Pet sitting can be fun and highly rewarding work, especially for those who are animal lovers. If you are considering starting a pet sitting business, it is important to realize that, though the work can be fun and rewarding, it comes with great responsibility. There are some things that a good pet sitter will always do.
1. Be Honest: You may love animals, but may be hesitant to work with a certain breed or type of animal, so make sure to let potential clients know ahead of time, so that the experience won’t be a chore for you, and an unpleasant one for the pet.
2. Realize that Some Flexibility Is Important: Even though you don’t have to take every job and every client, it is important to be at least a bit flexible.
3. Have Reasonable, Consistent, and Open About Fees: It is important to keep a consistent rate across the board, for work that is similar in nature. Don’t try to overcharge if you think a certain client can afford to pay more. You are most likely to get new clients by word-of-mouth, and being honest and consistent about fees will go a long way to help with that.
4. Meet Both the Client & The Pet Before Taking a Job: It is ideal to meet a client and the pet before taking on any pet sitting job in order to gauge your compatibility with the animal, as well as find out whether you can meet the expectations of the client. During this meeting (interview) you can take notes on what the client expects, and this will also help you set a price for services that are expected.
5. Be Prompt & On Time: Arrive on time for appointments, but just as importantly, make sure that you are prompt in returning calls from existing and new clients, especially while on the job. Being conscientious about timing can save a lot of frustration and help with keeping your clients happy.
6. Be Sensitive to the Pet’s & Client’s Needs: While pet sitting, you should prioritize when and in what situations you will need to involved the client in an issue that needs to be addressed. Do not call or text your client about your pet’s activity (unless they ask for it) while they are attending a wedding, or if someone drops off a package for them.
7. Keep Your Client Informed: If you have agreed with your client about a certain call or communication schedule, keep to it. This will save a lot of frustration, and makes for happy clients.
8. Have a Contingency Plan: Your client may be held up, or you may get called away because of your own emergency, so have a contingency plan for dealing with these scenarios, and discuss them ahead of time with your clients.
9. Be Friendly, But Not a Pushover: Clients hire you to do a specific job, which is take care of their pets or their pets and homes, but this doesn’t mean that you also have to do their laundry, or any work that doesn’t directly relate to that for which you are hired.
10. Be Insured & Bonded: This will not only increase the client’s confidence in your services, but also protect you in case something does go awry.