For Property Owners Providing House Sitting
How to request sitters to complete the questionnaire
(Copy this text, save it as an email draft, or bookmark this page for later use and send this text to a potential sitter.)
Completion of the Nordic House Sitters sitter confirmation questionnaire is required.
Sitters are expected to complete the questionnaire to the best of their knowledge and publish their completed version on their own blog or document page, keeping the Disclaimer intact.
The sitter should then share a link to their completed questionnaire for review.
To access the questionnaire format and instructions, visit Nordic House Sitters or search for
“The Nordic House Sitters sitter confirmation questionnaire”.
Copy the full text (Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C) and paste it into your own document or page to complete it.
A link to a downloadable copy is available below for convenience.
HOUSE-SITTING DETAILS — SITTER CONFIRMATION
Introduction
Before confirming a sit, please review and confirm the points below.
This questionnaire is intended to clarify how you operate during house-sitting stays and to reduce misunderstandings later (e.g. “I assumed this was understood” or “I thought this was fine”).
Please mark each item with an uppercase X inside the brackets and add comments where clarification is needed — even if the information was mentioned earlier in messages or conversations.
How to download, save, and share this document (without losing control)
This document is provided as a template.
You must create and edit your own copy.
To use it, download it or make a copy, then save and edit it in your own document.
Click here to learn how to save and edit this document on:
Google Docs, Microsoft Word / OneDrive, and Apple Pages.
How to fill in this document
- Mark your answers by placing an uppercase X inside the brackets [ ].
- Some Comments lines include example text.
- – If an example applies, you may leave it as is or bold it.
- – If it does not apply, delete it.
- – You may also click at the end of the prefilled example text, press Enter, and add your own comments.
- Add comments wherever clarification may help — even if the point was discussed previously.
Example:
Tap water drinkable:
Yes [X] No [ ]
Comments:
(press Enter here and type your response)
Result:
Comments: Drinkable, but bottled water preferred due to taste
Reuse & sharing
This questionnaire format may be reused by sitters for similar situations and shared with property owners, provided the copyright notice remains intact.
Sitters may publish this questionnaire format in full on their own websites or blogs, including the Disclaimer.
They may then link to that page from social posts, profiles, or messages and share that link directly with property owners.
When sharing this format, the Disclaimer section must remain unchanged.
The full explanation and current version of this questionnaire are published by The Nordic House Sitters and can be found by searching for the questionnaire title or the name Nordic House Sitters.
How to use this format
This document is provided as a format only. Please do not fill it out in the original document.
To use it:
- Copy the full questionnaire text or download a copy if available.
- Paste it into your own Google Doc, Word document, or other text editor.
- Complete the questionnaire in your own document.
- Share your completed version privately with the property owner (for example, by email or file link).
Please choose a format that ensures the recipient has full access to read the content.
Purpose
This questionnaire helps property owners understand how a sitter operates in real situations, especially during longer stays.
It is intended to clarify expectations and avoid misunderstandings before confirming a sit.
Please answer honestly. There are no “right” answers — only compatible or incompatible ones.
Background & Experience
Previous house-sitting experience:
[ ] First sit
[ ] Occasional sits
[ ] Regular / long-term sits
Comments (length of stays, locations, examples):
Experience with long-term stays (over 4 weeks):
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments:
References available from previous owners:
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments (how many, from where):
Responsibility & Autonomy
When a non-urgent issue arises (e.g. minor plumbing issue, appliance malfunction), what is your usual approach:
[ ] Handle it independently if possible
[ ] Inform owner before taking action
[ ] Wait for owner instructions
Comments:
If an urgent issue occurs (e.g. water leak, heating failure, power outage), what would you do first:
[ ] Attempt immediate mitigation
[ ] Contact owner immediately
[ ] Contact emergency services or professionals
Comments (order of actions, decision-making):
Responsibility trade-off (forced choice)
When two responsibilities conflict (e.g. work obligation vs animal care, travel plans vs property issue), which takes priority:
[ ] Animal welfare
[ ] Property protection
[ ] My work or schedule
[ ] Owner instructions regardless of urgency
Comments (why, and a real example if available):
Problem Handling & Stress Response
Describe a situation where something went wrong during a stay and how you handled it:
Comments:
How comfortable are you making decisions on behalf of the owner if they are temporarily unreachable:
Comfortable [ ] Somewhat [ ] Uncomfortable [ ]
Comments:
Scenario with irreversible cost
Scenario:
You discover a slow water leak on a Sunday evening.
You are unsure whether it will worsen overnight.
The owner is unreachable.
What do you do first:
[ ] Shut off water and investigate further
[ ] Call a professional immediately
[ ] Monitor and wait until morning
[ ] Ask a neighbour
Comments (reasoning and sequence of actions):
Communication Style
Preferred communication method during the sit:
Email [ ] Phone / SMS [ ] Signal [ ] Viber [ ] MS Teams [ ] Google Meet [ ]
Preferred frequency of updates:
[ ] Only if needed
[ ] Occasional updates
[ ] Regular check-ins
Comments:
Time zone flexibility for communication if travelling:
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments:
Boundaries & Use of Property
Guest policy during the sit:
[ ] No guests
[ ] Occasional visitors (non-overnight)
[ ] Overnight guests with permission
Comments:
Comfort level with:
Using owner’s vehicle Yes [ ] No [ ]
Operating equipment or tools Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments (experience, limits):
Boundary-respect signal
If a house rule seems unnecessary or overly cautious to you, how do you usually handle it:
[ ] Follow it as stated
[ ] Ask once for clarification, then follow it
[ ] Adapt it based on my judgment
Comments:
Animals, Property Care & Routine
Experience with animals (if applicable):
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments (type, level of responsibility):
Comfort level handling unexpected animal issues (illness, escape, injury):
Comfortable [ ] Somewhat [ ] Uncomfortable [ ]
Comments:
Legal & Practical Awareness
Local registration & legal requirements
Are you familiar with local registration or reporting requirements when staying long-term in another country (e.g. municipality registration, police notification, residency rules):
Yes [ ] No [ ] Partially [ ]
Do you actively make yourself familiar with local requirements when staying in a new country:
Yes [ ] No [ ] Depends [ ]
Comments (experience, approach, examples if applicable):
Insurance & personal responsibility
Do you have your own personal insurance or coverage that applies during house-sitting stays
(e.g. travel insurance, personal liability, or equivalent):
Yes [ ] No [ ] Not applicable [ ]
Comments (type of coverage, general scope if relevant):
I understand that I am responsible for my own personal insurance and that a property owner’s home insurance does not automatically cover me.
Confirmed [ ]
Availability & Commitment
Are you travelling continuously or based in one location:
Travelling [ ] Based [ ]
Flexibility to extend a sit if circumstances change:
Yes [ ] No [ ] Depends [ ]
Comments:
Travel Profile & Lifestyle
Which of the following best describes your current travel style (select all that apply):
[ ] Primarily house sitting to reduce travel and accommodation costs
[ ] Digital nomad (remote work as primary income)
[ ] Content creator (travel, lifestyle, or other)
[ ] Van traveller / mobile living
[ ] Occasional house sitter between other accommodations
[ ] Other (please specify):
Comments (how this affects your availability, routines, or stay preferences):
Estimated number of people associated with the stay (including yourself, travel companions, or expected visitors):
[ ] 1 (solo) [ ] 2 [ ] 3–4 [ ] 5 or more
Do you expect friends, collaborators, or acquaintances to visit you during the sit:
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments (who, how often, and whether visits would involve overnight stays):
Do you take part in organised activities during your travels that could involve additional people at or near the property, or affect the use, security, or quiet enjoyment of the property (e.g. meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, protests, campaigns, or similar activities):
Yes [ ] No [ ]
If yes, please specify:
Type of activity:
Comments:
Could this activity reasonably involve:
Additional visitors to the property Yes [ ] No [ ]
Noise or disruption Yes [ ] No [ ]
Interaction with authorities (e.g. police, municipality) Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments (timing, frequency, precautions taken):
Online Presence & Activity
Do you maintain a website, blog, or active online profile related to your travel or lifestyle:
Yes [ ] No [ ]
If yes:
Main purpose of the site or profile (e.g. personal blog, content creation, community, activism, business):
Comments:
How frequently do you update or post:
[ ] Occasionally
[ ] Weekly
[ ] Several times per week
[ ] Daily or more
Does this activity involve:
Visitors coming to the property Yes [ ] No [ ]
Filming or recording on-site Yes [ ] No [ ]
Time-sensitive schedules or live events Yes [ ] No [ ]
Comments (anything an owner should be aware of):
Living Arrangements Between Sits
How do you usually stay, sleep, or live when not currently house sitting (select all that apply):
[ ] Rented accommodation (short or long-term)
[ ] Own home or base
[ ] Van / camper / mobile setup
[ ] Staying with friends or family
[ ] Combination of the above
Comments (typical setup, stability, anything relevant for longer sits):
Fallback accommodation confirmation
In the event a sit ends early or is cancelled, I confirm that I have independent accommodation options and will not rely on extending the sit:
Yes [ ]
No [ ]
Comments:
Lifestyle, Stability & Routine
How would you describe your general lifestyle during stays:
[ ] Quiet / low-key
[ ] Balanced / social at times
[ ] Highly social
[ ] Irregular / event-driven
Comments (routine, work hours, travel patterns):
Alcohol use during a sit:
[ ] None
[ ] Occasional / moderate
[ ] Regular
[ ] Prefer not to say
Comments (if relevant to the stay):
Do you regularly follow or attend events that could affect your routine during a sit (e.g. football matches, tournaments, festivals, rallies, concerts):
Yes [ ] No [ ]
If yes, please specify:
Type of events:
Comments (frequency, travel involved, visitors, late nights, anything relevant for longer sits):
Final Notes
Is there anything a property owner should know about how you operate during stays:
Comments:
Consistency cross-check
Looking back at your answers above, is there anything you feel could reasonably surprise an owner during a long stay:
Yes [ ]
No [ ]
If yes, explain:
No-heroics confirmation
I understand that this role is about stability and continuity, not improvement, activism, or personal projects during the stay.
Confirmed [ ]
A link to a downloadable copy
Translations of this questionnaire
Translations of this questionnaire may be created and hosted by third parties.
Any translated version must clearly state the translator and language used.
The Disclaimer section stays in English.
A translated version may be added below it for reference only.
Names, titles, and search phrases (including “The Nordic House Sitters”) must remain exactly as written.
The English version remains the controlling version.
The Nordic House Sitters do not verify or take responsibility for translations.
Disclaimer
This questionnaire is intended to support clarity and compatibility in pet-sitting and house-sitting arrangements.
It is not a legal document and does not replace direct discussion or agreements between parties.
This questionnaire is provided as is, for practical information-gathering only. It is not a legal document, contract, or legal disclaimer, and should not be used as such. It serves as an information framework to clarify expectations and reduce misunderstandings in pet-sitting and house-sitting situations.
The Nordic House Sitters do not control how this format is used by others and accept no responsibility or liability for its use, interpretation, or modification by third parties.
The Nordic House Sitters shall not be involved in, referenced in, or held liable for any disputes, claims, or legal matters arising from the use of this questionnaire.
This questionnaire was developed by The Nordic House Sitters as a practical adaptation of their longer-stay house-sitting framework and is shared freely with the house-sitting and pet-sitting community out of practical necessity.
Updates & additions
If you would like to suggest an update or request an additional item be added to future versions of this template, you may email us. Please note: we cannot provide individual guidance or explanations on how to complete the questionnaire.