BECOMING A HOUSE SITTER?
HERE ARE SOME TIPS
Between 2011 and 2015, I did random housesits for friends, but a big change in my career resulted me in switching things up and doing 6-8 months of the year from 2016 to the start of covid. Over that time I learned a lot!
ADDITIONAL SERVICES YOU CAN OFFER TO PET SITTING
Of course, this is only suitable for clients in your local area.
Pet Drop-in
This is mainly for cats, where they need feeding, poop-scopping, and of course a little cuddle. In my experience its usually a morning and evening drop-in.
Dog walking
Not people on holidays, but people that have a busy week of work scheduled, and the dog needs a walk during the day.
Wedding Day Service
Some people like their dog at their wedding, so you'd take the dog early morning, bring it to the wedding, usually just for pics, then take it back to their home.
House Sit (no pets)
Some people just want their house occupied, to deter potential thieves.
MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOURSELF!
Some tips from my years of sits, for the fluffs, and the house
- A pet blanket for your car so your seats don't get destroyed! And a lint roller for you
- Google calendar will be your best friend! And colour code if you offer the extra services I mentioned
- Decent torches and spare batteries (don't rely on phone torch), waking up in a new house in the middle of night it's a great help. It will take a while to get used to waking up in new surroundings!
- Also handy to have some plugin night lights for if you end up in big old badly lit house, and just pop them in a few spots around it
- Good whistle, mainly if another unwanted dog starts interacting with you when walking clients one
- If a long summer stay, take note of where ALL plants are that need watering. I have one client I kept, and last summer's (hot!) sit, I was told "don't worry about any of the plants except the hanging baskets". I diligently watered all those hanging baskets every day (and the other plants), and then on the second last day of a 3 week sit, noticed two I had missed in the side of the garden
- When you arrive make sure any outside doors are locked. I've had a few clients that went off, for me to arrive hours later to find every outside door unlocked
- Likewise any windows, and gates in the garden
- Get the client to write down the pets routine, make sure they dont forget to tell you if cats are indoor ones only! keycode for alarm, and anything else important, and not just verbally
- Get the pet's vet contact, and search an emergency one just in case (only needed emergency vet once for clumsy dog, only a 2 hour fix-up but couldn't have waited until the Monday so very handy)
- Take a picture of every room on the first day, just in case you get someone that tries it on (never happened me but just in case)
- Give the garden a good walk so you know it
- Every evening when I'd close curtains I'd check windows were closed and locked
- Make it clear you will not be there 24 hours a day, but animals and general house stuff will stick to routine
- Put local Garda (police) station phone number in your phone for each sit (I never needed it but just in case)
- Make sure you will have somewhere to park your car
- If you ever have to apply medication to a small dog or cat, wrap them in a towel like a burrito!
- If you are not used to gas cookers make sure the flame actually goes out when you think you've turned it off, or else 2 hours later.....why is it so warm in here
- Ask the client if they are expecting any packages, as some put it in the recycling bin or sticks it under the hedge!
- Turning lights on/off - do this in a few rooms, and at different times, ones you aren't even using. In winter if you are going to be out and getting back in the dark, consider getting a couple of timer plugs so you can set a couple of lamps to come on so you are not coming back to a house in darkness
STAY OUT OF TROUBLE
SOME IMPORTANT ONES!
- Know who has a spare key - neighbour, someone nearby etc. and get their phone number. I've only locked myself out once (left key inside). If no one has one, insist that one be hidden in the garden
- As well as the keycode, if they have a monitored alarm, know the password for when the alarm company calls, and even add your number to their call list if they don't have a landline. Also make sure they clearly show you the setting of the alarm - for when you'll be out with the dog, is there a different setting when you leave the dog, can you have a window open at night etc.
- Have the client let the neighbours know you will be staying. (Had a couple of Garda encounters because neighbours got twitchy!)
- Make sure you know if other people have keys and will be coming in while you are there - cleaner, gardener, window cleaner, repairs, family member etc. so you know and don't greet them with a poker!
BENEFITS TO CLIENTS
THINGS TO TELL CLIENTS WHAT THEY'LL GET
- Pets in own surroundings
- Pets get usual routine
- Owner doesn't have to drop and collect pet to kennels (and everything that goes with having to kennel)
- Plants watered
- Bins in/out
- Curtains opened/closed
- Lights on/off
- Mail not collecting where it can be seen by potential burglars
- Take packages in
- Sweeping porch area particularly in autumn
- For older cars, and longish stays, starting the car for a few mins every few days so the battery doesn't die, so know where keys are. One client told me not to bother, they came back to 3 of their 4 cars dead, so they made sure to leave keys out for me on my next sits!
200
+
Happy Clients
500
+
Houses Sat!
600
+
Animals
5000
+
Poops Scooped!