Frequently Asked Questions…
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What do you do when making your "House Checks"?
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You will find that almost all tasks will be included
in my services. A sample list includes: feed the cat, sift/clean the
litter box, water the plants, feed the fish, get the mail, feed the
dogs, get the paper, bring in packages, monitor the utilities, check for
frozen pipes, take out the trash and recycling, watch the house, etc…
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One dog, inside home at night, inside fenced
backyard during day, no doggy door, home located inside city limits,
I have been issued a set of keys since they are "regular" clients.
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Two visits per day: $20 for (1st)
morning visit and $15 for (2nd) evening visit. No key
pick-up or drop-off fees. No mileage charge.
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Two cats always inside, home outside city limits,
I have not been issued a set of keys even though they are "regular"
clients and this is their tenth contract.
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One visit per day: $20 for visit (usually
evening). Key pick-up & drop-off fees total $30. Mileage charge of
$0.50 for each mile past official city limit for all trips made –
including key pick-up and drop-off mileage.
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Summer home within
city limits, Clients stay in Flagstaff May through September,
would like House Checks twice per month during October through April
while away.
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Each House Check visit
during “winter” months: $20. Quarterly invoices are sent for services
at the end of each quarter – March, June, September and December.
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How long do you stay at a house?
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When looking after pets (usually dogs & cats), I
generally stay about 30 minutes for feeding, cleaning up, playing and
whatever else is part of their routine.
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What about leaving my pets at a kennel instead?
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Many pets do quite well at kennels. Most kennels have
quick access to veterinary care that can also be very important in
certain situations. My clients and I agree that the pets I look after
seem to be much happier and calmer staying "at home". Even though it is
usually quieter when you are away, I find that most pets settle into a
comfortable routine within a day or two after you depart. For my
"regular" clients the adjustment time is usually much shorter or even
non-existent as soon as they see that "Uncle Karl" is back again.
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If I am staying in a Flagstaff area motel, can you
watch our pet?
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Due to the complexity of arrangements and other
insurance considerations, I do not perform pet-sitting when the clients
are staying at hotels/motels in the area. If you are staying at a rental
property that is a "home" while in Flagstaff, this would probably be a
situation where my services would be appropriate.
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What happens to my pets if I don’t return on time or
return early?
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Because there is always a chance that travel plans
can change, you simply contact me if you return early so I stop visits
before planned. If your plans change and you stay away longer than
expected, contact me and I usually can accommodate extending the time I
make my visits. If for some reason you are unexpectedly delayed, I will
continue making visits until you return and I hear from you to make sure
your pets are not left unattended.
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Do you
charge less for houses without pets or for checking only on the outside
of a home?
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Although I did
start out with those types of different fee levels, I now have one
standard price level that is the same for [pets] [no pets] [whole-house]
[inside only] or [outside only] House Checks. When I first designed my
pricing levels, I thought these different details would make a
difference in how much should be charged for each visit. Now, after many
years of running my business, I have determined the major expense comes
from making the trip to the home (travel cost) and taking care of
whatever is needed (time cost) – the minor details have very little to
do with my final expenses. Therefore I now use a one-price structure
that is also easier to understand.
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