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Is the expectation of House Sitting on Rover that the sitter will sleep overnight at the clients house?

New to Rover, not new to pet sitting. I've read through the minimal explanation of services, specifically House Sitting, which says "Your sitter takes care of your pets and your home. Your pets will get all the attention they need without leaving home." However, nearly every person who has booked me for house sitting has specifically asked me to stay overnight at their home. This is not something I've really done, with the exception of a very big difference in pay for special circumstance. I just need to understand if this is clients misinterpreting a possibility or me misunderstanding what I'm saying I'm available for. In my mind drop-in visits mean you pay me for an agreed upon number of visits to your house where I do things like feed, walk or play with your pup. Simple, could just be once, could be a few times a day while owners are on a trip or just when they'll be gone extended hours. I see house sitting as an extension of that, but a little more inclusive, like meaning it will be a number of days in a row, 2 to 3 visits per day, spending time with the pets/food water play ect. With the possibility of picking up mail, taking out trash, watering plants and all that... And obviously an owner could request I stay overnight, but not expect that is a guarantee when booking this service. Am I incorrect? I just want to clarify this so I can drastically increase my house-sitting rates and/or cancel my availability entirely. But also because I feel really bad about miscommunication between myself and a client already. She was the first to book this and not specifically write she wanted me to stay in house overnight, so we already booked it and it was when we did a meet and greet that she stated she expected overnight and nothing else would work.

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I have the same questions. I’m not sure if I’m comfortable staying in a strangers home and if they want me to house sit, I’m not sure how much to charge them

Also, can owners see theses questions and answers that we are posting?

2 Answers

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House sitting means you stay at the house and your clients are correct to assume that you will stay there. It doesn't mean you have to spend every waking moment there. You can still go out during the day and walk other dogs or do drop-ins, but you should be staying overnight and spending a majority of your time with the client. House sitting is a premium service and should carry a premium for the fact that you are uprooting yourself and staying in someone else's home.

This service is subject to the most interpretation by Rover sitters. Some will show up at 7pm and leave in the morning. Some will charge for the drop-ins/walks provided during the day. Some will completely move in as I already described. How ever you plan to perform the service, you need to communicate it to your clients.

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Yes, majority of the clients will assume you stay 24 seven. You must discuss everything prior booking the stay. I have seen people demanding the sitter stays twenty four seven and doesn't leave the house the entire stay. I have seen others who were ok w them leaving. All must be discussed in advance so you both know you are on the same page. You should (if you haven't done it already) state on your profile what people can expect from your pet sitting service.