Question House-sitting how much would you charge?

[Bj]

OK here is my situation;

I have been housesitting before and at that time, I only went for 3 weeks. The house was a distance out of town which took me about $50 in gas a week to get to there and back. All I had to do was lawn mow an acre sized lawn with a bunch of trees and whatnot, so it only took 3 hours and I had to water plants twice a day. That's it mostly. I provided food and whatever other necessary things.

Just for informations' sake, I'll tell you a little about my schedule;
I am pulling 20 credit-hours as of now (average is 22) I am making about 25 hours paid work time (I stress the work paid time) and in addition I pull 30-40 hours at a non-paid internship. It really depends on the week and whats going on at the time. 30-40 is average.

Now to my future potential job;

The house is in town within 3 miles. I will take care of 2 cats and food necessities, ext ext... Now the first kicker is that it is 3 months long. The second and most important kicker is that its for a sister (nun). Anyone have any idea what I should charge for this? I cannot think of anything except for the bills I will occur (gas or whatever)

Any comments?

 

[simonpro]

I was going to say that I'd ask for a few beers every now and again, but if it's for a nun that may not work.
Just ask for a few dollars, I can't see house sitting as being a great money spinner.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, is roughly the same as the combination of cleaning the house and caring for the cat, not exactly tasks that require large skills... I don't know the salary levels in the USA, but about $10 per hour sounds like a good start for negotiations. Unless it is a large house, you would need about 1 hour during the working week for caring for the cats and doing the basic cleaning, and about 4 hours for a more complete cleaning during the weekend, round it to 10 hours every week.

Missing something? I doubt you are paid for also providing security duties, these costs extra.

 

[andysim]

"Well, is roughly the same as the combination of cleaning the house and caring for the cat, not exactly tasks that require large skills..."

You have not met my cat:rofl: I mean I took it to the vet and 3 people went to hospital.

 

[Urwumpe]

You have not met my cat:rofl: I mean I took it to the vet and 3 people went to hospital.

My old cat hunted red milans and dragged them home. If you can't deal with cats, you are not even ready for the next level: Children.

 

[Ghostrider]

First of all, the bills should be cared for by the owner, not by you. You should make this clear, and the trip and time to pay them must be paid for. The food for the cats and any product you should use should be paid for by the owner, as well. You only put in the work, and the time. Transit time should be counted as well, charge by km. Fuel is not free.
Second, are you insured, should you cause damage to the property or the pets? You can be the most careful of men, and yet stuff happens because Murphy is around the corner. You've got to get that covered. What about damage to your person? Who pays the bills if you are injured while working there? And if you can't get there because of unforeseen circumstances, can someone else do your job (never mind cleaning the house, the cats have to be fed or else they'll feed themselves in manners you don't want to know about).
As for security, forget it if you aren't properly trained, equipped and licensed. If you are, remember what you're getting into and get paid accordingly.

 

[Bj]

I was going to say that I'd ask for a few beers every now and again, but if it's for a nun that may not work.

...and I am a couple years underage but I think minors are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages only when you have parental consent.

On a side note I could go to Canada where the minimum age is 18

Well, is roughly the same as the combination of cleaning the house and caring for the cat, not exactly tasks that require large skills... I don't know the salary levels in the USA, but about $10 per hour sounds like a good start for negotiations. Unless it is a large house, you would need about 1 hour during the working week for caring for the cats and doing the basic cleaning, and about 4 hours for a more complete cleaning during the weekend, round it to 10 hours every week.

Missing something? I doubt you are paid for also providing security duties, these costs extra.

In WA its $8.50 something a hour minimum, but of course that is for a hourly wadge.

First of all, the bills should be cared for by the owner, not by you. You should make this clear, and the trip and time to pay them must be paid for. The food for the cats and any product you should use should be paid for by the owner, as well. You only put in the work, and the time. Transit time should be counted as well, charge by km. Fuel is not free.

Right I think the extra mileage should be paid for by the employer, and I will keep a list of all the expenses from the cats.

Second, are you insured, should you cause damage to the property or the pets? You can be the most careful of men, and yet stuff happens because Murphy is around the corner. You've got to get that covered. What about damage to your person? Who pays the bills if you are injured while working there?

Yes I am medically insured, my vehicle has insurance. However what kind of insurance would be practical for those accidental damages. This is housesitting not really a job so much, the difference between housesitting and a job is that you treat the house your house sitting as your own home for a while.

And if you can't get there because of unforeseen circumstances, can someone else do your job (never mind cleaning the house, the cats have to be fed or else they'll feed themselves in manners you don't want to know about).

Maybe they have one of those auto-feeders like we do. The cats should be able to last at least 3 days on that. (We have done that before at our house) If they dont, then I can rig one up or have my parents do it for me. I don't see why I couldn't, unless I am in the hospital...

As for security, forget it if you aren't properly trained, equipped and licensed. If you are, remember what you're getting into and get paid accordingly.

I have a 12 gauge :hunter: though I dont think Ill need it.

The only thing I will have to worry about is if my vehicle gets jacked, or for cougars/bears. Where I live its on the inside of the loop so we are protected by the neighbors. However the house I am sitting is kind of in the middle of nowhere so it might be a little more animal prone.

I think I will go with what simon says, a few dollars a day and expenses.

 

[Ark]

Free access to the minibar.

 

[meizi]

I will get a housesitting job next month, also want to know some information about it