Housesitting - money ???

[BonSchwe]

We'll be in WDW for 12-days soon and wanted to ask a young man in the neighborhood to come in to feed our pets and just keep an eye on the place while we're gone.

Does anyone have suggestions for how much to pay him? This is our first trip beyond a long week-end and I've never dealt with this situation before.

Thanks!!

WDW - HERE WE COME IN 17 DAYS!!!

 

[DMRick]

There was a long thread on this about 6 months ago. I have one cat, and pay a local gal $7.00 a day to come in and pet and feed her once a day (she tells me I over pay her..but I think she is worth even more, and while she won't take more, I try to bring her back a gift wherever I go valued about $10 - 15..and the cat gives her a Christmas gift). No kitty litter duties, no walking of her, and no plants. Most people pay $10 a trip for a dog, which includes walking. I think one person said it's 3 times a day.

 

[geniegirl]

I am having to deal with this as well. We usually let one of my SIL stay at the house and they take care of our cast but this time there is no one available. I generally do not pay them since they are in their early 20’s and it gives them a week away from home. They have access to house and any food that they want.

This trip I had to contact a local woman who pet sits she charge $13 a day to come in one time to feed, water, and do the litter. A bit high but what else to do – no neighbor kids I trust in the house alone.

If you don’t what to go professional, or use a relative it all depends on the pets and the kids age you use. I guess a few buck a day would not be bad especially if they come over more than once.

 

[Anne34]

We recently had our neighbor's teenage son (we know them well)come and take care of our dog while we were at HHI. We paid him $15.00 a day and he came over 3/4 times per day to take the dog out and he also played with her. I think this amount was good, since a kennel would cost me more. Also, we're in the Chicago suburbs and everything tends to cost more around here.

 

[nana2tots]

I think i paid $50, for 7 days, one pet, of course the girl lives on same block as me, walking distance, plus she gets the use of the Pool!!!!!!!!!!disneykid

 

[nana2tots]

OF course, a disney present, also. disneykid

 

[nana2tots]

But, forgot my sis is coming in from out of town and stay at my house while we are away, so that Precious will have company everyday. disneykid

 

[Anne34]

We recently had our neighbor's teenage son (we know them well)come and take care of our dog while we were at HHI. We paid him $15.00 a day and he came over 3/4 times per day to take the dog out and he also played with her. I think this amount was good, since a kennel would cost me more. Also, we're in the Chicago suburbs and everything tends to cost more around here.

 

[zurgswife]

I have paid about $18 a day to watch the house and the dog...over our Christmas trip I paid $20 a day...

 

[AdventurerKat]

I generally gave a friend $10.00 a day to come and feed the cats and scoop their litter.

 

[floridagirrl2]

We have a dog and a cat, and we pay a professional $10.00 per visit (3 visits per day, for a total of $30.00 per day) to come over and feed them, let them outside, change the litterbox, and give the dog his twice-a-day Rimadyl and Glucosamine.

We are thrilled to finally have a relaible petsitter (we've had pretty awful experiences with unreliable ones). $10-$13 per visit is pretty standard in my area.

 

[rsschneck]

Wow! Lots of different price ranges here. Last October we had a friends college aged daughter stay at our house and watch the dog. Very easy duty! Feed and water. She goes potty outside or inside in her litter box, so long days alone don't bother her.

We paid $20 per day. I thought that was a bargain considering the convenience and our house was being watched. The dog was happy to have a guest. Win, win situation for everyone. She made $200 for eating and sleeping at our house.

I would say call a couple of pet sitting services in your area to see what the going rate is. Then come up with a price you both agree upon.

 

[BonSchwe]

Thanks so much for everyones help. I just called him and he'll be over tomorrow to go over what needs to be done. One more thing off my list of 'what to do before Disney' (which is quite lengthy).

Thanks again!!

 

[HockeyDadof2]

We pay a college student/ daughter of a friend, $65 a night to spend the night at our home, with the guarantee that she will let the dogs out multiple times during the day. A little pricey compared to some replies but we have 7 dogs right now, and the last time we took a trip and she was at school we paid $17 a day per dog per day to board them. Plus we don't leave our house empty with her staying. We also stock the fridge and pantry for her before we leave and typically bring her back a pretty nice gift.

 

[mudd]

I guess I get off real lucky, my neighbor loves our pets and does it for nothing, he will usually even come in and sit and watch tv with the dog in the evening. But then we also watch there house for them when they are out of town, funny thing though I have as many times I sit and watch their house it won't do any tricks for me but I'll keep watching.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Our daughter used to take care of the dog across the street. She got paid more for that then she did for babysitting children and the dog was much easier to care for. LOL

SG/Linda

 

[CheapMom]

I always do it for my neighbors for free- They usually bring the kids and me a nice gift from wherever they went.
These are cats- so it just a once a day feeding- I don't really mind at all.

thing though I have as many times I sit and watch their house it won't do any tricks for me but I'll keep watching.

 

[rileyroosmom]

WOW! I can't believe the prices I'm reading. My son is watching our good neighbors dog for a week. He only goes over 1x a day to let the dog out and throw a ball around (another woman is going over 2x a day to feed and let out). He is 10 years old and they left him $10 and I know they will bring him back something from their trip. When we leave in three weeks their daughter will come to feed our fish and we will pay the same. Not too many people out there who help eachother out just because you are good friends.

 

[Julia M]

My ds (who's 11) also takes care of the next door neighbors two dogs. He's paid $2.50 per meal (they are fed twice a day. Sometimes it's $5, because they leave Sat. morning and return Sunday afternoon (so he feeds Sat night and Sun a.m.), up to $10 for the weekend (when they leave FRI and return Sun afternoon)

I figure it's easy enough for us (because we live next door) and ds loves earning the money.

 

[zurgswife]

We are going away over Easter weekend unexpectedly so the next door neighbor boy 11 will be coming over 3 times a day and one is a puppy....I'm paying him $15 per day for 4 days...he is thrilled with the money. He definately would have done it for less but I want to make sure he takes good care of the dogs and money seem to talk...