House sitting is more than simply staying in someone else’s home. It’s the quiet trust of being handed keys, the responsibility of caring for much-loved pets, and the challenge of making yourself comfortable in a space that isn’t yet yours. Every sit begins the same way — new rooms, new routines, new little sounds in the night — and a moment where you take a breath and find your feet.

This Sitter Essentials collection was created to gently support that moment. It brings together three simple areas that can transform how a sit feels: the small comforts that help you settle and feel at home, the practical essentials that allow you to care for pets and property with confidence, and the thoughtful touches that help build warm, respectful relationships with homeowners. They’re not about having more — they’re about feeling steady, prepared, and kind.

Everything here is chosen with our community at heart, shaped by real experience and a deep respect for the trust that house sitting requires. If these simple tools help even one sit feel calmer, one pet feel safer, or one connection feel stronger, then they’ve done exactly what they’re meant to do.

Created by experienced house sitters · Community-led · Pet-first · Trust-focused

Transparency matters to us. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means RHS may receive a small commission if you purchase through them. This helps support the resources we create, and never affects the price you pay.

Arriving at a new house is often quiet and disorienting — unfamiliar rooms, unfamiliar sounds, someone else’s life around you. Having a few personal comforts with you can anchor that moment. These are the small, familiar things that ground you, soften the edges of change, and gently turn a stranger’s home into a place where you feel safe, steady, and at ease.

Looking after someone else’s pets and home is a responsibility most house sitters take deeply to heart. It’s the quiet, everyday details that build trust — clean spaces, well-cared-for animals, and small problems handled before they become big ones. These essentials are the simple, reliable tools that help sits run smoothly, support good pet care, and give homeowners peace of mind. They’re not glamorous, but they’re the kind of thoughtful preparation that makes all the difference.

House sitting is built on trust, and small gestures can speak louder than words. A simple gift for a pet, a thank-you for a homeowner, or a thoughtful detail on arrival or departure can quietly strengthen that connection. These little touches aren’t about obligation — they’re about kindness, respect, and leaving people (and pets) feeling genuinely cared for.

Transparency matters to us. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means RHS may receive a small commission if you purchase through them. This helps support the resources we create, and never affects the price you pay.