Making Etiquette Easy: Addressing Questionable Baby/Pet/House-sitters

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When someone enters your home, be it to guard the house, the lives of your children, or entertain your pets, it can be a nerve-wracking experience. You're placing your trust in an individual to treat your house or your family with utmost respect, but you never really know for sure (unless you install camera's) what goes on when you're gone. It's important to trust your instincts; if you think someone is not doing a good job, follow this plan:

• Always remember you are the boss. Set clear expectations, in writing if possible, and make sure to review everything thoroughly with potential sitters. If you get an inkling that they are not at all interested or paying attention to the seriousness of your notes or discussion, you can politely let them know that someone else will be handling it. (You need not disclose who, since you probably have yet to find someone).
• Ask Questions. You have every right to ask questions about how the days or weeks went. Since your pets and small children -or even the walls of your house- cannot give accurate updates, each sitter should be prepared to give an account for their time.
• Drop-In's are Alright. If you do have a suspicion, you can always go home and pick up something you 'forgot.' Especially with small children, this will bring you some peace of mind to know that the sitter is doing their job. If they aren't or you feel a red flag, you can call it an early night right then and there. Paying the sitter the full rate early is a small price to pay for your loved ones' and homes' safety.
• Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice. If you do find that the person responsible was acting irresponsibly (throwing parties in your house, forgetting to feed the dog, ignoring the kids, etc.), let them know that you won't be asking them back. And no matter how desperate you may be - don't ask them back!
• Be Truthful in your Recommendations. Neighbors or friends may ask about using your babysitter, house-sitter, or pet-sitter. Without spreading town gossip, you can simply say you don't recommend so-and-so, and leave it at that. People will be grateful for your honesty, and will hopefully feel more inclined to be the same way in the future.