The first time you pack for long-term housesitting, you'll probably bring too much. Everyone does. The second time, you'll realise how little you actually needed.
The golden rule
Most homes have everything you need for daily life: towels, bedding, kitchen equipment, cleaning supplies. You're packing for you, not for setting up a household. Focus on personal items, clothes, and anything you genuinely can't live without.
What Nobody Tells You About Packing Light
Every packing guide focuses on what to bring. Here's what experienced sitters wish someone had told them first.
Homes Don't Have Everything
The listing said “fully equipped kitchen.” You arrive to find no sharp knives, a microwave from 1995, and coffee that expired in 2023. Or the “desk for remote work” is a wobbly table in a dark corner.
Reality check: “Has everything” means different things to different people. Bring your non-negotiables.
The Psychological Weight of Less
Living out of one bag sounds freeing until month three. You miss your own bed, your own things, the comfort of possessions that feel like home. Some days, putting on the same rotation of clothes again feels like defeat.
What helps: One or two comfort items that make any space feel slightly yours. A familiar pillowcase. Your favourite mug (if you can justify the space). Small anchors matter.
Short-Term vs Long-Term Is Different
Packing for a two-week sit is easy. Packing for six months of back-to-back sits across different climates? That's a different problem. You need clothes for summer in Spain AND winter in Scotland.
Strategy: Some experienced sitters keep a “seasonal box” at a friend's house or use luggage storage. Ship yourself a package between sits. Or accept you'll buy and donate clothes as seasons change.
What You Actually Miss
After months of housesitting, it's rarely the things you didn't pack. It's the things you can't pack: your own kitchen layout, your own pillow, your own bathroom with your stuff arranged how you like it.
No packing list fixes this. Just know it's normal. The trade-off is worth it for some people. For others, it isn't. Only experience tells you which.
The essentials
Documents & admin
- Passport (with 6+ months validity for international travel)
- Driving licence (both parts if UK)
- Travel insurance documents (digital and printed)
- Bank cards (at least two different banks)
- European Health Insurance Card / GHIC (if applicable)
- Copies of key documents (stored digitally and separately)
Tech & connectivity
- Phone and charger
- Laptop/tablet (if working remotely)
- Universal power adapter (multi-country)
- Portable charger / power bank
- Headphones
- E-reader (saves space vs physical books)
Pro tip: A portable WiFi hotspot or eSIM with data can be a lifesaver when the home's internet fails.
Health & medication
- Prescription medications (enough for the full trip + extra)
- Copy of prescriptions (useful if you need refills abroad)
- Basic first aid: plasters, paracetamol, antihistamines
- Any specific remedies you prefer (cold medicine, etc.)
- Glasses/contacts (plus spares and prescription)
Clothing strategy
The capsule wardrobe approach
You'll have access to a washing machine. Pack for 5-7 days, not for your entire trip. Everything should mix and match.
Basics (adjust to climate)
- • 5-7 tops
- • 2-3 bottoms (trousers/jeans/shorts)
- • 1 dress or smart outfit
- • 7 underwear
- • 3-4 pairs of socks
- • 1 warm layer (fleece/jumper)
- • 1 waterproof jacket
- • Sleepwear
Footwear
- • Comfortable walking shoes (dog walks!)
- • Sandals or casual shoes
- • Flip-flops (showers, pools)
Three pairs of shoes is usually enough. Wear your bulkiest shoes on travel days.
Season-spanning tips
- Layers over bulk. A thin down jacket packs smaller than a heavy coat and can layer under a rain shell.
- Neutral colours. Black, navy, grey, white – everything matches everything.
- Quick-dry fabrics. Especially for active wear. Wash in the evening, dry by morning.
- Compression packing cubes. Game-changer for fitting more in less space.
Pet-sitting specific items
- Comfortable walking shoes. You'll be walking dogs daily, sometimes in mud. Waterproof is ideal.
- Lint roller. Pet hair on everything. Small travel-size ones work.
- “Pet clothes”. At least one outfit you don't mind getting muddy, hairy, or scratched.
- Treats. Your own emergency stash can help with bonding (check with owners first).
- Head torch. Early morning or late evening dog walks in winter.
Personal comfort items
These are optional but can make a big difference to feeling at home:
- Your own pillowcase. Familiar smell and texture; packs flat.
- Familiar tea/coffee. If you have a favourite, bring some. Not all homes stock what you like.
- A small photo or memento. Something that makes any space feel slightly yours.
- Your own toiletries. Specific shampoo, skincare, etc. Most homes provide basics, but not your brands.
- Earplugs and eye mask. For unfamiliar sleeping environments.
For remote workers
- Laptop stand. Foldable ones are light and save your neck.
- Portable mouse/keyboard. If you need them for comfortable work.
- Mobile hotspot or eSIM. Backup when home WiFi fails (it happens).
- Noise-cancelling headphones. Dogs bark. Neighbours exist. Work calls happen.
- Long charging cables. Outlets are never where you want them.
Combining housesitting with remote work? Read our digital nomad guide for tips on making it work long-term.
What NOT to pack
Every home will have these. Leave them behind:
- Towels and bedding
- Hair dryer
- Umbrella (borrow one)
- Books (use e-reader or local library)
- Cooking equipment
- “Just in case” items
- Multiple pairs of jeans
- More than 3 pairs of shoes
Luggage tips
- Carry-on only if possible.
Budget airlines charge for checked bags. Carry-on forces discipline. You can always buy things you need.
- A backpack beats a wheeled case.
Cobblestones, stairs, rural paths – wheels don't always work. A good travel backpack is more versatile.
- Weigh your bag before leaving.
Airline weight limits are strict. Know what your bag weighs empty and full.
- Keep valuables and essentials in your personal item.
Laptop, medication, documents, one change of clothes. If your main bag is lost, you can survive.
The bottom line
Pack less than you think you need. Homes have most things. You can buy what you're missing. The freedom of travelling light is worth more than the comfort of having everything “just in case.”
After a few sits, you'll have your own packing list dialled in. Until then, err on the side of less.