house sitting - how much

Re: house sitting - how much

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:53:19 GMT

that very helpfull thank you. could any one tell me what type of insurance i need to ask for when i call the insurance companies and how much i should beexpecting to pay.

x x x

Re: house sitting - how much

Diane Westwood — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:40:08 GMT

Yes I have a consent form which owners have to sign.

No I don't get much social life. I can't plan much as often a job will come up and I can't lose work or let my regulars down. There's been many times when I have had plans and had to cancel. It isn't too bad if it is a healthy animal, but if its a heart case/ diabetic then visits have to be made at specific times. I can't say "yes I can do all week except saturday as I 'm going out" because they will find someone else to do the job. Also I have been to do a visit and ended up at the emergency vets on a saturday night (the blade of grass in throat springs to mind). But on the plus side, I do get some flexibility in my days and the money I earn is all mine, and it is nice sitting for an hour with some elderly cat on your lap being paid for it!

Bear in mind that you could be doing vists early morning - I do mine 7am - 9am to fit my day. That includes weekends and bank hols. Evening visits sometimes I am doing at 9pm if that is what the owner wants. If you decide to go ahead you need to make it clear from the start what you will/won't do.

Re: house sitting - how much

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:23:06 GMT

do you find that it gets in the way of normal life, going out, chillingout etc?

i suppose i am wondering if it is worth starting to make a bit of extra money for my wedding but if you spend all your spare time running around feeding animlas/walking dogs etc. meaning you dont get time to your self and the other half?

and what type of insurance do people recommend getting.

hope people dont mind sharing info x x

Re: house sitting - how much

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:37:16 GMT

Just out of curiosity. Do any of you have a consent form for the owners to sign to protect you?

Re: house sitting - how much

Diane Westwood — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:16:30 GMT

Have you decided what you are going to do Johanna? It is kinda different I think if you are doing a favour for a work mate.

Re: house sitting - how much

misspiggy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:56:43 GMT

I wasn't getting at you Diane and i don't have any issues with NARP. The only issue i have is when people critisise other people for not being a member of NARP. It was not aimed at you directly it was just my general opinion.

Re: house sitting - how much

Diane Westwood — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:16:40 GMT

All I said was that I was NARP registered. No, obviously you don't have to have insurance with them, although some insurance is recommended. It is not a legal requirement and I know nurses who pet sit without it. But we are now in a society that will sue given half the chance. I would not put myself at risk. Yes there are other companies, but I know people who have been with NARP for years and are very happy.

What issues have you got with NARP? Have you had problems with them? It just sounds like you may have.

Re: house sitting - how much

misspiggy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:32:43 GMT

[quote user="Diane Westwood"]

Its more than that. I would not do my job without insurance protection.

In 5 years I have only broken a light bulb in one of my clients houses - they thought it was funny as they are very short and never walk in to their lights - but you could have any number of accidents and these days you need that cover.

Personally, I think it is really risky having people's house keys and not having insurance.

[/quote]

i wasn't meaning don't have insurance i just meant you don't have to be NARP registered.

You can get far better insurance than the one NARP offers from other insurance companies.

My point was just because someone is NARP registered doesn't mean they are better trained or more knowledgable about animals. Also someone woh isn't NARP registered is not doing anything wrong, it is not a legal requirement.

Re: house sitting - how much

Diane Westwood — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:00:10 GMT

Its more than that. I would not do my job without insurance protection.

Personally, I think it is really risky having people's house keys and not having insurance.

Re: house sitting - how much

misspiggy — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:09:49 GMT

[quote user="Katy"]

[quote user="Diane Westwood"]

I charge £10 for a home visit, but as I am the only person the cat is going to see all day if the owner is on hols I stay for an hour - especially if they are special needs animals. For a house sit I charge £40 - £60 depending on location. I am fully insured with National Association of Registered Petsitters.

[/quote]

Me and my hubby are too! Glad to see there are others out there!!

[/quote]

Just because someone isn't NARP registered doesnt mean they cant do an excellent, caring job of looking after peoples pets. its a personal choice if you want to join or not.

Re: house sitting - how much

Katy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:43:10 GMT

[quote user="Diane Westwood"]

[/quote]

Me and my hubby are too! Glad to see there are others out there!!

Re: house sitting - how much

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:53:29 GMT

[quote user="FINNIGAN"]

i get £10 to go and give a cat an insulin inj, and put food down every day, im there about 5 mins, !! i would charge between ten and twenty pounds a day!

[/quote]

Obviously you are looking after a diabetic cat. Surely you need to be there more than 5 mins? So you can be content that the cat has eaten etc etc

Re: house sitting - how much

Diane Westwood — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:11:44 GMT

Re: house sitting - how much

johannapage — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:10:23 GMT

omg!! way more than I was thinking!

she is going on hols for 2 weeks, so im living in for her to keep an eye on the cat and fish.

journey to work is pretty much the same just a different way to go - not planning on doing it professionally, just as a favour to her short notice as her cat wont tolerate catteries.

Re: house sitting - how much

Katy — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:58:40 GMT

If you search house sitting companies online, you are looking at anything between £50 and £100 per day. That's if you are insured, which you really should be if you are house sitting.

You normally can't leave the house for long periods either if you're working for a company.

Presume you are just doing it as a favour?

www.homesitters.co.uk charge £60 per day!

Re: house sitting - how much

FINNIGAN — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:55:30 GMT

i get £10 to go and give a cat an insulin inj, and put food down every day, im there about 5 mins, !! i would charge between ten and twenty pounds a day!

Re: house sitting - how much

Jenny T — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:33:16 GMT

One of my nurses will house sit for me, staying in my house throughout and looking after my dog and 2 cats - £20 per day.

Re: house sitting - how much

Maisy — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:53:50 GMT

It depends really what you need to do while there and also if you are staying in the house. Will you be driving much to get there and back? I think realistically £7-10 per day is a normal amount for a 2x daily visit.