Angie’s List Tips: Hiring a house sitter

Angie’s List Tips: Hiring a house sitter

Every homeowner who leaves home for long periods of time has to deal with taking care of mail and newspaper delivery and frets a bit over what might happen to the house while it’s unoccupied. For the owners of the more than 100 million pets in the United States, there’s the added worry over Fido or Fluffy’s care and feeding.

Short trips don’t generally cause homeowners a great deal of worry, but when homeowners have to be gone for an extended amount of time, a great way to achieve peace of mind over pet and property can be finding a good sitter. Professional sitters can provide great peace of mind for absent homeowners because they will water plants, feed and play with pets, pick up mail and newspapers and give the house a lived-in look that will help deter intruders. If anything goes wrong – like basement flooding, tree falls or pet illness or injury – they can begin the recovery process, give the homeowner the news and stave-off long-term damage.

Advantages of hiring a angie's list house sitter:
• Provides security & deter crime: An occupied home is a safer home.
• Minimizes the disruption of your home: Forget the hassles of preparing your house for your absence.
• Reduces pet trauma: Your pet gets to stay in the environment it knows best.
• Repairs & maintenance: House sitters can provide consistent maintenance of your home and lawn to keep them in top condition.

Begin interviewing early so you’ll be confident with your decision. House sitters usually get booked up well ahead of the summer and holiday season so plan accordingly.

Angie's List says follow these tips for finding a house sitter
• Interview candidates: Interview the sitter in person. Can he/she provide written proof that he/she has commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence) and is bonded (to protect against theft).
• Check references: Call the sitters’ other clients and references. For pet sitters, see if they are in an accrediting organization such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (www.petsitters.org).
• Pet interaction: Does your pet seem comfortable with the sitter?
• Fees & services: Inquire about costs.
• Join Angie's list for House Sitters in your area.

Before you leave home, follow these suggestions from Angie's List:
• List of contacts: Leave a clear, written list of contacts including how to reach you, your veterinarian and a neighbor with a spare key.
• Written instructions: Leave plenty of pet food and prescriptions with instructions on feeding times, etc.