How to Create a House Sitter Welcome Pack

A house sitter welcome pack is a collection of practical information, everyday essentials, and a few thoughtful extras gathered in one place for the person looking after your home. Think of it as a care manual for your house, written by the person who knows it best: you.

Why does it matter? Because even a confident, experienced sitter is walking into an unfamiliar space. They don't know which light switch controls the porch light, whether the shower runs hot on the left or the right, or where you keep the trash bags. Every unanswered question is a minor stress point. Multiply those by a dozen and the first evening goes from relaxing to frustrating.

A good welcome pack removes that friction. Your sitter can settle in quickly, find what they need without guessing, and actually enjoy being in your home. You get fewer "quick question" texts while you're trying to enjoy your holiday. Everyone wins.

It doesn't need to be elaborate. A printed sheet and a basket on the kitchen counter works beautifully. What matters is that the right information is there when your sitter needs it.

Start with the things your sitter will need within the first five minutes of arriving. If they can't get online or reach you in an emergency, nothing else in the welcome pack matters.

• House keys (clearly labeled: front door, back door, garage, mailbox)
• WiFi network name and password (written out, not just spoken)
• Alarm code or smart lock instructions
• Your phone number and a backup contact (neighbor, family, or friend nearby)
• Any gate or building access codes
• Parking instructions (assigned spot, permit, garage remote)

For detailed instructions on covering every room, see our house sitter instructions template. The welcome pack is the quick-reference version: the facts your sitter needs right now, not the full manual.

Even if you plan to walk your sitter through the house in person, put the key points on paper (or in a shared document). People forget details the moment you leave, especially when they're processing a lot of new information at once.

Room by room, note anything non-obvious:

• Thermostat: Where it is, how to adjust it, and what temperature you recommend. ("We usually keep it at 68F / 20C. The dial is in the hallway by the stairs.")
• Hot water: If there's a boiler that needs switching on, or a timer that controls it, explain how.
• Quirks: Every house has them. The bathroom door that sticks. The kitchen window you need to lift slightly to lock. The dishwasher dial that looks broken but works if you push it in while turning. Your sitter will discover these eventually. Better they learn from your notes than from a stuck door at midnight.
• Bins and recycling: Which bin is for what, which day they go out, and where to put them. This varies hugely between neighborhoods and is almost impossible to guess.
• Fuse box / circuit breaker: Where it is and how to reset a tripped switch. Label the breakers if you can.
• Water shutoff: Location of the main water valve. This is critical in winter or if your home has older plumbing.

Your sitter is going to eat. Making the kitchen feel available and welcoming goes a long way. You don't need to stock a full fridge, but a few basics mean your sitter can make a cup of tea or cook a simple meal without a grocery run on their first night.

• Coffee, tea, sugar, and milk (or a note saying 'help yourself to anything in the fridge')
• Bread, butter, eggs, or whatever you'd consider a basic breakfast
• Salt, pepper, olive oil, and a few staple spices
• A snack or two: biscuits, fruit, cereal bars
• Dish soap, sponge, and clean tea towels
• A note about which food is fair game and which is off-limits

Then point your sitter toward the good stuff nearby. A short list of local food recommendations makes the stay feel more like a holiday and less like a chore.

• Nearest supermarket (and hours, if they close early)
• Best coffee shop within walking distance
• A good takeaway spot for a tired evening
• Your favorite restaurant for a treat night
• The farmers' market if there is one (day and location)

A sentence or two per place is enough. "Carlo's Pizza on High Street does the best margherita in town. Cash only." That kind of specificity is what makes a recommendation useful.

Your sitter is living in your home, not just maintaining it. A few small things make the difference between a house that feels like a job and one that feels like a place to relax.

• Streaming logins (Netflix, Spotify, etc.) or a note saying they're welcome to use them
• TV remote instructions if your setup involves multiple remotes or an HDMI switch
• Book recommendations from your shelves
• Board games, puzzles, or anything fun you'd be happy to share
• Clean towels (set out clearly, not mixed in with your personal stash)
• Extra blankets (note where they are, especially if evenings get cold)
• A spare phone charger

Streaming services deserve a special mention. If you're comfortable sharing your login, write it down. If you'd rather not, that's completely fine. Just be clear either way so your sitter doesn't feel awkward asking. Consider setting up a separate guest profile so your watchlist stays intact.

Your sitter might be from another city, another country, or just across town. Either way, they don't know your neighborhood the way you do. A brief orientation saves them from wandering around looking for a pharmacy at 9 PM.

• Walking routes: If there's a nice loop for morning walks or a park nearby, mention it. If you have a dog, this is essential (see our guide on what to leave for your pet sitter).
• Public transport: Nearest bus stop or train station, and which app to use for schedules.
• Medical: Closest pharmacy, urgent care clinic, and the hospital your vet is near (if you have pets). Include addresses, not just names.
• Safety notes: Anything your sitter should know. Is there a neighborhood watch? Areas to avoid after dark? A friendly neighbor who keeps an eye on things?
• Mail and packages: What to do with incoming mail. Are you expecting any deliveries? Should they hold packages inside or is the porch safe?
• Noise: If there's regular street noise, early garbage collection, or a rooster next door, a heads-up prevents an unpleasant surprise at 5 AM.

None of these are required. All of them are remembered.

Leave a handwritten note on the kitchen counter. It doesn't need to be a letter. A few lines are plenty: "Welcome! There's coffee in the top left cupboard and the best croissants in town are at Baker & Co on Elm Street. We hope you feel at home."

Other ideas that sitters consistently mention as standout gestures:

• A bottle of wine, a pack of local beer, or a nice box of tea. Match it to your sitter if you know their preferences.
• A small basket of local products: honey from the farmers' market, chocolate from that shop downtown, a bag of good coffee beans.
• A pre-paid transit card loaded with a few rides (useful in cities).
• Flowers in a vase. Simple, inexpensive, and surprisingly effective at making a space feel lived-in rather than vacant.
• A small guidebook or local magazine left on the coffee table.

The common thread is thoughtfulness, not expense. A handwritten note and a bag of coffee beans costs less than dinner out, but it tells your sitter: "We care that you're comfortable here." That feeling shapes the whole sit.

If you also have pets, your welcome pack overlaps with your pet sitter checklist. Keep the pet information separate and organized so your sitter can find feeding schedules without flipping through your restaurant recommendations.

Both work. Each has trade-offs. The best approach depends on your sitter, your home, and how often you host.

Physical (printed or handwritten):

• Always accessible, even if WiFi is down or a phone dies
• Feels personal, especially with a handwritten note
• Can include physical items (keys, snacks, local maps)
• Harder to update for repeat sitters or changing details
• Easy to misplace in a stack of papers

Digital (shared doc, PDF, or a dedicated app):

• Searchable and easy to update
• Can include links, maps, and embedded videos
• Shareable before the sitter even arrives
• Sitter can access it from anywhere on their phone
• Lacks the warmth of a physical note or basket

If you're looking for a way to pull it all together without wrestling with Google Docs formatting, that's exactly what Vadem is built for. You fill in your home details once, and your sitter gets a single link with everything they need: house instructions, contacts, daily schedules, access codes (encrypted and time-limited), and neighborhood recommendations. It's a digital welcome pack that stays up to date across every trip.