What do people do about keys to the front door?

I've had several clients handle this differently. Some give me the key pad code to their attached garage, which gives me access to inside their house. Some hide a key for me outside the door, tell me where it will be, ask me to keep it during the time I'm caring for their fur kids and then return it to the hiding spot after the last visit. And some of my nearby neighbors have given me an extra key to always keep at my home, which I've also used to help them gain access when they accidentally lock themselves out of their home.

I've sat for someone who had a key 'hidden' for me (if sitting on a patio table right outside the door is hidden), and I've used keypad lock boxes to get spare keys. I have a few people who help let my dogs out while I'm at work - some of them have copies of my key, and I've got a spare key that I give to neighbors/friends who don't do it as often. (Lowe's has this awesome key blank where the top of the key is a carabiner, so you can just clip it to your key ring without having to thread it on and off. It's both really convenient and really distinctive, which is great for a spare key.) There's also a locked bike shelter on the property here, so if I need to leave anything for someone while I won't be home, I can leave safely it in there with my bike and give them my code to get in.

I had one stay where the owners' flight was delayed and they wouldn't get home until midnight. I offered to take their dogs to their house so they didn't have to come to my house late. I texted them when I got to their house and they gave me the garage code. Then, the husband got on his phone and turned off the alarm. When I was out of the house, I texted him again and he turned the alarm back on.

I agree with Deb. When I enter a clients home, Key is

usually under mat or through garage door. Sometimes, they give it to me if i,m staying overnight.

I normally do in my home sitting, however I have had two clients that asked me to come to their home. One was for a cat and the other was a dog, two ferrets a bird and fish tank. On both occasions I visited the clients home the day before they left to pick up keys and get alarm codes if applicable. I'm not comfortable with them "hiding" the key outside, anything could happen. When I was visiting the dog/ferrets and bird I arrived one evening to discover the alarm going off, the dog howling inside and had the police come tearing up the drive behind me. Thankfully it was just a false alarm, due to an unused side french door having a loose hinge and moving during heavy winds. It was quite the experience I must say.

I like Candace's idea about getting a key pad. For me, most of my regular patrons have given me my own copy of their house keys because I have been with them for so long. But just starting off, it might be a good idea to meet the day prior to starting the stay to receive the key and then just leave the keys at the owners home at the end of the stay. If that isn't convenient, a good hiding place outside the house like under a mat is a great idea.

I sit a neighbor's cats occasionally. She gives me an extra key before they leave town, and then I drop it off when they get back. I'm with Jennifer: leaving it outside the house makes me uncomfortable, and I always lock the deadbolt so leaving it in the house at the last visit wouldn't work. Plus, what happens if they get delayed and need you to keep caring for their animals?

Hey, ya'll! I have been given a garage door opener and access to a key in a flower pot or tool shelf in the garage if needed. For other clients, we meet the day before they leave and make sure all the last minute details that the owners want to cover are capped!

I've had two clients where I visited their home. One had a lockbox similar to what Candace describes. I kept the key with me during the stay, and I just left the key in the box after my last visit. Another just gave me a key and asked me to leave it on the kitchen table after my last visit.