One of the most common questions I get from new clients is some version of, "What do I actually need to do before you arrive?"
The honest answer is: less than you'd think. The whole point of overnight live-in pet sitting is that you don't need to scrub the house or stage the pantry. But there are a few small things that, in my experience, make the stay smoother for everyone — your pets, your house, and the sitter.
Here's the checklist I share with new Raleigh clients before their first stay.
A few days out
Refill anything your pet runs through. Food, prescription meds, treats, litter, pee pads, poop bags. Sitters can absolutely run to the store, but a stop at PetSmart on Glenwood eats into time we'd rather spend with your dog or cat.
Wash the bed and a couple of toys. Pets settle better when their familiar things smell familiar. If their favorite blanket is in the laundry on day one, they'll notice.
Confirm your vet on file. Make sure I know who your vet is, where they are, and the name of your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic. In Raleigh, that's usually one of the well-known emergency hospitals off Capital or Tryon — but I want your vet's name, not a guess.
The day before
Leave a written care sheet on the counter. Even if we covered it at the Meet & Greet, write it down. Feeding times, food amounts, walk schedule, medication doses, "do not feed from the table," "let her out one more time before bed" — anything you'd want a babysitter to know. I've never had a client over-explain.
Show me where things live. Treats, leashes, harnesses, the scoop, extra towels, the broom and dustpan, the vacuum, the trash bags, paper towels, cleaning supplies. A two-minute kitchen-and-laundry-room walkthrough at the Meet & Greet covers most of this.
Set out the meds in the order they're given. A small basket on the counter labeled "Bella morning" / "Bella evening" with the bottles and a pill pocket pouch removes a lot of room for error. If your pet gets a half-pill, pre-cut a few so I can match the dose exactly.
The morning you leave
Empty the kitchen trash and run the dishwasher. It sounds silly, but coming home to a stale kitchen is one of the things clients consistently mention. Starting empty makes it much easier to keep things tidy.
Top off the water bowl. Some pets get nervous on day one and drink more than usual. A full, clean bowl covers the first few hours while we get into a rhythm.
Leave the WiFi password. I always send daily photo and video updates, and the upload happens faster on your home network than on cell data. The password can just be on the care sheet.
Tell me where the spare key is. Even if you've given me a copy, knowing where the backup lives is one of those small things that matters if I ever get locked out coming back from a walk.
Things I'll do once I'm there
You don't have to do these — these are mine. I bring in mail and packages daily, take the trash and recycling to the curb on collection day, alternate a few lights at night so the house looks lived-in, and water plants you've pointed out. If you have a security system, I'll arm and disarm it on the schedule you set.
What you really don't need to do
You don't need to clean the guest room beyond making sure the sheets are fresh. You don't need to leave food in the fridge for me — I bring my own. You don't need to apologize for the dog hair on the couch. (We have dogs. There will be dog hair.)
The pets just need their routine. The house just needs to feel normal. That's it.
If you're getting ready for your first overnight stay with me, this list is a good place to start. And if I missed something specific to your home, we'll catch it together at the Meet & Greet.