how much should i expect to be paid for housesitting?

[charlimouse]

Had a call today from one of my clients, they are going on holiday on Monday and the housesitter text them today to say they wouldn't he able to do it. So they called me up desperate asking if I could do it. There are:

3 horses
2 dogs
Some sheep
Some geese
And a cat

The horses will need mucking out, turnout, 10 acre field poo picked etc. The dogs need walking twice daily. Sheep, geese, cat and dogs need feeding and all waters for the animals will need to be filled as they are currently frozen. I will be staying in the house overnight, then doing the morning feeds, walks, mucking out etc. I will then have 2 drive 15 miles back to my yard to muck out my 9 and do any teaching/riding (if it thaws!), before driving the 15 miles back to bring in, feed, walk dogs, look after house etc. So in total I'll be driving 30 miles a day. Luckily my mum isn't working this week so is going to feed and turnout/bring in the 9 on my yard, when I'm not around.

The owner will be away for 8 days, which includes new years eve and day (no going out for me!). So having never done this before what is the going rate of pay?

 

[Luci07]

That is a LOT to take on. As a guide I pay a friend £20 per day to house sit - my 2 dogs. I also pay my dog walker to come in so in theory she doens't need to walk them most days (although she does tend to anyway). Animal aunts will charge £30 a day for dog sitting.

So basics - petrol costs, dog walking, new years eve extra costs, something for your mum as she will have to help out..why don't you work out what is cost you to do it first, then add on your time and ask them what they had thought of paying!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

For all that lot, about £50 a day, but maybe reduce to 40 as it's 8 days. You might include petrol in that or charge that on top.

I have similar animal crowd and I would gladly pay that - if I could find anyone to do it!

 

[DuckToller]

I pay a friend to housesit - I have far more horses (7), 3 dogs which she walks with hers, but no other livestock so probably a similar amount of work. She sleeps over for that and comes back several times in the day to check on the house etc. Mine are on rubber matting with light amount of woodchips and straw, and she gets some help mucking out from a teenager who rides one of mine.

I paid her £50 a day last year, and a teenager who did it the year before charged £40 a day and was grateful for the money as she is a student, whereas my friend has her own yard so I feel she has to fit more in plus she spends more time here keeping an eye on the place.

The animal aunts charge per animal and would probably work out at a huge amount - maybe get a quote from them to compare!

 

[virtual]

I used to charge a £20 a night basic for staying in the house then put an hourly rate on top of that (eg all the jobs for the horses/cat/dogs/geese/sheep etc would perhaps take 2hrs a day at £7 per hour, so total £34 per night) If you think their set up would mean it would take more or less time, then adjust accordingly.

 

[Tinypony]

Is it worth your effort for less than £50 per day? Ring a house sitting company and find out how much they'd charge. With 9 horses of my own to look after and other work to do, personally I don't know if I'd take this on unless it was really worth my while. I think they would pay more like £100 per day to a professional sitting service.

 

[Allover]

Ditto the others advice regarding speaking to an agency as to how much they would charge and then make your mind up from there, or you could ask the people who want you to house sit how much they normally pay.

Just to add, make sure you have authorisation (with vet practice) incase any of the animals need to see the vet.

 

[MrsHutt]

Just a thought - watch the weather forecast! It is supposed to get a little warmer for a couple of days this week and then snow comes back with a vengeance! Will you be able to get from one place to the other ok?

 

[canteron]

Suggest if you pay £50/day you can expect a really good service!! I always think if you pay too little you can't complain if it goes wrong, if you see what I mean!

I think that all those animals is quite a responsibility to take on and you want to know that if something does go wrong (for example one of them is ill) that you can expect your housesitting to cancel private engagements if necessary and dig out.

 

[Apercrumbie]

I think £40/£50 a day sounds about right. That is a lot of work for one person to do, particularly if you're not familiar with their animals. Just make sure you do a really good job and they shouldn't mind.

 

[Groom42]

I would also try and compare with an agency. You obviously need to charge less than an agency, as you are not a "professional". However, you are being expected to step in at very short notice, and therefore rearrange your commitments/put your social life on hold for the next eight days! Remember, NYE is premium rates ( just TRY getting a babysitter!) and NYD is double time. I'm not suggesting you even vaguely take advantage of someone's desperation, but, on the other hand, you will be doing a HUGE HUGE favour, getting her out of a BIG hole, and should in no way sell yourself, or your time, short. xxxx
ETA - FWIW I once had a conversation with a pro-sitter and was stunned that on top of her daily rate (If I remember, 3 figures) travel was added on top, and the clients had to leave her food etc.

 

[Natch]

Did they not give you a price they would pay you? or how much they were going to pay the previous person?

Just be careful, maybe the previous person "let them down" because they thought it wasn't worth it once they found out how much money they would be receiving? Whatever you do for goodness sake agree the price before you go.

I wouldn't want to do it in your shoes but if you do, I'd suggest you break down how many hours you are likely to be there, work out cost per hour (grooming tends to get between £6 to £7.50 I think - you could probably ask the higher end or a bit more since its all last minute) and add a bit for petrol.

Edited to add the person before me makes a good point about NYE and NYD.

 

[Luci07]

and just as I didn't make myself clear... the money I quoted was house sitting JUST for 2 dogs.. no horses, goats, chickens in sight..!

 

[charlimouse]

Thanks for the heads up! I have already agreed a price which I think is reasonable (which is the same as what most of you guys seem to think!), but whilst discussing it over the Christmas dinner table yesterday with my sister she seemed to think it was really cheap. So just thought I'd ask here to make sure nobody is taking the pi$$!

 

[noodle_]

id ask for £50 a day + £30 for 1 weeks worth of petrol....

 

[MrsMozart]

Others have advised re. prices, but my thought was immediately to the insurance angle, i.e. are you covered whilst there?

I know anyone working with us is covered as we have insurance in place (have to for our business), but our dog sitter has his own.

 

[Thistle]

You need to charge at least £50 a day, plus extra for petrol. I would also expect extra for NYE/NYD (maybe £100 for that night rather than £50.

 

[Tinypony]

If they get you for £50 per day that's an absolute bargain and you are being very generous. I hope it all goes well for you.

 

[GinaB]

I think they would be doing well to only pay you £50 per day! When I house sit I charge £10 per day and that's for a dog! They are kept to the routine that the owner has for them, I stay overnight and the house is cleaned from top to bottom before I leave.

 

[honetpot]

The last time I looked a getting someone to do this it was very expensive, it was cheaper to put all my horses in to livery and the dogs in kennnels. So I would give them a take it or leave it price and they should be grateful and take it.
Also on of the house sitting charge was the cost of their food.

 

[meardsall_millie]

Goodness, I wouldn't be employing anybody off here at these prices!

I went on holiday last year and paid £35 per day for a fully insured, professional housesitter with exceptional references. The proper care of all animals on the premises was included.

I accept that prices may have risen a little as it was a year ago but it's still nowhere near as much as is being suggested on here.

 

[Natch]

Meardsall_millie, OP isn't housesitting in the normal sense though - he/she has to travel back and to every day to do their own horses too, so in my opinion they should charge as per a groom, i.e. per hour, with travel possibly included too - particularly since its a last minute arrangement AND included NYE

 

[Tinypony]

Meardsall_milllie, don't worry, I doubt many on this thread would work for you for that price LOL!
I am sitting in a B+B as I type, the owners are away and I'm keeping the place occupied until they get back. No guests, no animals. £10 a day less than you paid the person who house-sat for you. Heck, when I do private house cleaning I get £11 an hour. (Yes, I do have a few different "jobs".)
When the B+B is running and they go away I also move in and look after things. I have help with cleaning and cooking, about 4-5 hours a day to myself, and get paid £120 per day. No mucking out (apart from of bedrooms!) or dog walking required.

 

[Southywesty]

When i have house sat I was paid £50 a day to look after 12 horse, 2 dogs, and have my horses there FOC with use of all facilities and cottage.

 

[Ravenwood]

Goodness! I hope Persephone isn't reading this! She came and house sat for me for free last August!

But I have actually been thinking about this just today, because daughter and I have decided that next Christmas it would be nice to go to Florida (well, its a nice thought!) and I am sure it would be cheaper to put the dogs in kennels and just get a neighbour to come in to feed the cat and the chooks. People at the farm where I keep my horse would look after her (if she is still around then )

OP - you are an absolute saint to agree to this - it all sounds an awful lot of work. Does a 10 acre field with just three horses really need to be poo picked?

 

[Sarah Lewis]

Has anyone used http://housecarer.com ? Its been recommended quite a bit now? not sure who pays what if anything but is it worth a look? Reviews are good, seems legit?

 

[Keith_Beef]

Had a call today from one of my clients, they are going on holiday on Monday and the housesitter text them today to say they wouldn't he able to do it. So they called me up desperate asking if I could do it. There are:

3 horses
2 dogs
Some sheep
Some geese
And a cat

The horses will need mucking out, turnout, 10 acre field poo picked etc. The dogs need walking twice daily. Sheep, geese, cat and dogs need feeding and all waters for the animals will need to be filled as they are currently frozen. I will be staying in the house overnight, then doing the morning feeds, walks, mucking out etc. I will then have 2 drive 15 miles back to my yard to muck out my 9 and do any teaching/riding (if it thaws!), before driving the 15 miles back to bring in, feed, walk dogs, look after house etc. So in total I'll be driving 30 miles a day. Luckily my mum isn't working this week so is going to feed and turnout/bring in the 9 on my yard, when I'm not around.

The owner will be away for 8 days, which includes new years eve and day (no going out for me!). So having never done this before what is the going rate of pay?

It looks like a lot of work, overnight stays, over New Year's eve and day as well? Bloody hell! I think £50 plus a bonus of £100 for the bank holiday weekend, plus 30 miles a day at a Mileage rate of 45p per mile.
Eight days at £50 = £400
Eight days of 30 miles per day: 30 × 0.45 = £13.50
Bank Holiday bonus £50
Total £463.50

If you feel cheeky asking for so much, just say you're not available. How would you get on if your mum wasn't available to take care of the nine on your yard? You'd be paying somebody to do your normal work, so you could take on extra work...

 

[OldNag]

Zombie thread @Keith_Beef - 2010

 

[Keith_Beef]

Zombie thread @Keith_Beef - 2010

I love to start Fridays with a little bit of thread necromancy. Blame Sarah for it!