To think you wouldn't expect this service for free?

[littleladyluna]

I am currently house and cat sitting for a client for five weeks. I met the next door neighbour while in the garden yesterday who asked if I could water her plants while she was away on holiday for four weeks. I told her I'm sure I could, and that I'd drop over a client enquiry form the next day. As I was already at the house next door for the duration I told her the charge would be £5 a day.

She said nothing, but the look on her face and the sound she made when I told her there would be a charge told me that she wasn't expecting to pay.

AIBU to think you don't expect 60 potted plants in your courtyard garden to be watered everyday for four weeks for free?

Reading your post,this is your business.If it's your business then yes by all means you can set a fee. Perhaps she thought you'd just do it as a kind act? Fwiw,£35 p/w to water plants, I'd regard that as steep. But then I'd not regard it as paid for task,I'd just think a quick water and wahey.

You are working house/ pet sitting - you are not this persons neighbour. £5 is a good deal for her. Have you checked it's ok to take on extra work outside of the house you are working at.

Completely reasonable, even on the cheap side since she will have the peace of mind of knowing her house is looked after.

I pay 60/day for a live in pet sitter.

I recently paid £10/ day for someone to feed my cat and water my pots, I have about 20. I was just really pleased that I didn't have to worry and also that someone was keeping an eye on the house.

If she thought you would do it for nothing she's a cheeky cow...she doesn't even know you!

I would expect to pay that for watering. It's a fair fee.
In Canada home insurance requires Someone to check your home every 24hrs while homeowners are away.

" Have you checked it's ok to take on extra work outside of the house you are working at."

Why would nt it be?

Also the op will not have keys

Rafflesway getting things for nothing is probably the reason she has the money to live in Zone 1 You're right though, it's a service some people will pay for as it's worth a lot to their peace of mind.

NellyMelly I'm self-employed and set my own terms, I don't have to check with anyone.

feed my cat and water my pots, I have about 20
I hope you mean 20 potted plants not 20 cats!!!

I used to do cat visits and I'd charge a tenner for a 30 minute feed/litter box/play visit, I'd pick up post/water a few plants as part of the deal. With 60 pots it would probably go up to ~£15.

In Canada home insurance requires Someone to check your home every 24hrs while homeowners are away.

Wow! Really? We'd never go away

I don't think that's a lot of money at all. In fact for 30/45 minutes work it's a bargain!
My gardener charges £10 p/h and cleaner £10 p/h and I think that's pretty cheap - also I'm in Scotland so no London prices here! Never had a house sitter or someone to purely water the plants but I would expect to pay. £10-£12 p/h for services like that.

So for those of you saying that OP's prices are steep, how low would you go? Would you then be open to offering your sevices at try same rate to every client's neighbour? How would your client feel about subsidising their neighbour's garden sitting service?

Should OP do this for free, tied for four weeks?

YANBU OP, at all.

It's more than reasonable. She just doesn't want to pay. Did she ask you to do it daily? If she asks again, tell her you could do it twice a week (at the same rate or even slightly higher of course).

I wouldn't touch this. Your client is the owner of the house you're in, not the NDN, who is being cheeky in making her request for a rather generous freebie. Let her make her own arrangements.

I wouldn't touch this. Your client is the owner of the house you're in, not the NDN, who is being cheeky in making her request for a rather generous freebie. Let her make her own arrangements.

I actually think you're underpricing what you do OP

Yanbu, you are employed by your client currently, and really that is your time your client pays for, not to water her plants.