, used and returned. Keep access information protected and limit it to authorized people. Do not label a key in a way that unnecessarily links it to an empty property. Use a process reviewed for your circumstances by suitable advisers.
Confirm whether alarm or access arrangements need the owner's provider involved. Do not advertise specialist security services you are not qualified or authorized to provide. A house sitting visit is not a guarantee that nothing will happen at the property.
| Access question | Arrangement to confirm |
|---|---|
| Initial handover | Who provides permission and working access? |
| Other visitors | Which people are expected and authorized? |
| Lost access | Who can resolve a key or code problem? |
| End of booking | How is return and final access confirmed? |
Plan for a failed entry before it happens. Explain the response if a lock, gate or code does not work. Do not improvise entry or ask an unauthorized neighbor to let you in. The agreement should make clear how the visit and any necessary follow-up are handled.
Check the business and its boundaries
Use the SBA launch guide for general startup questions. Check official state and local sources for the services you intend to offer, including any separate pet care or security activity. Ask qualified advisers when the service description raises uncertainty.
Discuss property access, keys, accidental damage, animals where included, transport and overnight stays with a licensed insurance agent. Have an attorney review authorization, responsibilities, emergency decisions, cancellations and confidentiality. Ask an accountant about business records and tax administration.
Explain that the owner should address their own property and insurance obligations with their insurer or other appropriate adviser. Do not interpret their policy or promise that your presence meets its conditions. Your agreement should describe the service you deliver, not make assumptions about someone else's coverage.
Price the time and responsibility honestly
Estimate travel, each visit, preparation, communication and administration. For overnight stays, consider the calendar commitment and any limits on leaving during the agreed period. Include transport, insurance, professional advice and other overhead, then allow for profit.
Define what extra tasks require a separate agreement. Additional animals, unexpected deliveries, a delayed return or an extra visit can change the commitment. Discuss how those changes are approved and charged before the booking starts.
Use completed bookings to refine your estimate. Note whether the instructions were workable and whether travel created pressure on other visits. Avoid comparing only the advertised nightly or visit price of another service without understanding its scope and availability.
Make each visit accountable without exposing the home
Follow the agreed checklist and record relevant observations factually. If something is outside the normal arrangement, contact the authorized person and appropriate qualified professional according to the agreed process. Do not attempt repairs or interventions beyond your competence.
Agree how you will confirm attendance and report concerns. Keep messages concise and avoid sharing photographs that expose access arrangements or private household details. Obtain explicit permission for any images needed to document a specific issue.
Have a backup process if you become unable to attend. The owner must know who, if anyone, is authorized to substitute and how access information will be protected. Do not quietly hand the booking to a friend or another service.
Close the booking as carefully as you opened it
Confirm the owner's return and the final visit arrangements. Report unresolved matters, return access items through the agreed method and send an invoice matching the service and approved changes. Remove or retain information according to a clear, appropriate records process.
Build awareness through honest service descriptions and suitable references used with permission. Never publish that a customer is away or show an occupied-home schedule. Review each booking for unclear tasks, access issues and emergency planning gaps before expanding the business. Dependable boundaries and discreet communication are the core of the offer.
A few good questions
Before you get started.
Does house sitting automatically include pet care?
No. Specify whether animals are included and only accept care within your competence and arrangements. Feeding, medication, walking and veterinary decisions should never be assumed from the phrase house sitting.
How should I handle keys and entry codes?
Use a secure process appropriate to the service, keep access information separate from unnecessary identifying details and agree handover and return. Never publish or casually share information that exposes an unoccupied property.
Can I promise to prevent every burglary or property problem?
No. Describe the checks and presence you provide without presenting house sitting as a security guarantee. Refer specialist security, maintenance and insurance questions to the appropriate professionals.