Top five benefits of using a homesitter in 2022

Posted on 31 January, 2022

As the world starts to get back to normal after the pandemic and foreign travel is back on the agenda, more people will be planning overseas holidays. In fact, it was estimated by insurance company AllClear[i] in November 2021 that more than half (57%) of UK adults plans an overseas holiday in the next 12 months – a 46% rise on the same time last year.

We always recommend that people think about who will take care of their pets at the same time as booking their holiday, thus avoiding any last-minute panic before heading off.

Increasingly, people are choosing to get their pets looked after by a home or pet sitter, a professional that comes to stay in their home to take care of their pet (s) and home. Here are five of the key benefits of using our homesitters:

Pets stay in their home environment

For most people the main benefit is pets being looked after in their own home. This is particularly important for dogs who enjoy routine and familiarity, this is key. Having a homesitter come to stay is the next best thing to having their owners there and is the most stress-free and kindest option for your pet.

For pets that get anxious when their owners aren’t there, this is particularly important. Our homesitters will stick to the pet’s usual routines and so dogs get to go for walks in their usual places. Also, if a pet is on medication homesitters will be able to administer this and will stick with any vet appointments if necessary.

Reliable and won’t get let down at the last minute

Choosing to book one of our homesitters means you won’t be let down at the last minute. If for whatever reason the homesitter selected can’t make the assignment, a suitable replacement will be found. For people that rely on family or friends this isn’t always the case and people can be left ringing around trying to find someone else if their relative or friend has a last-minute change of heart.

If you are someone that goes away fairly frequently asking family and friends every time just might not be practical. They may have other commitments and can’t always lend a helping hand. Plus you don’t want to take advantage. Booking a professional homesitter means it’s one less thing to think about in the run up to your holiday.

Great for homes with multiple pets

The UK has 17 million pet-owning homes, with many owning more than one pet[i]. Employing a homesitter is especially cost-effective for people that have a several pets. Having all your pets looked after by one person at home, saves on the cost of sending several dogs and cats to kennels and catteries, which will charge per animal. It also saves on the inconvenience of having to transport pets and all their food, toys and beds to different places just before you head off on holiday.

Extra home security

As well as your pet being looked after, a homesitter also takes care of your home and ensures it looks occupied while you are away. This can help prevent opportunistic burglaries and means there is someone on hand to deal with emergencies such as a burst water pipe in cold weather or water the garden during a heatwave.

We have full insurance for all our homesitters, plus many insurers endorse the service as they understand that having someone staying in a home is much better than leaving it empty for a few weeks. Some insurers even offer reduced premiums to people that use homesitting services.

Trustworthy and fully vetted

Our homesitters are fully vetted and have gone through a rigorous application procedure before being taken on. This includes an interview with at our head office, which means we have personally met all our homesitters. We also carry out detailed background checks covering the previous 20 years and perform DBS checks. Homesitters are employed directly with us too, unlike most other pet sitting agencies where people are taken on a self-employed basis.

In addition, clients can always vet the homesitter we recommend as we arrange a preliminary meeting before an assignment. This enables the client to brief the homesitter on their pet and their routines and to have a tour around the home, so they know where everything is and how things work.

This meeting is reassuring for client and homesitter, as well as pets as they have a chance to meet the homesitter and bond with them before coming to stay. If a client decides the homesitter isn’t suitable for their requirements, then we can find an alternative.

We offer support to all our homesitters on assignment too, which includes calling them regularly to ensure all is going well and answering any queries they may have.

If you have big plans for holidays abroad in 2022 and want peace of mind that your pet and home will be looked after by a caring professional, get in touch with Homesitters to find out more.

[1] https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/foreign-travel-confidence-returning-for-2022-new-data-reveals

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56362987

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