To think this is a ridiculous price?

[VibesCurator]

First time getting a housesitter for my 2 dogs as a family member who used to watch them moved away. I got quoted £40 total per day by a sitter, AIBU for thinking this is ridiculous?

I'm not boarding them, the sitter would be staying in my house using my gas and electric. I have replied to them as much, but now that I am looking around at more sitters, it seems like an average price. How much does everyone else pay?

That does sound incredibly cheap to me!

You should probably have looked at average prices before replying to them.

seems pretty cheap for me for 2 dogs maybe you'll get a better deal if you take them to their house so they don't lose their freedom, its an inconvenience for them being in your house unless kits seen as holidat to them in which case use trusted house sitters. In London thats below the rate for 1 dog per night.

So you think a wage of £40 per day is acceptable - for anyone - do you? Seriously? Yes, she will be staying in your house, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have her own bills to pay - her mortgage won't go down because she's looking after your dogs! And even if she's not using her own gas/electric there are still standing charges. House insurance, car costs, whatever else she has to pay for. I think you've got a bargain for a live-in dog sitter.

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/

Well, you called her grabby first, so if the shoe fits.

they're just cuddling with dogs, not much work there.

With this attitude, you seem to think you're doing them a favour. They'll be working, not just cuddling your dogs.

Reminds me of an ex employer when I used to babysit, she'd say I was lucky to be staying in watching tv whilst she went out.
Except I was working, you're on alert the whole time watching the kids/pets. It's not the same as being in your own home at all.

Good luck finding someone as they probably know each other and talk.

I'd write back, apologise and pay the going rate.

Why don't you find a homeless person to do the job for you? They might not charge as accommodation etc for the week might be a good trade off.

Go trawl the shop doorways at night looking for homeless people to look after your house and your pets while you're away.
Great idea🤣🤣🤣

Is she staying overnight or just the full day? I mean look at it this way would you work for £40 a day? I am guessing she has paid for training, licence, insurance, her transport to get to you and any other costs that go with running a business. She is entitled to charge for her time, so £40 is reasonable

Seems really reasonable to me. I pay £40 for overnight stays for one dog at my dog sitters home (and I am in the North). Am happy to pay that as he has their undivided attention. Think it should actually cost more if they come to your home as it is actually more inconvenient for the sitter than being in their own home.

Dog walkers/sitters are in great demand, don't make the mistake of thinking they need you more than you need them. Show some respect or you will never find anyone and may end up blacklisted in your area.

My friend works for a well-established nationwide pet sitting agency. The agency charges £85.00 per day, plus the sitter's travel expenses. When we leave our dog in kennels, it costs £28.00 per day, so I'd say you were getting a bargain!

Yes, she is.

but they're unable to do anything else personally productive during that time. They can't sort out their own house, run their own errands, look after anyone else's pets. It's essentially enforced down time

£50-£60 where I am in the South West

No, she is calling you tight.

No, she’s calling you cheap! Hope that helps

She's calling you cheap 😂

She's being honest. If I was her I'd turn you down too.

That’s cheap. Dog walkers charge £13 or more per hour & I live in South Wales. I doubt you would find cheaper £40 per day is not a lot but cheapest isn’t always best if you put them in kennels it would be 3 times that per day if not more. Maybe find a pet sitter who can come meet your dogs see how they get on first.

I was just doing the maths and thought I must have misunderstood as £1.66 seems ridiculously cheap. Or, put another way, 88 pence per hour per dog

No. She's telling you politely that she doesn't negotiate on price and to go elsewhere.

I think your original message actually sounds like it might have been quite rude (about the electricity etc).

I'm in Kent and pay £45 per night for kennels for 2 dogs. £40 for someone to look after both dogs in their own home is an absolute bargain. Not expensive at all. They'd also be keeping an eye on your house and will have insurances etc to pay.

Blimey! I house sat and looked after a cat belonging to a friend of my DMs for several days some years back. It was done as a favour at short notice and I wasn't fussed about being paid to do it. Didn't even get a thank you present when the woman returned. I was had.

She’s calling you tight.
Which you are.
£280 before tax for a weeks work??You’re taking the piss.

I'll hold my hands up now, and say I have no clue whatsoever what the cost of a pet-sitter is, as I've never used one.
But if I needed one, I wouldn't think £40 was unreasonable... After all, this person has to put their own life on hold in order to do it.

Wow that seems very reasonable to me. My cat sitter (who doesn’t stay but just comes and plays with them for 10 mins and feeds them once a day) charges £15 per day.

Going and staying at someone else’s house and looking after their dogs 24 hours a day is work - it’s not a holiday.