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Don’t get let down this festive season – choose a home and pet sitting service with a backup plan
Posted on 12 December, 2016
![Have you got backup?](/assets/cache_image/assets/img/HSL_Image_Photopin_Backup_12.12.16_700x0_c36.jpg)
The sharing economy has prompted a plethora of house and pet sitting websites which offer to find sitters for free or at very low cost, however using these sites can be risky, not least because most don’t offer a backup service in case of emergencies. This can mean you are left high and dry with no one to look after your home and pets when you go away.
Many online agencies won’t find you an alternative sitter if the one booked can’t make an assignment for whatever reason, leaving you to either frantically try and find a replacement, or in the worst case scenario cancel your holiday. Over busy periods such as Christmas and New Year it can be especially difficult to find a replacement sitter at short notice.
We know that our clients depend on us when they make their holiday plans, which is why we offer a full backup service which gives that extra reassurance. Should a homesitter fall ill before or on assignment or have to leave suddenly, we guarantee we will find a replacement from our extensive network of employees, quickly and seamlessly.
All of our homesitters are meticulously vetted, with character and employment references taken up before they are hired, something most online agencies don’t do, plus as Homesitters is not an agency all our homesitters are employed and paid by us.
Unlike a number of online agencies who don’t provide insurance cover for their sitters, we also provide our homesitters with comprehensive insurance cover.
One couple who recently used our backup service is Vivien and Tony Dance from Scotland. They had booked a homesitter to look after their cat, Bonnie as they were off to London for New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately due to flooding across the country the sitter was unable to reach them and so they called us on 30th December to find a replacement.
Luckily we were able to find someone at extremely short notice and within the hour, we called to say that Roger Noon from Lancashire would come. The couple were extremely impressed! Roger was very experienced and could easily adapt to the assignment at short notice.
Roger had volunteered as an emergency homesitter over the Christmas and New Year period as he thrives on new challenges and loves the excitement of receiving a phone call asking him to go off on assignment at short notice.
Vivien commented, “Homesitters took away all our stress and worry. Roger kept in touch while we were away to reassure us that all was well. When we returned a few days later it was as if we hadn’t been away. The house was fine and Bonnie was perfectly happy.”
“I cannot recommend Homesitters highly enough. They give us total peace of mind to go away without worrying about Bonnie. We were so impressed they had a contingency plan that enabled us to continue with our plans, it is a very professional organisation,” adds Vivien.
So if you plan to go away this festive season and want the peace of mind that comes with booking one of our homesitters to take care of your home and pets get in touch now. Our backup service means that no matter what happens you won’t be let down at the last minute! That’s one less thing to worry about this festive season.
Click here to book your homesitter or call us on 01296 630 730.
![Bonnie the cat](/assets/cache_image/assets/img/IMG_5866_700x0_c36.jpg)
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