What's standard re house sitters and food in the house?

[WhereMyRosemaryGoes]

How can I politely say that obviously I don't mind if they use a bit of ketchup or cupboard staples, but I'll be a bit miffed if I come home to find they've finished everything?

I'll tell them to help themselves to anything perishable as it won't last until we get back.

If you are not paying them, then I would tell them to help them selves.

When someone did it for me as a favour I told them they were to help themselves to anything they wanted. I made sure that there was plenty of food in for them.

They're doing you a favour so I'd let them have anything, in fact I'd be stocking up and encouraging them

Interesting.
I see at it as us doing each other a favour.
They are not friends - we found them through an agency. They need somewhere to stay, and we need someone to feed the cat.
Perhaps I need to be more generous?

Why assume that they'll strip your cupboards bare rather than assuming most people are decent?

i didn't stock expensive items in the fridge but did leave basics: bread butter eggs cheese milk and pantry staples, tinned soups, jam etc. not necessarily top brands or lots of it but some stuff.
i did front some money (the week before they were due) for them to shop, and pay the remainder upon my return home.

I did house sitting through an agency for a little while, although it was years ago.

Most homeowners had run down the perishables before they left anyway, so they'd say to use whatever needs to be used.

The agreement was just as you say- they're welcome to a dash of soy sauce etc when cooking their dinner but no, you don't run down the pantry!

From the house sitters-side, when they were due back I'd leave fresh bread, milk & flowers. Also ensure there was enough coffee, tea, sugar etc.

No need to get food in for them.

How long are they staying for and what would a cattery cost you (and also maybe the comfort that your cat is at home and you won't be burgled as they are looking after your house), maybe think of that as a cost value. Also perhaps hide the really expensive things if you don't want them to be consumed. But personally it's probably more them doing you a favour. You don't have to say they can help themselves to everything if that's not what you want, but know there's a risk they might anyway. MN is a great example of how we all think differently and what is a CF to you might not be to me! Good luck!

I’ve seen other threads where people seem to stock up on food for the house sitter. What food do you have that you would rather they didn’t eat?

Wow you sound amazing, were you paid to do this? I had a family member stay at mine, I thought I was doing her a favour as she lived at home, and my place was much closer to her work. I don't usually have much food anyway and she made a comment about needing to go to the supermarket so I felt a bit embarrassed afterwards. I had left her a bottle of wine which I thought was nice 🙈😳

Maybe a welcome basket with a letter outlining everything they willl or may need to know. Cats routine, emergency numbers, vet info. Saying thank-you for taking care of the cat, and there are fresh eggs, butter, milk and juice in the fridge. You could put fruit and bread, rolls, bagels, cheese, tea, coffee, sugar, oats, biscuits, some tins of food they can just microwave. If they are down and out, I'd be sure to leave a lot of food and a basket of shampoo, soap ect. in the bathroom. Without saying, more than enough cat food and kitty litter.

@Judgyjudgy No I wasn't paid, the payment was swanning around beautiful houses close to work and pretending they were mine for a few weeks!

I think I was lucky to get basically nice & sensible people to "work" for. It's different when they're strangers via an agency than family or friends I would think. I still thought of them as clients even though they weren't paying me.

My sister does lots of house sitting and says that most people leave them wine and maybe some chocolates or coffee. They always say to help themselves but my sister never does take anything except perishables that will go off and storecupboard items.

I think if you've got the house-sitter through something like trusted house sitters then it's a more equal arrangement than if a friend or family member who lives relatively near is doing you a favour. So in the first case I'd expect them to not eat the food, in the second I'd expect them to take more.

I think letting people use store cupboard items is fair - eg oil, seasoning, flour.

and then leaving maybe some milk and bread

Glad I started this thread. Really like the idea of leaving them some bits and bobs to make them feel welcome.

I'll be using a house/pet sitter later this year for 2 weeks. Going through an agency so will be paying them but also plan to tell them to help themselves to anything in the fridge/freezer/pantry.

As long as they take really good care of my cats, I don't care they can clean me out if they want.