Just because you're doing a favor for a friend doesn't mean you need to be without the comforts of home. So while you're selflessly spending the weekend at your friend's apartment, watering his plants and feeding his cats, we think you're entitled to some tech amenities. Still, there are rules and lines you need to be careful not to cross.
The Television
• Help yourself to the television. If you're going to be there a while, it's reasonable you'll have some downtime to watch your homeowner's TV.
• Don't mess with the DVR settings. Goes without saying. Your traveling homeowners are probably looking forward to coming home to the Top Chef finale and episodes of Walking Dead. If you change or cancel those recordings—say, to watch something else at the same time—that's not cool, man.
• Don't order any movies or premium channels. Unless you have prior explicit permission from the homeowner, don't hit "Buy" on any movies or pay-per-view specials. Even if you intend to pay them back for the $5.99 new release you caught on demand, it might hit their credit card or cable bill right away.
The Computer
• Ask the homeowner to set you up with a guest account. If you're reading this in advance of your house sitting stay, this is the way to go. Ask the homeowner for permission to use their computer using a guest account with web access.
• Ask for the WiFi password. This is another safe plan. Use your own laptop to get online with your homeowner's WiFi. Just keep your online activities to the legal kind.
• If you don't have permission, don't touch it. We know this is kind of a harsh rule, but if you haven't talked over computer access with your homeowner, it's the safest way to go. Even if their laptop isn't password-protected, it's still a bit of a privacy breech to begin using their machine and surfing the web. Those awkward saved searches just pop up, don't they?
MORE ON HOUSE SITTING FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Etiquette at Home: Leaving a Space How You Found It
• Lessons Learned from House & Dog Sitting
• Tips & Tricks: Coming Home to Happy Pets & Plants
• How to: Prep for a House Sitter
(Images: Flickr member Highways Agency licensed under Creative Commons, Flickr member CameliaTWU licensed under Creative Commons)
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Good tips! I was house sitting a long time ago, and as I was surfing the web, I didn't realize that the owner's MSN had automatically signed in. I had a very awkward moment with the owner's girlfriend sending inappropriate IMs my way. I will never use someone's computer like that again!
At my house, the only thing a house-sitter should touch is the watering can and the plants. Nothing else.
I would also ask if the homeowner has any limits or data caps on their internet. A house guest that is constantly streaming Netflix or on the Playstation network will easily top our measly 25gb monthly cap.
@CBREYNOLDS: I think you are thinking of a different house sitter than the writer of this article. If not, I pity your housesitters. What you are probably thinking about is somebody who just makes a short visit to water the plants, in which case they don't need tv or internet. The article however clearly writes that the housesitter is spending the weekend there. So if somebody is nice enough to spend a whole week-end at your place, only touching the water can and plants is a little bit difficult. At least they need to sleep& eat & use the bathroom!
For the house owner, I'd say let people know if you have terrible internet so they can bring their own books or entertainment. Unexpectedly getting stuck with dial-up or a connection that dies every 15 minutes is not a great time.
I respect your house AND you respect me as housesitter - make sure there's tp, some breakfast foods, clean sheets and a "thank you" doesn't hurt. Do I sound bitter? All I got was fleebitten legs AND my pets got some to go. Stupid A.. cat!!! "the flees don't bite me" is not an answer and I will never housesit ever again.
Why on earth would you leave your own house vacant to look after someone else's house?
I'll never understand this.
I've never asked anyone to house-sit, but besides messing with my settings on things or going through personal areas (closet, dresser, etc) I would expect most things to be free for use. The person would be doing me a huge favor by watching my place.....so as long as they aren't streaming porn or whatnot, feel welcome!