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?

You’re asking them to give up their time and be in your house 27/7.

How do I go about doing this as a side gig so I can get out of my town for a few days - for free. It's literally a free holiday in London with dogs 🥹 sounds amazing.

I had a couple through Trusted housesitters.com they were free. A young couple who wanted to get to know Bristol. House was immaculate dog was very happy.

I think you're just here for the attention 😄 £40 is not unreasonable for a day, she's not doing to for fun

How do you know how much work there will be?
My dog normally sleeps well all night, but a few days ago he needed to be let out twice between 2.00am and 4.30am.
With a dog sitter you are paying for peace of mind that they will be there in case of any issues. I don’t think you have the correct mindset to employ a dog sitter. Why would anyone choose to work for someone who doesn’t recognise their worth?

No. They're calling you tight.
Would you put in a 24 hour shift for 40 quid a day at your job?!
I pay £50/day for 1 dog with his normal walker at his house for boarding. Friends occasionally ask us to look after their dog for the day, not even overnight, and happily pay £35 for one dog & that's not even overnight! When we take them overnight/for a few days it is most definitely extra "work", even alongside our own dog, not just cuddles!

If roles were reversed, how much do you think you would charge for caring for 2 dogs, walking them, dealing with any emergency that may arise AND relocating to someone elses home?

She’s calling you tight- quite rightly.

Genuinely curious, who does this sort of job for 40 GBP per day? Students who live in shared accommodation who enjoy the benefit of having extra space? Pensioners who are bored?
Cleaners/babysitters or other service providers who come to your house expect 16 GBP/hour and want at least 3-4 hours (we had a babysitter who wanted 8 as minimum as she wasn't local). We pay our babysitter the same rate even when children are asleep.
Who does these cheap jobs?

Exactly- my recent overnight cat sit the cat was 17 with health issues and one night he wailed at me every hour through the night- I think he had forgotten he had eaten. I eventually gave up at 5am and got up for the day. I was being paid to be there so I couldn’t complain but it’s not like I was being paid to sleep.. cos I didn’t haha

Never used a dog sitter but that sounds cheap as chips.

£40 a day doesn’t seem ridiculous to me. You’re paying for someone’s time, responsibility, and expertise in caring for your dogs, not just the roof over their head. Housesitting means they’re tied to your home and your pets, with limited freedom, so the cost reflects that commitment. All sounds pretty standard.

Sounds really reasonable to me. I pay more than that for my 2 dogs, £50 for 1 dogs, £5 for the extra 1. Walks on their own are around £14 per dog plus a tiny amount extra for 2nd dog. If the dogs were unable to be left alone for a few hours then it would be £65 a day for me. I am South East. Its fairly standard for 1 on 1 care, boarders may be fractionally less as they have several dogs at a time.

Well either she is calling you tight or broke. I cannot believe you questioned her costs, thats so rude.

She's calling you cheap. £40 a day is very reasonable.

So glad I have a friend who feeds mine on way home from work ( he passes my house) for a meal/ drink.

I think this is one of those things people don’t value as they do it themselves for free alongside cleaning and childcare. It’s just pushing a hoover around / sitting on sofa while kids are asleep / cuddling dogs.

Obviously there is a value and an opportunity cost. I bet OP would be a nightmare sbout excessive gas / electric consumption if it had gone ahead.

Well first you need to set up a business, pay for insurance, gain a pet first aid certification and then pretty much good to go. People think you just rock up but in reality anyone who cares about their pets would want someone registered and insured.

I don’t think the OP is coming back. Hopefully she’s got the message. It sounds like a very good rate to me.

I don't think people do value the pet industry, I worked as a dog groomer and would charge a fraction of the price of their hairdresser. Despite the fact their wriggly, bitey, excitable dog had 1 to 1 attention with top to tail grooming, I was expensive. Their hairdresser on the other hand was worth every penny.

Massively unreasonable. The whole point of having a house sitter and not a kennel is that a dog gets to stay in its own home. 40 quid a day, wow, they're retiring early on that aren't they!!

She's calling you a cheapskate

A friend of mine pet and house sits for Trusted House sitters and it sounds like a good deal all round.she gets a free place to stay. House owner gets free pet and house care. So pick someone who wants to stay in your location then they're getting the benefit of free accommodation.

This was brought home to me a few years ago when we paid to stay in a house in holiday while the owners were away. The owner asked us to feed the cat. And I thought- if we weren't here paying to stay in the house, they'd have to pay someone to feed the cat! Trusted House sitters (or similar - am sure there are others) offers benefit to both parties 😀
www.trustedhousesitters.com/join-now/pet-parents/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleAds_Direct_Search_Non-Brand_Owners_UK_Acquisitions&utm_content=HO_HouseSitter&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22926730258&gclid=CjwKCAiA4KfLBhB0EiwAUY7GAdzEdB6KF-hvAcJkWz-0a3ksrCqNVSbHh2p2UyG0vWgISCMYviW8_xoCt3kQAvD_BwE

So when my brother looked after mums dog while she was away it meant she didn't care enough about her pet as he wasnt registered and insured

That’s a bit of a reach. I’m assuming your brother knows your mum, and trusts her. The post is about paid pet sitters, offering a professional service, not someone’s mum looking after Fido for the weekend.