Fair fee for House sitting?

[wcd]

Anyone have any experience with this one? Is $20.00 a day too cheap? We have someone that we trust, he is good with the dogs animals etc. Plus it puts him about 20 minutes closer to work. We asked what he charges and he set rate so I was just wondering.

 

[femurphy77]

We pay $35/day but they are on site and we have 3 labs. Known and trusted for years.

 

[chocktaw2]

Honesty and trust are priceless these days.

 

[snorko]

What would it cost to board the animals ? Figure at least that.

 

[WebSnyper]

What would it cost to board the animals ? Figure at least that.

And is the dog easy to take care of (i.e. go to work and the dog is fine all day, or the dog needs to be walked a good bit, and a person's schedule changed quite a bit to accommodate?)

 

[bigretic]

The animals dictate the price IMO. Boarding is expensive. House sitting is one thing. Animal sitting is another. My house doesn't need to be sitted so to speak. My belgain does. I prefer him not to be boarded, so I gladly pay a trusted person a majority of what I would have paid to board him to take care of him. $20 is way cheap. If he set the price so be it. I'd definitely tip if all is good on return.

 

[Alamo]

Yes, first requirement is trust and reliability. Having found that, I would not cheap out on the price, and even then I would pay a bonus when I got back (as long as there wasn't a catastrophe caused by the sitter). If this guy is good you are going to want his services again, and good help is hard to find and generally not cheap.

 

[wcd]

The animals dictate the price IMO. Boarding is expensive. House sitting is one thing. Animal sitting is another. My house doesn't need to be sitted so to speak. My belgain does. I prefer him not to be boarded, so I gladly pay a trusted person a majority of what I would have paid to board him to take care of him. $20 is way cheap. If he set the price so be it. I'd definitely tip if all is good on return.

At our place its really let them out before going to work, then at the end of the evening. Live stock is just a matter of opening closing gate. He lives in the suburbs and so he really enjoys getting away. For the most part its just a matter of being there and calling someone if the need arises. The last time he sat for us he wouldn't take any more money so I am thinking of maybe a gift card or something.

 

[sugarcreekbrass]

Or just write him a check for the $20/day plus whatever extra you want to tip. That way he has to cash the check if he wants paid and will have to take the extra tip money.

 

[bwframe]

... The last time he sat for us he wouldn't take any more money so I am thinking of maybe a gift card or something.

Bring him a special gift. Something unique.

The last "house sitting" I done was not house sitting at all. I babysat an irreplaceable firearm. No money involved (wouldn't have taken it) but I loved the quart of local maple syrup my friend handed me when he picked up his rifle. Hint; no one turns down expensive food and they always remember the gift.

 

[darend505]

I usually ask $20/day depending proximity to my location.

 

[danmdevries]

We do 10-20 a day depending on who's doing it and stuff.

Young relatives who wanna stay there and have a place to bang their boyfriend/girlfriend drink etc (i assume that's why they're eager to do it) get $10/day

If a friend/neighbor lets the chickens and dogs out twice a day, $20 and the eggs, and I'll cover them when they go away for the same.