Fee for house/animal sitting
 

I live in central PA & have been house/pet sitting for 3 years. I just visited someone that wants a sitter for 19 days. This includes 3 large dogs, 2 cats, & 300 chickens, which is her business. I always move in, this time the house is 35 minutes away. I feel with the responsibility, I have to charge $75/day, because I am doing her business while she is away. She offered me $35 & it didn't make sense because the week before I go to her house, I'll be at a house with 2 dogs, 2 cats & clean up the yard & get $25/day. I just need some feedback. Thanks.

$35 is a ridiculous amount; $75 is more than reasonable. JMO.

She should count herself lucky at $75/day. Her offer is ludicrous and insulting. You are taking care of her BUSINESS, for pete's sake.
Our kids pay $50/day for a person to come TO their house (3X/day) to feed their dog (he is a mastiff).

That's crazy! She's lucky to find anyone who will do that job--and your fee of $75 per day is more than reasonable.

I know comparing DC to central PA is like comparing apples to oranges, but we pay $20 per day for a professional to feed one pet and check on the house while we are on vacation--and that is at the low end for this area.

Not that I disagree with the replies you've received, but if you've been doing this for 3 years you ought to have a network of other animal sitters who can give you feedback on an appropriate daily charge. It's a curious first question to ask on a travel forum.

But I do agree $35/day is absurdly low and I'd be skeptical of someone who offers so little to care for pets and a chicken business. Personally I'd want nothing to do with the chickens but as a minimum I would get a written and notarized release from liability if her business chickens poop the collective bed on your watch.

Which is harvested first? The chicken or the egg. That's a whole lot of chicken and eggs.

Yes, but this is way different from regular house siting. This is running the person's business and a whole lot of responsibility and time.

Granted prices here are a lot more - but there is no way I would even consider this for $75 per day - would ask at least $100 and probably more.

$35 is fine for a house and a couple of pets. I would offer her that and suggest she get someone else to deal with her business (and maybe she will come to her senses) since you feel it it too much responsibility.

As Nancy was known to say, just say no.

I had businesses for decades and that was the most valuable lesson I learned. When you get the feeling that a job may be more trouble than it's worth, whatever the price, turn it down. When I didn't pay attention to that feeling, I was invariably sorry.

No way would I do that for 100.00 a day,

Five pets, two different species requiring different care, plus 300 chickens, for $35.00 a day? That is nuts even in a rural area! Would you have to clean up the chicken coops or does she have someone else to do that? Are there eggs to be collected? If she were home and needed someone to come and help with feeding, watering, etc. the chickens a few of hours a day, how much would she have to pay per hour?

Perhaps pay is low enough there that $75.00 is reasonable, but I live in a definitely not wealthy area, and pay $50.00 per day for someone to come by twice a day to feed, water and clean the litter boxes for 4 cats.

Adding the chickens is the biggie, IMHO. Even $100.00 a day would not be out of line, so that person is getting a real bargain at $75.00. If it involves cleaning, even $100.00 would not be enough for me.

I live in Bucks County, PA and pay our dog sitter $50/day to stay with our one dog. She stays overnight and is in and out during the day. I'd love to find someone for even $35/day, dog walkers here charge $20/day to just walk your dog once.

I live in NW PA and watch friends' dogs/ cat on occasion. I stay at their house, bring in the mail, feed & let out dog. If during the week, I still go to my job. Then another guy comes at lunch to walk dog. I don't have a set fee but seem to get $25 a day. If this was not for friends I would charge more. I would not even do the large job w/chicken farm at all since I'm not knowledgable about chicken farming. But if I thought I could handle it I would charge based upon how much more time the care of the chickens would take in addition to the dogs & cats. Maybe it's not as much work as it sounds, but it sounds daunting. At least $75/day.