House Sitting Runnells

Find a loving house sitter to watch over your pets and your home.

End
Search

Runnells, Find top rated house sitting

Prices are estimates per night. Pricing may vary based on your search. A booking fee of 11% and taxes will apply.

1 / 1
Sitter Profile Image: Angie M.
Verified Background Check
Angie M.
from
$45
per night
4.9 out of 5 stars
• 165 reviews
27 repeat clients
14 years of experience
Bondurant, IA, 50035

“We would highly recommend Angie for anyone’s pet sitting needs! She didn’t experience any issues with our elderly, special needs dog who requires medication and a Bailey chair to eat in twice a day, who also can be dog reactive on walks. Nor with our senior cat who requires medication daily as well. Our other senior cat who is very skittish even came out to say hi, which I think shows a lot about Angie’s character. We loved the occasional check ins and photos of our pets we received from Angie. On top of all of that, we came home to a clean house. After being gone 10 days. With 3 shedding pets in the house! We feel very fortunate to have found Angie. She will be our top choice for all future pet sitting needs.”

Profile image
Heather F.
Sitter Profile Image: Justus R.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Justus R.
from
$60
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 17 reviews
2 repeat clients
12 years of experience
Carlisle, IA, 50047

“Justus did an AMAZING job of watching my 1year old German Shepherd, Violet! She was there for 3 days and she sent tons of photos and updates so I didn't have to worry. She played with her a lot, left my house spotless and was respectful of everything there. I know Violet will love having her back next time I have to go out of town with her. Lastly, if she can handle my puppy and her energy for 3 days.. she can handle anything!”

Profile image
Skip D.
Sitter Profile Image: Stacey W.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Stacey W.
from
$70
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 38 reviews
12 repeat clients
15 years of experience
Sherman Hill, Des Moines, IA, 50309

“Stacey is awesome!! I'll admit that I'm not the most timely communicator, but Stacey is! She She always confirmed with me before our scheduled meet and greets, she was confident with our dog that isn't the best with new people, she kept us up to date regarding how our three pups were doing, and sent some sweet pictures. Our pups were clearly content hanging out with her. We will definitely be asking her to stay again! Thank you, Stacey!”

Profile image
Susan H.
Sitter Profile Image: Donna G.
Verified Background Check
Donna G.
from
$45
per night
4.8 out of 5 stars
• 7 reviews
30 years of experience
Altoona, IA, 50009

“Donna was nice and very easy to work with. She was reliable and on time for both the initial meeting and for the stay so we could leave on time. She did a great job and provided some good updates and pictures of the dogs. Thanks for taking good care of them!”

Profile image
Mike W.
Sitter Profile Image: Grace J.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Grace J.
from
$40
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 6 reviews
2 repeat clients
10 years of experience
Des Moines, IA, 50311

“We were lucky enough to have Grace watch our dog and home over the Thanksgiving holiday. She is kind, attentive, and very caring with our silly hound! We loved all the pictures, video, and updates- she put us at ease so we could enjoy our trip. The house and our dog were in good hands! Highly recommend.”

Profile image
Shelly Y.
Sitter Profile Image: Adrianne H.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Adrianne H.
from
$50
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 13 reviews
5 repeat clients
5 years of experience
Ankeny, IA, 50021

“Adrianne took wonderful care of Oliver. She kept us updated and sent pictures throughout the weekend. Oliver has a happy pup when we returned, we will definitely be booking her again!”

Profile image
Abby H.
Sitter Profile Image: Yasmin M.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Yasmin M.
Star Sitter
from
$75
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 92 reviews
30 repeat clients
15 years of experience
Drake, Des Moines, IA, 50311

“Yasmin was very studious with my puppies. She was not afraid to communicate with me. She did a great job letting me know the dogs were being taken care of. highly recommend her.”

Profile image
Kathleen S.
Sitter Profile Image: Sam M.
Verified Background Check
Sam M.
from
$100
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 482 reviews
147 repeat clients
10 years of experience
Drake, Des Moines, IA, 50312

“Sam was awesome. She stayed in our home and took care of our very needy 14 year old puggle for 8 days. Sam also got thrown a few curve balls by our dog during the stay and she handled them all like the pro she is! Highly recommend. Felt lucky and extremely grateful to have her take care our dog and our home. Great communication!”

Profile image
Kate F.
Sitter Profile Image: Fatu S.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Fatu S.
from
$20
per night
5 years of experience
Des moines, IA, 50035

About: Ive had 4 dogs throughout my entire life! Dogs are my #1 animal. Im so interested in how they love and connect with people. They understand you on a different level than humans🩷 I can dog-sit for days, weekend, and even weeks. You can count of me in making your dog feel safe & loved. Just let me know 1 or 2 week(s) prior, so i can clear my schedule. I can even take last minutes as well, if im able to! My sisters Safaree would always come in my room when it’s time to sleep to cuddle while i pet him to sleep. It’s beautiful to admire how much he does this every night, even him following me everywhere around the house & join me on the couch for more cuddles.

Sitter Profile Image: Sierra K.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Sierra K.
from
$100
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 3 reviews
30 years of experience
Des Moines, IA, 50310

“Sierra was amazing! Such great and fast communication which I really appreciate, sending us photos of the dogs, and left the house super clean and intact when she left. We would definitely book her again!”

Profile image
Tori T.
Sitter Profile Image: Jennifer G.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Jennifer G.
from
$45
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 5 reviews
2 repeat clients
10 years of experience
Grimes, IA, 50111

“Jennifer took great care of our pup, Rocky! She spent quality time with him, made sure to only take him on walks in safe temperatures, and he was happy and tired when we got home!”

Profile image
Hannah M.
Sitter Profile Image: Chloe C.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Chloe C.
from
$80
per night
5.0 out of 5 stars
• 14 reviews
4 repeat clients
8 years of experience
Ankeny, IA, 50023

“Chloe was the BEST I could’ve ever found to watch after our big friendly giant, Dutton in our home!! She had incredible communication and was so kind throughout the whole process. This was our first time using rover and we had to book somewhat last minute- I’m SO glad we chose Chloe!!! She took the best care of our giant boy and kept us updated with texts and photos the whole time. We’ll be booking her again without a doubt 😍”

Profile image
Olivia S.
Sitter Profile Image: Amanda L.
Verified Background Check
Amanda L.
from
$32
per night
4.5 out of 5 stars
• 2 reviews
1 repeat client
15 years of experience
Downtown Des Moines, Des Moines, IA, 50309

About: Hi my name is Amanda! I am a daycare teacher part time and I am also a home aide. I have a great passion for taking care of people and especially animals. I love dogs of any breed and I would love to take care of your pet as if they were apart of my family. I have owned dogs most of my life. And I also have some experience taking care of cats. I have two dogs now. A four year old beagle mix named Hurky and a three your old chihuahua mix named August. They are total opposites, but are best friends. I currently can not do daycare or boarding, but would love to in the near future. But I can list a few services that I can do now. The services I can provide: - Walking your dogs - House sitting - Drop in - visits

Sitter Profile Image: chloe s.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
chloe s.
from
$38
per night
10 years of experience
Ames, IA, 50014

About: I grew up taking care of dogs on our family farm. I was responsible for feeding, watering, cleaning, and spending time with them each day. I also grew up with a cat in the home. I love animals and enjoy taking dogs on walks. Besides my school schedule, I am very free. I have my own car and I live on campus. I am available in morning and evening and in between classes. I can fulfill any need that you may have for caring for your animal in your home. I live in a dorm on campus, which is not animal friendly:)

Sitter Profile Image: Kristin F.
Verified Enhanced Background Check
Kristin F.
from
$30
per night
10 years of experience
Ames, IA, 50010

About: I genuinely love and care about all animals! I am a nurse, and my husband is a British geologist which means I’m currently alternating living in two countries. I am only working three months of the year, so that leaves my schedule quite flexible! I’m positive, kind, adventurous and fun, and also intuitive, patient, respectful and tidy! I love to walk and hike so I thought why not take someone’s fur baby with me to help break up their day! Currently, my schedule is quite flexible. I can accept early morning thru late night, any day of the week. Just ask and I’ll let you know if I’m free! I am not currently able to care for pets in my home, but would love to do nice fun walks, and overnight, or drop-in care, playtime, and cuddles!

1 / 1
View more

The median cost per night for house sitting in Runnells is $46

Book with peace of mind

  • Screened pet sitters have passed a third-party background check and show verified reviews from other pet parents, like you.
  • Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 reimbursement for eligible vet care. Learn more
  • 24/7 support from the Rover team–here to help if you ever need someone to talk to.

Why Choose Rover?

  • Cashless payments

    Book and pay through Rover’s secured platform—no cash or checks required.

  • Reservation protection

    It doesn’t happen often, but if your sitter has to cancel, we’ll work with you to find a new sitter.

  • World-class support

    We’re friendly, knowledgable, and total pet fanatics. You can get in touch with us anytime.

How to book house sitting

  1. 1. Search

    Browse profiles of sitters near you who offer house sitting.
  2. 2. Meet In Person

    Schedule a free in-person Meet & Greet to find the perfect fit.
  3. 3. Book & Pay

    It's that easy! All payments are processed through Rover's secured platform.

Popular requests for house sitting - Runnells

Select a filter and find qualifying sitters offering house sitting.

Sitters in Runnells average 5
repeat house sitting clients

FAQs for House Sitting - Runnells

Frequently asked questions about Rover

As of November 2026, there are 517 sitters on Rover offering House Sitting across Runnells. Enter your ZIP code to see which available sitters are closest to your home.

Beyond belly rubs and feeding schedules, a house sitter’s presence may provide an additional layer of security for your home. However, you will need to arrange overnight stays and other household tasks with your sitter when reaching out to them. Not all sitters offer the same services. Common household tasks you can negotiate include:

  • Mail & deliveries: Collecting letters and packages so they don't pile up.
  • Plant care: Keeping your indoor or outdoor garden hydrated.
  • Trash & recycling: Taking trash cans to the curb on scheduled pickup days.
  • Home security: Sitters can stay overnight to keep your home occupied.

The best way to align on expectations is during your free Meet & Greet. Use this time to provide a "home cheat sheet" that includes your preferred Runnells walking routes, the location of your favorite pet store, and any specific quirks about your home’s security or appliances.

It’s helpful to think of house sitting as a "home base" service. Most sitters in Runnells maintain their normal daily routines, like running errands or heading to the office, meaning your pet should be comfortable being alone for a few hours at a time. If your pet needs a little extra company, here is how to find the perfect match:

  • Look for "WFH" sitters: Many sitters mention "Work from Home" on their profile to indicate they’ll be present for the majority of the day.
  • Update your pet’s profile: Write down how long your pet can comfortably be left alone. This helps sitters quickly determine if their schedule aligns with your needs.
  • Communicate 24/7 needs: Standard house sitting usually doesn't include constant supervision. If your pet requires round-the-clock care, be sure to discuss this upfront.

Tip: Use the Meet & Greet to confirm a sitter's typical "away" windows. Transparency ensures your pet stays happy and your sitter can plan their day effectively!

Key handling is entirely up to you and your sitter to agree on during the Meet & Greet or in the Rover app. Most pet parents in Runnells choose to hand over a spare key or digital fob in person, while others arrange a lockbox or unique access code. Don't forget to discuss key returns as well!

The Rover Guarantee is Rover’s commitment to your peace of mind every time you book. It includes 24/7 customer support, sitter access to advice from qualified veterinary professionals for diagnostic issues, and a reimbursement program for eligible veterinary care in the rare event something goes wrong.

All bookings are backed by the Rover Guarantee, which provides up to $25,000 in eligible veterinary care reimbursement.

Every sitter on Rover is required to pass a background check before listing their services. This process confirms their identity and indicates they are not on the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website or have any disqualifying offenses.

Beyond ID checks, you can review each sitter's star rating, read verified reviews from other pet parents, and see how many repeat clients they have. Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 in eligible veterinary care. For more details, visit Rover's Trust & Safety page.

If a health concern arises during a stay, your sitter is instructed to contact you and our Trust & Safety team immediately and, if needed, take your pet to the closest veterinarian. Through our Trust & Safety support team, sitters can ask for diagnostic advice from a qualified veterinary professional if your pet is showing signs of possible illness.

For extra peace of mind, you can also prepare an authorization form for your regular vet. An authorization form outlines your preferred method of care and allows your sitter to bring your pet into their regular clinic.

Every qualified booking made on Rover is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes reimbursement for eligible emergency vet care.

A Meet & Greet is a casual meeting to vet potential sitters and communicate care needs for peace of mind before a booking begins. Only sitters who have never booked with you before can schedule a Meet & Greet on Rover; however, you are welcome to coordinate one in Rover messages with sitters you have previously booked. This can be helpful if you have a new pet or routine you want to go over with your sitter.

Meet & Greets can take place in person or virtually. If you are booking with a sitter for the first time, we recommend in-person Meet & Greets to get a clearer sense of how your sitter interacts with your pet or the new environment.

During the Meet & Greet, you will have a chance to walk through your pet's routine, medical needs, and unique quirks. Take the time to ask your sitter questions about their skills and expertise, and make sure the fit feels right for everyone. Meet & Greets are a great way to prepare your pet and sitter for longer stays or first-time bookings. Read our tips for your first Meet & Greet.

sitters on Rover set their own cancellation policy, which you can find on their profile under their contact information. Sitters may set a same-day, one-, three-, or seven-day cancellation policy. Cancelling within your sitter’s cancellation policy qualifies you for a full refund.

Same-day cancellations for recurring services, which include walks, drop-ins, and day care, follow the full refund policy. Otherwise, for pet boarding and house sitting, if you cancel after 12 pm on the applicable cancellation deadline, you’ll receive a 50% refund for the first seven days of the booking and a 100% refund for any remaining days.

If your sitter needs to cancel within seven days of the booking's start date, then our reservation protection will kick in. This means you will get a full refund and our support team will work with you to find a replacement sitter.

Yes, you can find sitters who have experience with handling special pet needs in Runnells. On Rover:

  • 91% of sitters can help with special care needs
  • 96% can help with giving oral medications or injections
  • 96% can help with daily exercise

You can also find pet sitters on Rover who accept only one pet at a time, which is ideal for anxious puppies, kittens, or senior pets who move at a gentler pace. Some sitters will also list availability for 24/7 care, also known as constant care, in their profiles.

Use the search filters to narrow down sitters whose specific experience or environment meets your pet's needs. When reaching out to your sitter, outline your pet's care routine and use the Meet & Greet to walk your sitter through your expectations.

Connect anywhere with the Rover app

Download on the App Store BadgeGet it on Google Play Badge