ABOUT ME
I am a professional part-time house sitter, travel writer, and photographer. These three 'jobs' make my life exciting and so flexible that I can be anywhere in the world for almost any length of time.
I have had over ten house sits that have brought me to Cornwall, Bath, London, and many areas around England. I have also been to Spain and Costa Rica for various house and pet sitting assignments.
I have lived with dogs all my life, until recently. They have been all breeds, sizes, and some with varying health issues. My friends would say that if they came back as an animal in another life, they would want to be my dog. My last dog has health issues so I would cook his food for him, walk him 3-4 times a day, get his hair cut once a month and when he had back problem flare-ups, I would bring him in for chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. Pets are family and I do almost as much for my dog as I would my family members.
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I have not had a cat for about 6 years now, but grew up with them and have had at least one most of my life. I have had several house sits with cats; ranging from just one up to four. Other house sitting assignments have included chickens, pigeons, and a fox.
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I will also take exceptional care of your house. I am very clean; I can't stand a mess, and I do not smoke. I have rental property and know what it is like to have other people taking care of your property and personal items. As a professional house and pet sitter, you will not have to worry about anything while I'm there.
You will be provided with a police clearance/record check, International Drivers License, and references from other satisfied clients to view.
CONTACT ME
There are house sitters who offer their services free of charge, and those who charge a surprisingly high fee. Some home owners expect to pay nothing, and others expect to reward their house sitters handsomely.
The truth of the matter is that if the home owner wants to go away, the sitter is not receiving an entirely free holiday, especially if the owner is gone for a long period of time - three weeks or longer.
Paying guests can come and go as they please; leaving the accommodation unattended all day and/or night if they chose. Holidaymakers don’t have to answer the house phone (and sometimes be tactful in their responses), fix minor repairs, check and forward the mail, pick up packages or be around for deliveries. They don't have to set the burglar alarm, be completely responsible for the property, maintain the yard/garden, clean the entire home to a spotless condition, or perform any other agreed obligation.
Home owners also need to take into consideration the amount of money they are not paying to have their pets in kennels. The additional value of keeping their pets in the home they are used to on a routine they are accustomed to. Also, most home owners insurance companies require someone must be in the home every two days for the insurance to cover anything that may happen in their absence. We pay a lot of money in insurance and would not want it to be invalid because no one has been in the home.
Exactly where you would like your house and pet sitting services to sit upon this economic continuum is of course up to you. It is very important to consider that a conscientious house sitter often carries a great deal of responsibility, and they need to be compensated for this. I take the view that any service provided for nothing is generally worth nothing. Think carefully before proposing your services or requirements.
Professional house sitters and pet sitters provide a valuable service and charge accordingly. It’s important to be clear of the ‘freebie or casual’ sitters by offering so much more than them, for example, but not limited to:
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A legal agreement, guaranteeing a contractual obligation to turn up (I have had clients contact me because the free/casual sitters have canceled with short notice.)
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Impeccable references
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Offer drop-off and pick-up at the airport. It will save them time and money.
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Proven competence, reliability and complete peace of mind for the client.
A professional house sitter should always be paid. The service is impeccable.