Crate dogs / secure cats
Standard pre-arrival ask.
Hi Sam — can you crate the dogs (or put them in a closed room) before I arrive? I’ll need a clear path in and I’d rather not startle them.
Before we arrive — 40 texts to secure pets, clear the work area & prep for the visit
Most delays on visit day aren’t about the work. The dog is loose at the door, the car is in the driveway, the room is full of boxes — and you’re on the clock while the client scrambles. A short “before we arrive” text the night before or the morning of asks for the one or two things you need: pets secured and a clear path to the work. This page covers when to send it, what to ask for, mistakes to avoid, a worked example, and 40 copy-paste texts and an email — securing dogs and cats, clearing rooms and driveways, kids, valuables, utilities and codes, snow and holiday visits, prep lists for 7 trades, reminders, thank-yous, and what to say when they aren’t ready when you arrive.
Names like Sam and Taylor are stand-ins. Be specific (crate, back bedroom, garage, driveway) if you know the layout. Stay polite — this is about safety and starting on time, not a judgment.
On this page
- When to send a before-we-arrive text
- What to ask for
- Mistakes to avoid
- Secure pets before we arrive
- Clear the work area
- Pets and work area in one text
- Reminders and thank-yous
- Before-your-visit email
- When they aren’t ready when you arrive
- More things to ask
- By trade
- Night before or morning of?
- More things to ask before a visit
- How to send it
When to send a before-we-arrive text
- The night before — so there’s time to move a car, clear a room, or plan where the dog will be.
- The morning of, as a short reminder, for clients who need one.
- Before a first visit, when you don’t know the house, the pets, or where to park. Add it to your welcome message or appointment reminder.
- Not when you’re already there and can’t get in. That’s Need access / gate code / parking. If the whole job can’t happen because the site isn’t ready, use When they aren’t ready when you arrive below. If nobody answers, use Nobody home when you arrive.
What to ask for
- Pets: crated, in a closed room, or in the yard — and which one you’d prefer. Say why in a few words: a clear path in, and not startling them.
- The space: name it — kitchen counters, the garage floor, the driveway, the path to the panel.
- Fragile or valuable items moved out of the work area, so nothing gets bumped.
- Vehicles out of the driveway or off the side you need to unload.
- The time to have it done by — “before my 9am window,” not just “before I come.”
Mistakes to avoid
- Asking on arrival. By then you’re waiting on the clock. Ask the night before.
- A long list. Two asks get done; seven get skimmed. Pick what really blocks you.
- Sounding annoyed. “Please make sure the dog is NOT loose this time” reads as a complaint. Keep it neutral and friendly.
- Vague asks. “Clear the area” means nothing if they don’t know which area. Name the room.
Secure pets before we arrive
Ask for a crate, a closed room, or the yard — and say it’s so you can come in safely.
Reminder morning-of
They already know; gentle nudge.
Quick reminder — please secure the pets before my window so I can come in safely and start on time. Thanks!
Cats in another room
Cat-specific.
Hi — if the cats can be in a bedroom with the door shut when I get there, that helps a lot. I’ll knock before I open anything.
Yard / outdoor pets
Dogs in the yard while you work inside.
Hi Alex — okay if the dogs stay in the yard (or crated) while I’m inside? I just need a pet-free work area for the visit.
Doors and gates stay shut
Work that means doors are open.
Hi Sam — I’ll be going in and out of the back door a lot tomorrow. Could the dog stay in a closed room so he can’t slip out?
First visit — ask about pets
You don’t know the house yet.
Hi Taylor — looking forward to tomorrow. Any pets I should know about? If so, a closed room or crate while I work is perfect.
Clear the work area
Name the space and what needs to move. One ask per thing that really blocks you.
Clear space before I arrive
General ask.
Hi Taylor — can you clear the work area (move boxes / furniture out of the way) before I get there? I’ll need room to start on time.
Move the car / driveway
Vehicle in the way.
Quick ask: please move the car out of the driveway (or off the work side) before my window so I can unload and start right away.
Garage / basement clear
Specific room.
Hi — I’ll be working in the garage. If you can clear a path and move anything fragile off the floor beforehand, that helps a lot. Thanks!
Counters and surfaces
Cleaning or kitchen work.
Hi Sam — for tomorrow’s deep clean, it helps if counters and the stovetop are mostly clear, so I can spend the time cleaning instead of moving things.
Fragile items
Protect their things.
Hi Taylor — before I start in the living room, could you move the lamps and anything breakable off the shelves near the window? I’ll be working right there.
Pets and work area in one text
When you need both, keep it to two short asks.
Pets and space, the night before
Two asks, one short text.
Hi Sam — see you tomorrow at 9. Two quick things before I arrive: the dogs crated or in a closed room, and the car out of the driveway so I can unload. Thanks!
Morning-of reminder
Gentle nudge same day.
Reminder for today — please clear the work area and secure the pets so I can begin when I arrive. See you soon.
Reminders and thank-yous
Acknowledge it when they’ve done it — it makes the next ask easier.
Thanks — pets secured
They confirmed; acknowledge.
Perfect — thanks for securing them. See you shortly.
Thanks — area ready
They confirmed.
Perfect — thanks for clearing it. See you at the window.
Before-your-visit email
For first visits, bigger jobs, or clients who book by email.
How to prepare for your visit email
For first visits or bigger jobs.
Subject: Before your visit on Thursday — two quick things Hi Taylor, I’m looking forward to Thursday at 9:00am. To start on time, it helps if: - Pets are crated or in a closed room while I’m working - The garage floor is clear and the car is out of the driveway, so I can unload Anything fragile near the work area is best moved beforehand. If any of that is hard to manage, just reply and we’ll figure it out. Thanks, [Your name] [Business name] · [phone]
When they aren’t ready when you arrive
You’re on time and they’re home, but the room, the pets, or the people aren’t ready. Don’t hover and don’t start moving their things. Say how long you can wait, then offer to come back.
Wait in the car
They’re scrambling. You don’t come in until they say.
I’m here at 10 as booked. Looks like you need a few more minutes. I’ll wait in the car. Text when I should come in.
Start when they say
The visit may run short. That’s fine. You don’t make it their emergency.
Hi Alex — I’m at the door. I can see you’re still getting set. No problem. I’ll start when you say, even if that eats into the visit.
Rooms aren’t clear
You can wait a little. You can’t wait the whole slot.
I arrived on time and the rooms we planned aren’t clear yet. I can wait 15 minutes, then I have to go to the next job. Your call.
Wait 15
Short delay on their side.
I’m here — looks like you still need a few minutes. I can wait about 15, or come back later today if that’s better.
Space not cleared
Blocked work.
Hi Jordan — the room isn’t cleared enough to start. Want me to wait while you move things, or reschedule so you have time?
Couldn’t start — next steps
After you had to leave. Kind, with the new time and any fee stated plainly.
Hi Alex — sorry we couldn’t get started today. No stress. I can come back Thursday at 9 or Friday at 1. [If your policy has a late-cancel or trip fee, mention it here once, calmly.] Which works?
More things to ask before you arrive
Kids, valuables, utilities, codes, weather, and holiday visits. Pick the one or two that matter for this job.
Kids at home during the visit
Safety first, said kindly.
Hi Jordan — quick note for tomorrow: we’ll have ladders and power tools in the hallway. Could the kids stay in another room or out of the work area while we’re there? Thank you!
Remove valuables and breakables
Protects you both; ask without implying anything.
Before we move furniture tomorrow, could you put away anything fragile or valuable from the living room — vases, photos, electronics on low tables? It keeps everything safe and speeds us up.
Turn on or leave access to water and power
For trades that need the client’s utilities.
Hi Alex — for tomorrow’s pressure wash I’ll need the outside spigot on and an outdoor outlet I can use. If either is off or locked, let me know tonight and I’ll bring a generator.
Thermostat, alarm, or smart lock
Things that stop you at the door.
Hi Jordan — before tomorrow, could you text me the alarm code (or set it to off) and leave the thermostat on? The paint needs the room above 50°F to cure.
Snow or ice on the path
Winter visits: ask for a safe way in.
Hi Alex — with the snow tonight, could someone clear and salt a path from the driveway to the side door before 9? If that’s not possible, I’ll bring my own salt and may need an extra 10 minutes.
Holiday decorations in the way
November–December: ask before you touch them.
Hi Jordan — for tomorrow’s cleaning, I’ll work around the tree and decorations, but please move anything fragile off the tables and floor you want cleaned. I won’t move ornaments or lights myself.
Guests staying at the house
Holiday visits often mean extra people and cars.
Hi Alex — I know you have family in town this week. Could guests keep the driveway clear for my truck tomorrow, and let me know which rooms are off-limits? I’ll work around them.
Before-we-arrive texts by trade
Every trade has its own prep list. Keep it to the two or three things that really save time.
Carpet cleaning
Small items off the floor, pets out.
Hi Jordan — for tomorrow at 9: please pick up small items and breakables from the floors we’re cleaning, and keep pets out of those rooms until the carpet dries (about 4–6 hours).
Painter
Furniture, wall hangings, and pets.
Hi Alex — before we arrive Monday: please take down pictures and curtains in the two bedrooms and move small furniture to the middle. We’ll cover and move the big pieces.
Plumber
Clear the cabinet and the path.
Hi Jordan — for tomorrow’s visit, please empty the cabinet under the kitchen sink and clear a path to the water heater in the garage. Thanks — it saves you labor time.
HVAC tech
Clear space around the unit and the panel.
Hi Alex — please make sure we can get to the furnace in the basement and the outdoor unit (about 3 feet clear around both). If there’s a filter you’ve bought, leave it out for us.
Movers
Packing and parking.
Hi Jordan — for Saturday: please have everything packed and boxes taped and labeled, and save a parking spot for a 26-foot truck in front if you can. Anything not packed by 8am adds time.
Pest control
Prep instructions make the treatment work.
Hi Alex — before tomorrow’s treatment: clear items from the floor along the kitchen and bathroom walls, put food and pet bowls away, and plan for people and pets to be out of the house for 2 hours after we finish.
Appliance installer
Old appliance, measurements, and path.
Hi Jordan — before the dishwasher install tomorrow, please empty the old one and clear the counter above it. We’ll need a clear path from the front door to the kitchen (about 3 feet wide).
Night before or morning of?
- Night before (about 5–7pm) works for anything that takes time: packing, moving furniture, emptying cabinets, or arranging a pet sitter.
- Morning of works for quick asks: crate the dog, move the car, unlock the gate.
- Combine it with your appointment reminder so the client gets one text, not three, and send the on my way text when you leave.
More things to ask before a visit
An adult at home, allergies, photos ahead of time, and quiet hours.
An adult needs to be home
For in-home work where someone 18+ has to be present.
Quick reminder for tomorrow: an adult (18 or older) needs to be home for the whole visit, from 9 to about noon. If that’s a problem, let me know today and we’ll find a better time.
Allergies or product sensitivities
Ask before the first visit, not after.
Before your first visit: does anyone in the home have allergies or sensitivities to fragrance, cleaning products, latex, or dust? If so, let me know and I’ll bring alternatives.
Send photos ahead of time
So you bring the right parts and the quote holds.
To make sure I bring the right parts, could you send 2–3 photos before Thursday: the whole area, a close-up of the fixture, and the label or model number if there is one? Thanks!
Working from home or a nap to plan around
Lets them flag quiet times before you start the loud work.
Tomorrow’s work includes about an hour of drilling. If you have calls or a baby’s nap I should plan around, tell me the times and I’ll do the loud part outside those hours.
How to send it
Copy one message the evening before, swap in the real name, time, and the room or pets, and send it from your own phone. For regular clients you only need to ask once — after that, a short morning-of reminder is enough if they forget.
If you arrive and the pets are loose or the space isn’t clear, wait a few minutes and ask in person. If the job really can’t start, use one of the not-ready messages to reschedule calmly.