How much do you pay your housesitter?

[david4455]

We have 3 dogs. I like our housesitters to stay at the house and sleep. Right now we pay our housesitter about $50 a day (but he sometimes will take half of that in trade for our artwork). If we are on an extended trip, 4-8 weeks, we try and work out a deal so it is not 1000's of dollars. We have had this guy (and arrangement) for years now.

We are now looking for a new housesitter (various reasons)

Wondering what the going rate is these days?

[kellio33]

I don't have mine overnight but she comes in to take care of the dog.

3 x per day @ 15.00 per 30 minute visit = 45.00 per day. She plays with and walks the dog.

I think it's kind of a good racket

[graraps]

Is there free food and internet?
If so, where do I sign up?

[4444]

when our children were infants we had a nanny. i think we gave her 800 per week plus room and board.

[kevinsac]

I live in Sacramento. I had a very nice house, some nice art; I fully stocked the frig and bar, welcome ["adult"] guests and expect the person to stay in the house, not only for the animals but to watch over the house.

Earlier this year, when gas prices were high, my housesitter went up to $50 a day because she had an hour's commute each way. I thanked her for her services.

Through friends, I have been able to find nieces and nephews and cousins who are students. More often than not, they have roommates from whom they are glad to escape. Last fall, I had 4 trips which took me away from home for a total of 5 weeks. Since I have so many miles, I told her that I would give her and a friend [Y!] tickets anywhere in the continental US or Canada or give her a [Y]ticket to Europe. So, for about 35 nights, about $800 in airfare, so about $22-25 a night.

There is a young woman who works in my office. She has a one-hour commute to/from work, and loves the chance to stay only 3 miles from the office. She charges $10/night for the convenience of being so close, and I may kick in some extra.

Also, I bring back a nice present from a trip.

Both have seen the plans for my remodelled condo...and both have offered to continue housesitting!

[swei0009]

We have 2 cats. The catsitter (college student who lives nearby) visits for an hour or two a day. For a one week trip we left a case of Mtn Dew, 4 boxes of Pop Tarts, and $100. It's snowed every day and he has been shoveling, so we'll add another $50 when we get home.

[Moderator2]

Our cat sitter charges $28 a day for two visits. When his schedule allows, he can also do the overnight stay, and I think he charges $42. IIRC, he said his rates are going up a couple of bucks after the first of 2009. We've been using this guy for now about ten years.

For two or three night trips, we now have our next door neighbor's eleven year old boy, take care of the cat. I've been paying him about $8 a day. In addition to feeding him, the kid also comes over for a half hour in the afternoon with his eight year old sister, and just plays with the cat. Wanted to pay him a bit more, but his mother discouraged me.

[xinerevelle]

We pay the neighbor kids $10 a day to come over about 3-4 times a day to let the cats in and out (some are indoor/outdoor, some only indoor). They come before school, after school, and before bed. We have 4 cats. We leave treats and toys, and since they don't have cats they enjoy having cats to play with for a few days.

When I was in college I housesat for a professor emeritus who was on a round-the-world cruise with her husband. Her condo was just off campus, but it was far enough away that I needed to drive to campus -- and didn't have a parking permit (I usually parked on the street near my dorm). It was a royal PITA. Plus, since I had a single room, I wasn't dying to escape my roommate. And, I still had to eat meals at the dining commons. The prof thought she was doing me a favor, and vice versa. When she came back she gave me $25 and thought she was being generous. I was so ticked off I could barely speak (this was after being there for 3 weeks!). Granted it was the early 90s, but still... I now realize that I should've said something, but didn't. Now I'm much more assertive.

[kevinsac]

Originally Posted by xinerevelle

a round-the-world cruise with her husband. . . . this was after being there for 3 weeks!

I assume this was one of the Concorde (or A&K Private Jet tours) around the world. Else, she lied to you and only did a Medit or South Pacific Cruise. Either way, she could have afforded to pay more.

[WIRunner]

Key to the liqour cabinet, and a stocked fridge is what I asked for. (got a free ticket, and use of the car, plus $300 per week)
Then again it was in San Diego one block from the beach in January when I was 22.
It was glorious.

[kevinsac]

Originally Posted by WIRunner

Key to the liqour cabinet, and a stocked fridge is what I asked for. (got a free ticket, and use of the car, plus $300 per week)

Dang....I need to learn me a scam like that!

Or, was that Mommy and Daddy for whom you were housesitting?

[scoow]

Originally Posted by kevinsac

Dang....I need to learn me a scam like that!

Notice he didn't get the key to the liquor cabinet.

[xinerevelle]

Originally Posted by kevinsac

I assume this was one of the Concorde (or A&K Private Jet tours) around the world. Else, she lied to you and only did a Medit or South Pacific Cruise. Either way, she could have afforded to pay more.

I might be exaggerating the RTW part... but a 3 week cruise and all I got was $25?

On the positive side, when her husband later got alzheimer's and she had to put him in a nursing home, he thought he was on a cruise ship in the cabin and that she was just up on deck sunning herself and reading. What a way to go!

[kevinsac]

Cute story.

I have a friend whose Mother has Alzheimers. Mother lived on the East Coast and the friend here in Calif. Friend is married with 4 kids. The needed to bring Mother here to Calif to take care of her.

So, they told Mother that they were inviting her to come visit. But with such a crowded home, and kids yelling and screaming all the time, they were going to put her in a nearby bed-n-breakfast. Mother loves the bed-n-breakfast, thinks her kid is so smart to make this arrangement, thinks the b-n-b hostess is just the best, and never wants to go home again! That's the idea--she has been in Calif for over 8 years now!

[GeorgeK]

Originally Posted by david4455

Wondering what the going rate is these days?

In Atlanta they are up to $75 to housesit for 2 dogs. That doesn't include a walk or anything other than feeding twice a day and letting them in and out via the family room door. She does spend the night though