Statia

Tiff and cmcfong, I'll have to keep you two in mind. You'll have to take care of your own airfare, though.

xxxx

I'd like to be on Statia's housesitting list too!

I don't like the idea of a stranger either. But, we've found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. The people who were once available to us no longer are.

I can bring myself to kennel the dog for a week. I don't like the idea of her being kenneled for longer than that. The dog is relatively young and needs supervision and attention. Simply having someone to walk and feed her would not do it.

My only consolation is that my parents are nearby and will check on the house. Any misuse or abuse of the facilities would be found out quite soon. They could then take over care if they had to. (Parents are able to do it in emergency, they just prefer not to regularly)

zootsi

Although we love to travel. it's always a headache getting someone to take care of our farm. We have two dogs, a cat, plus sheep and chickens. If it's a weekend trip in the summer, we just have a neighbor come over and let the dogs in and out, and feed them. For an extended vacation, especially in winter, we get a house sitter who is experienced with farm life, and they usually get $30 a day. Since we live in a small community the sitter is always someone we know, or someone recommended by a friend. So far all of our experiences have been good ones.

Meesthare

We never had to hire or depend on strangers until the last couple of years. The neighbours across the road had older teenage kids who were very responsible and since the parents were so close by, we felt comfortable leaving the house and the cats in their hands. The kids were happy to have the money and the independence. However, the kids grew up and the neighbours moved, and a few years ago we had to find an agency to supply us with a sitter. The results were mediocre at best and that's not really good enough when it comes to our cats, so we worked a little harder to find friends and acquaintances who were willing to do it. Right now we're in good shape, with a former colleague of mine who lives in a high-rise apartment building and is delighted to have a nice quiet house and garden to herself for a few weeks.

reneeinva

We have always asked neighbors, but it is a lot to ask and I worry about overextending their hospitality. So, we started driving the dogs to my parent's house 2.5 hours away which is less than ideal, especially now since our new dog is not the best leash walked dog in the world.

After reading this thread, I called my husband and we are going to find someone to come and house sit/pet sit! While it will cost a little more than free, it is well worth it. I feel pretty darned liberated! The magic of fodors!

Dori

Wow, I guess I'm getting off cheap. I live in Chicago and have used a professional pet sitter for the last eight years. She charges $13.00 per visit (she also gets the mail). I only have one cat, and I have her come every day. I think, however, she probably stays around 15 minutes to make sure he is fed and brushes him.

Surfergirl

My sister generally moves in (including this weekend). We have a dog. I give her $25 a day, plus credit card for food and a car with a full tank of gas (and these days, that's expensive!).

pdxgirl

"Why do people have to sleep at your home? Can't they come in, get the mail, feed the cat, take the dog for a walk and then lock the house and leave!"

This would work for cats, but not dogs. Dogs need to be let outside more than once in a 24-hour period, 3 times minimum (morning, evening, and before bed). We have a large dog - too big for a dog door. Also, she would not like being left alone 23 hours per day. We pay our house/dog sitter $25 per day plus some kind of bonus - usually a gift certificate. After reading this, I think we might need to pay her more. She does a great job and is totally reliable.

lauren25

Wow...can I come house sit for all of you. I do this on regular basis for family friends to help pay for college and I don't get near what some are paying!
I think that having the house sitter actually stay in the house is nice for the dogs. Allows them to kind of keep their routine;i.e. walking, eating, going out. One of my families has three older girls now, and they all want their friends to watch the house and four dogs while they are gone, but mom isn't comfortable with it.
I think that rates depend on what exactly they are doing and how much you are comfortable paying them. I think my folks were paying their housesitter about $20 a day.

BKelly

We pay our dog sitter $12/ visit and she comes three times per day ($36) when we're out of town. She brings in the newspaper and mail, waters the plants and turns lights on in the evening and off in the morning for security.

determined2be

The main thing is to match up with someone you can trust. There are many responsible retirees and travellers who are more than happy with receiving rent free accommodation only in exchange for housesitting.

I recommend the site below where you can browse hundreds of sitters by location, age - photos etc

<a href="http://www.housecarers.com/search_re...tes">Directory of house sitters</a>

escargot

Since most of this post is from 2005, I am curious what rates have done since then - since we recently hired a day 'dog walk/play/feed" and a person who spends the night (from after work until morning) with the dog and wondering what rates are elsewhere. I pay $15 per hour visit during the day and the overnight charges $ 25 from around 6 or 7pm until she leaves for work at 8am.

stormygirl

We pay $20 per day for someone to come in twice a day and feed/play with the cats.

We pay $30 per day for someone to live in when we travel for extended periods of time.

These are both in the Seattle area

karend2

I am in the process of hiring a petsitter in the central New Jersey area. I found a website called Care.com I joined for one month $35.00 dollars to place my "ad" for what it is I need, a sitter from 5/30- 6/9 to sit for 3 cats. They will come once daily and give a pill to one cat every other day. Clean litter, feed, fresh water and keep there bedding clean. I will be paying $15 to $20 per visit. The ones I have interviewed asked for $15 per visit but I think they are asking too little.Care.com runs a background check and will even call references for you and you get to look at everyone's profile. I think it is a great service so we will see how it goes. I think I found someone I like and will hire. I will see how it goes.

Meg785

Hello Reader,

I really would appreciate someone's input on how much I should be getting payed for stay in house sitting plus animals.

So I watch two untrained shih tzu one still has accident in the house. They don't really listen unless I have a treat in my hand but they still really don't listen. One very old cat that meows all the time and always want to sit on my lap if Im sitting or laying down. Also 13 chickens.

I wake up at 6am to feed all. Then dogs go outside to take care of business. Note they have there own very big yard with not fence in the middle of the woods with neighbors. If I don't stay out with the dogs they wonder off in neighbors yards. When the weather is walkable we go outside and run around, hike, walk, and play if not we play inside. They both are still in there puppy years so that's all they want to do. I take care of litter as well. The chickens stay in there coop until dawn they go in there haut on there own unless other wise all I do is lock the doors. I clean up after myself and they have a cleaning ladie who comes once a week and does her normal routine. They have no cable or DVDs that I'm intersed in. Which doesn't really matter. They only eat fresh so there's really no food only fresh eggs. I have to buy my own food with my personal money. Also I water planets once a week and flowers in the summer.

I do not throw party's or do anything to harm the house or there loved ones. That's just not in my nature. I do invite people to come over and keep me company from time to time(really scary at night by myself). They have so much Liquor and I have house sit twice and yet to touch any of it. They alway say help myself to there liquor. I don't think I would unless I have someone over but nothing wild. I am a quite kind of person that wild stage has passed. I am 27 so people may think that's all I do but that's the last thing I would do. I am a very honest and respectable person. I treat others how I want to be treated.

I think I should be getting paid more then they pay me. I just Recently house sit for 17 days and I got paid $350. That's $20. A day! I thought that was a portion but didn't get anything else when they returned. I just think I am being took an advantage of more so because I know that he has the money to pay me right. I have been reading up and people who do the same as I and I have yet to see anyone else say $20. a day. It really makes me sad that I didn't do the research before hand so I would haven got paid fairly.

What would you pay someone like me? I need help thank you as soon as possible. I may be house sitting sooner then later. Thank you some much for your time.

Makai14

Sorry to bother you Statia but don't see other way to aks you a question. Saw that you were thinking of renting the Piguna Apartment from Rental in Rome some years ago and I am too. Did you ever stay there?

VeganMeghan

I want to respond to Meg785 since no one else has.

I was recently asked to house sit for the first time ever and asked what I charged. I live in the lower mainland of B.C., Canada and am 25 years old. Upon my search I found this forum and decided to charge $25 per day for watching over an indoor cat and spending the nights (for one week in total). Shortly thereafter I was asked to house sit again but for a dog and a cat and for a different home owner. I still charged $25 and am actually staying in the house right now But I didn't know the dog was going to poo and pee in the house every day....! I love the pets but am here for 3.5 weeks and am not please about the bathroom business. Perhaps the owners will sympathize with me upon their return and give me a small bonus but I'm definitely not expecting that.

Word has gotten out that I'm now available to house sit so I've already got 2 more gigs lined up and already quoted $25 a day. But after rereading all of the posts above and having experienced house sitting, I will now charge $30 a day. If there aren't any pets then I will charge $25 a day, but if there's 1-3 cats/dogs then I will charge $30. If there are more than that then I will charge $35.

But you described so many duties, like looking after chickens?! I would suggest charging $40 a day, at least. Only because I read a couple posts above that said even $50-$60 a day! I would feel confident in asking for $40 a day to that particular owner if he asks you to house sit again in the future. And if he says it's too much then say okay your loss! He sounds cheap and you deserve more, put yourself first because no one else will! Best of luck in the future

Tonjia

Meg785
Yes, you probably are being taken advantage of. At minimum, I strongly suggest $40.00 to $60.00.You are not just staying in their home. Your time is no longer your own,you are basically on lock-down, a servant to quite an assortment of animals--which is something your employers may not have taken into consideration.

Also, you are doing a great deal of work, most sitters including myself charge per animal.

And, the peace of mind your client experiences having you at the helm is ---priceless.


Perhaps, you could chalk this up to getting experience-- ask your client for a reference, telling them you are going pro; and be sure to send them notice of your new rates.

Personally, I use a contract.Once I know the clients needs,I can customize a contract (you can find them online). The contract should detail your duties, the duration of the assignment and compensation and above all else be fair to both you and the client.

And lastly, the client may have offered up his liquor stock, etc. But, I would caution against actually accepting. Provide your own food, sheets, towels, etc. Leave their animals well cared for and their home the way you found it or better. This includes no dirty dishes or laundry. I most often provide my own cleaning supplies including a vacuum cleaner.

Sorry about your experience and the short pay, most of the time house sitting is great fun.