HOW MUCH TO PAY A HOUSE SITTER: 2023 Guide

Hiring a house sitter is a fantastic idea if you are going on vacation and are concerned about leaving your pets alone at home. You hire someone to look after your home while you are gone. Furthermore, there is no need to spend money on a pet hotel (which your pet might not be comfortable with in the first place). In a familiar setting, your furry pet may be more relaxed. In addition, having a house sitter keeps your home safer from intruders. You might be thinking, “How much should I pay a house sitter per day and per week in the United States?”

What Activities Do House Sitters Indulge In? A Friendly Reminder

When a homeowner needs a house sitter, they trust the house sitter to take care of their home and pets.
So, before hiring a house sitter, you should understand what to expect from them.

The primary responsibility of any house sitter is to ensure that the home seems occupied.
Pets in the residence are also the responsibility of the house sitter.
House and garden upkeep, such as painting, pool cleaning, carpet cleaning, trash and recycling pickup, composting, and grass mowing;
General cleaning of the house, farm, or business;
Animal care, such as feeding, grooming, vaccinations, and preparing special meals based on dietary needs;
Receiving mail and potentially opening it, scanning it, and forwarding a copy to the homeowner; however, the obligations are always contingent on what the house owner requires.

How Much to Pay a House Sitter Per Day

The average pay for a house sitter is $50 to $100 per day visit or $100 to $150 to stay overnight, according to Thumbtack. The exact pay for a house sitter per day will vary depending on where you live, how many pets you have, how long the sitter visits, and whether or not they perform additional responsibilities while in your home, such as collecting mail and carrying goods inside.

Furthermore, costs may be higher if you travel during peak periods, such as holidays. Before you go, make sure you know how much the house sitter will be paid every day and what services are included.

Things can get a little more complicated if you hire a friend as a house sitter because discussing pay and payments with friends can be awkward. Many times, your friend will not charge you to house sit but don’t expect them to do it for free.

How Much to Pay a House Sitter for a Week

As of December, the per week pay for a House Sitter in the United States was $1,426.

While ZipRecruiter reports house sitter pay ranging from $413 to $4,538 per week. In the United States, the majority of house sitters earn between $605 (25th percentile) and $1,875 (75th percentile) every week. The average pay range for a House Sitter ranges substantially (up to $1,269 per week), implying that there may be several prospects for growth and greater pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.

How Much Do House Sitters Make?

In America, a house sitter can earn an average of $63,503 per year, or $31 per hour. Several factors, however, can influence how much of this estimate you take home as a new house sitter.

The first is the boss. Your company has the last say on how much you can earn, although your years of experience and location can also play a role. The top 10% of house sitters earn more than $147,000 per year, while the worst 10% earn less than $27,000 per year.

Factors Affecting House Sitter Pay Per Day or Week

You can avoid being charged unfairly for the amount of care delivered by calculating a fair rate to pay your house sitter per day or week. If you’re hiring a friend, you should make sure you’re paying them fairly.

In contrast, if you intend to hire a professional house sitter, you should ensure that their fees are within the range of other sitters’ average pay. Here is a list of things to think about when deciding how much to pay your house sitter per day or week.

#1. Location

The first factor to consider when determining how much to pay a house sitter is your location. Because average house sitting rates—and overall living costs—vary by city, suburb, and small town, it’s important to figure out what others are paying for similar services in your area. To acquire a decent estimate of the local going rate, do some online research, ask in a local online forum, or chat with friends and neighbors in your location.

#2. What responsibility does the house sitter have?

Once you’ve determined the going pricing for house sitting in your area, it’s time to decide what kind of services you want from your sitter. Will they merely come by in the evening to turn on the lights and bring in the mail, or will they come by multiple times a day to feed your cat? Do you want them to clean up after themselves? Is it enough to simply water a few houseplants? Remember that any additional responsibilities asked will result in a higher charge, so make sure you know exactly what you want from your house sitter ahead of time.

#3. How much time will they spend in your home? (and when)

The more tasks you offer your sitter, the more time they’ll spend in your house, so be prepared to pay them accordingly. Jobs that require the sitter to stay at your home overnight should be charged on a daily basis, whereas smaller tasks, such as once-daily visits, can be billed on an hourly basis. In addition, emergencies, late-night visits, and/or anything that falls on a holiday should be fairly compensated.

#4. The size of the house

Something else to consider when deciding what to pay your house sitter is the size of the room they’ll be accountable for. For example, large homes—with more spaces to clean and maintain—require a lot more effort than, say, a studio apartment. Therefore, the amount you’ll pay for house sitting should vary depending on the size and type of area being cared for.

#5. Transportation expenses

Along with the time they’ll be delivering services, you should think about the distance (and cost) of your sitters’ commutes to your house. Calculate gas and tolls, public transportation expenses, and any other factors that may affect their trips in order to anticipate any additional charges they may incur on your behalf. It’s up to you whether or not to include transportation costs in your rate, but if you’re a house sitter deciding how much to charge, this might undoubtedly affect your profits.

#6. Provisions

House sitting rates should also account for any day-to-day house requirements. If you believe the sitter may need to go to the grocery shop or a hardware store, be sure you’re prepared to cover such charges in your pay rate. Better yet, include a reasonable per diem (for food and other necessities) as part of your payment so you never have to worry about reimbursement.

#7. Provided amenities

Finally, before you calculate your final figure, consider what facilities you’ll be giving for your sitter—for example, a completely stocked fridge, free Wi-Fi, beer, and swimming pool access—to get an idea of what you’re already paying for. This isn’t to say you should deduct pay for every convenience provided; rather, it’s a reminder that the more you presently provide, the less they’ll have to spend (or charge you for) afterward.

How to Find a House Sitter

Once you’ve decided on a service provider, it’s time to choose a house sitter—or several.

Whether you’re looking for house sitters in your region, it’s a good idea to arrange a meet-and-greet in a public place to determine if you’re a good fit. A video call may help you get a better sense of someone’s personality if they have to travel to get to you. If you don’t get along, proceed to the next candidate.

If you believe you’ve discovered the perfect house sitter, it’s critical to discuss your expectations for the house sit. Here are some things to talk about with any potential house sitter:

How much time do you anticipate them spending at your house each day?
Whether or not visitors are welcome in your home
Any sections of your home that are not accessible
Your pet’s routine, nutrition, and exercise requirements
Any additional household chores that need to be accomplished
How will you interact during the house sit? (as well as how often you expect that communication to occur)
Provided amenities (food, Wi-Fi, swimming pool access, etc)

You’re ready to set a date once you’ve agreed on all of the details! If you are not employing a provider that offers a contract or guarantee, you should create one before leaving your home and pet in their care.

Do you tip a house sitter?

It all depends on what you both agree on. When it comes to agreeing on the duties and pricing of any type of service, always ask upfront. “If you have a professional pet sitter, agree on a fee for services and tip them 15% of the total.”

How much do house sitters make in California?

As of December 27, 2022, the average House Sitter’s salary in California is $32,757, with a usual range of $28,421 to $38,171.

Is a house sitter a real job?

Yes. Housesitting is a job in which you look after someone else’s property while they are away in exchange for money, free lodging, or both. A housesitting job is an excellent option to augment your income or travel the world on a tight budget.

Do you pay someone to house-sit?

Yes. There are some professional house sitters that charge a fee for their services. In most cases, house sitting is an unpaid exchange of services in which the house sitter resides in the owner’s home and looks after the property, pets, and garden in exchange for free, temporary lodging.

Should I charge for house-sitting?

It all depends. Keep in mind that average house sitting charges are in the $25-30/day range, with overnight stays costing more (about $50). However, this is only a rough estimate. We recommend taking the time to generate a figure based on your particular house-sitting expectations and requirements.

Do you feed a house sitter?

A house sitter will typically prepare their own meals throughout their stay. however, Food may be left for the sitter, who is welcome to eat it.

What do you leave for someone who is house-sitting?

Most house sitters are members of your family, and they will rarely accept cash as a thank-you for their time. Instead, you might express your gratitude by leaving a homemade snack or treat.

What are the responsibilities of a house sitter?

Job Responsibilities and Duties of a House Sitter:

Occupies the house and watches surveillance.
Regularly turns on and off lights.
Takes phone calls, takes notes, and conveys important messages.
sweeps and vacuums the floor.
Brings in the mail.
Takes care of the plants.

Conclusion

Finally, hiring the best house sitter for your needs will help to alleviate the stress of travel anxiety. If you’ve found one, we hope you’ve also found a guide to determining how much to pay the house sitter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you not do when house-sitting?

Don’t snoop around their belongings.

Ask them first if you need something. Don’t poke around their house. They probably don’t want you to use whatever it is if it’s hidden away. If you’re told a room is off-limits, respect that.

Do housesitters pay bills?

In most cases, the owner is content to pay the utilities in exchange for the sitter caring for their home and pets. It is customary for the house sitter to contribute to, or even pay, utility costs such as heating, cooling, electricity, and possibly internet on longer-term sits of 4 weeks or more.

Should I buy groceries for my house sitter?

Stock the refrigerator and pantry.

Because the house sitter will be staying in your home for several days and at least one night, you should provide her with food and drinks that she is comfortable consuming.

HOW MUCH TO PAY A HOUSE SITTER: 2023 Guide

What Activities Do House Sitters Indulge In? A Friendly Reminder

How Much to Pay a House Sitter Per Day

How Much to Pay a House Sitter for a Week

How Much Do House Sitters Make?