Should Sitter Have Eaten Food From Our Freezer, Etc. Without Asking First?

Most every client I've ever worked for has either asked what I wanted to eat so they could provide it or said feel free to eat and use what you want. It's unclear if this sitter was asked to be there 24/7 while the owner was away, if so it's totally unreasonable and unrealistic to expect that the sitter will not use your kitchen and appliances and even eat some food. Besides, I find that most people want a little more than us to be just petsitters, like the garbage goes out on _ night, or could you please water the house plants, etc. I don't mind doing those things but we aren't getting paid for them because of the little niceties like help your self to whatever you want or use the pool or I set up a guest Hulu account for you. And even when I'm allowed to help myself I don't act like an entitled teenager and eat everything in sight & I do replace things such as coffee pods, because I drink lots of coffee & nobody expects to be depleted of an item when they return.

We don't get paid an hourly rate for 24 hour care, and if we did it would be hugely expensive & there would be that complaint as well, altho then the sitter could afford to order in or bring a weeks worth of everything she may or may not want to eat while you're gone.

We get paid a daily rate & when clients want us to stay 24/7 it ends up that we are getting paid well below minimum wage, we turn down other jobs such as walks and drop INS and loose money sitting for people that won't want us to leave their dogs alone. BESIDES WHAT PET OWNER STAYS WITH THEIR OWN PETS 24/7?

I always ask if the expectation is 24/7 and if so I no longer will take those jobs they are a waste of time and end up costing me money along with having to deal with people who are so picky about someone maybe using a bit of flour and the espresso machine. If there was something you didn't want to be used you should've indicated either in person or in written instructions before you left.

The only fault I see that you can rightfully so be bothered by is coming home to someone else's dirty dishes. That is rude and wrong of the sitter, the rest is your own pickiness.

I have been a sitter and I have used sitters and anytime it’s an overnight gig I feel it should go without saying that they should help themselves to food, of course within reason. When I myself am staying overnight in someone’s home I usually bring a few snacks that I like for myself. That being said I do always leave the house better than I found it, cleaning before I leave. I feel for drop in care eating their food would be inappropriate.

I think it goes two fold: the sitter should ask, the owner should mention it. Make a household items checklist to go over with the sitter. Most of the owners I’ve worked with have said “help yourself to whatever!” before I’ve had to ask. But I still don’t eat literally everything. It helps since we’re getting paid AFTER the visit and generally I have no income during the visit due to pausing my PT job for a sitting gig. Explicitly mention things you’d rather not have them eat/go through. And as a sitter, we should also ask before doing anything.

Also why would it feel weird opening a fridge? If we can’t live like a normal human being in a house during a gig, then I say do not accept the visit or be drop in only.

I can understand how it could be upsetting if chocolate truffles that were important to you were eaten, but that should have been communicated ahead of time. A petsitter is a human being and someone being paid to take care of pets-- they are not a maid, they are not a slave, they are not a servant, they are not a cleaning service, they are not a dishwasher. It's nice for them to take out the trash and do dishes, but that's just sort of a perk and not really required for the job, in my opinion.

I grew up with a lot of siblings and generally speaking, anything left in the kitchen was fair game. If I really didn't want something taken, I knew I had to hide it in my room. Did you grow up as a only-child? Did you specify in your communication, "Do not eat my chocolate truffles"? You're clearly wealthy enough to even own an espresso machine, which many people do not own. You say they "found your ground espresso," as if it's not normal for most people to drink coffee every morning. This sitter probably didn't ask you if she could drink coffee in your home as that would be a weird thing to ask.

When I've provided services, I've had clients buy me dinner, gift me a bottle of wine, gift me jams and jellies, etc. Do you do anything nice like that for your providers? I'm an educated and experienced housesitter saving them lots of money, transport hassle to a kennel, infection risk as animals can pick up contagious diseases when exposed to other animals at kennels, etc.

Things I would be reasonably upset about if a provider did them: Smoked in the home, caused any serious damage to the home, left extreme messes, urine or feces, hosted large events or parties, used the home to film things without asking me, had illegal drugs in the home. Things I would not be upset about: Drinking a coffee and eating some candies.

You have someone live your house while you are gone, take care of your dogs, and you are upset she used your flour to feed herself? What a joke. You are selfish. I have never once dogsat and not been told i can help myself to anything in the fridge or cabinets. She probably just assumed that that was okay because that normally is okay, it should be okay. You expect her to buy a full load of groceries, spices and flour and all? That would negate the income from the gig. She didn’t eat all of your food. It’s not like you came home to an emptied out fridge and pantry. You mentioned baking supplies. That’s insane of you to even notice. Sounds like she brought her own food, but just helped herself to some baking supplies and snacks. Don’t invite people into your home if you are not comfortable with them doing anything. What an uncomfortable experience for her to feel like she has to tip toe around the place. She’s a human that needs to eat. You shouldn’t expect her to only eat microwaved food for a week.

Plus who has ever used up all of their baking supplies? I can’t imagine it’s a huge loss to you.

I eat their food. They always say have what you want so anyone that well nobody’s ever said don’t have what you want this is a first. So it’s common place to allow the sitter to eat food if they are living at your house what else are they going to do if you are having them there housesitting? They have to eat don’t they? We get paid very low rates and we would have to leave the animals alone to go get food And can’t even afford it so yes eating is the perk that makes it up.

When I stay at clients I bring my own food and drinks. Most clients tell me make yourself at home. I usually bring my small grill to use outside then the owners say use ours. I have cooked before but the client knew it. I also clean the house, vacuum ,water, change sheets all before I leave and the clients are so grateful. If I do eat something I replace it, Since they game me permission.

I came looking for an answer on whether or not a sitter usually provides their own food. I met with my client yesterday and will be sitting for 3 nights starting tomorrow. While getting a tour and directions for the puppers, she mentioned I was welcome to anything in the pantry. I said thank you, but I planned on bringing my own food as not to cause an inconvenience. I thought this was normal, that a sitter would bring their own food, but after she mentioned it I was wondering if I was wrong as this is my first client. Im 19 and I would never dream of going to someone else's house and rummaging through their cupboards. Especially when they're not home. I don't even help myself at my sister's even though I know she doesn't care without asking first. I couldn't imagine doing it to a stranger. Maybe not everyone thinks like I do and it's not common sense, so maybe expectations should always be laid out better but good heavens I could not.

Look at it this way: someone, a stranger, has just cared for your animals, house, and garden/lawn. Or some combination of those things. Chances are great that you didn't pay them, anything, for their time, or labor. Not that long ago, you'd have to have paid them quite handsomely, per night, for this work. Look up costs for a kennel, assuming you have pets, and then the cost for someone to care for your house and garden. Is that the cost of your espresso and a few cups of flour and choco chips? Are you truly upset that this stranger, who cared for your home, used a few dollars worth of food, and used your kitchen appliances? Come on. Even if you did pay them a per diem, plus overnight costs, is this truly an issue for you? That you are upset that you might have to wash a few dishes, taking --10 minutes of your time, when this person just cared for your home and everything in it, during your trip out of town seems pretty outrageous. Thank her, and next time tell your sitter to help themselves to anything, and not to fuss about clean up. Then thank them for their time.

Maybe I’m doing it wrong...though most of my clients say I should help myself. If they do not say I can help myself I absolutely do not eat nonperishable food unless a client specifically states it is ok. I do eat produce that will obviously spoil if not eaten before the client gets back—but this only really happens for longer stays . I always leave a note stating what went bad and was tossed or eaten before it spoiled. I assume things like salt, pepper, condiments, sugar and maybe a splash of milk for coffee (I usually bring my own) are ok to use as long as I don’t use the last of it. The only reason to go into the freezer is if you need ice cubes, or are storing your own personal items. I assume it is ok that I use clients kitchen items to cook my meals. If I were to eat out all of my meals while house sitting the money I make house sitting wouldn’t be worth it. I like to bake so if I do bake anything like a pie or cookies (I’ve done both while house sitting) I always leave some for the client and bring my own ingredients. I never ever leave dirty dishes. The kitchen should look like it wasn’t touched when the client gets back and trash taken out. It should look like I was never there.