- Special projects.
- These are mainly instructed by banks, building societies, estate agents and solicitors.
- Properties awaiting probate and sale, renovation or those that have been repossessed.
- We can provide pet and house sitters who have their own caravans.
- Caretaking abroad.
- We provide Caretakers and a Pet Sitting service, on a short or long term basis.
Our services are used whilst the property is unoccupied or when staff take annual leave.
FAQs about pet and house sitting with Absentia
- House sitting: Where do we begin?
- What does a house sitter do whilst living in my house?
- What happens if they are taken ill?
- What about Insurance?
- How versatile are your pet and house sitting staff?
- What if there are any problems?
- Can I leave my elderly relative in your care?
- Health and Safety
- How versatile are our house sitting staff?
- How much notice do I have to give?
- What happens if our return is delayed?
- What other types of service do you provide?
House sitting: Where do we begin?
On receipt of your pet and house sitting Booking Form & Registration Fee, we choose the most suitable member of our sitting team for your home and pets.
We telephone you, confirming who your prospective house sitting staff member will be, providing a brief history of their background.
We write to you, confirming our conversation. We also send a copy of your details to the prospective house sitter. They then contact you, establishing a mutually convenient time to visit your house.
This interview in advance of the house stay is very important. It gives you the opportunity of ensuring that your house sitting team member knows how you would like your house and pets cared for. They will bring their in-house security checklist too, which asks for added details not on the original Booking Form. After the meeting you should feel secure in the knowledge that during the sitting time, your house and pets are in caring, capable hands.
We will telephone you to confirm that this chosen pet and house sitting team member meets with your approval.
The house sitter arrives at the appointed time for a final briefing with you before sitting commences.
You go away secure in the knowledge that your house is being looked after by Absentia’s pet and house sitting services.
What does a house sitter do whilst living in my house?
Sitting means that a house sitter will move in, safeguarding the home with any pets there too.
House sitting includes keeping a house clean, tidy plus undertaking light gardening tasks.
House sitters will record a list of your visitors, monitor telephone calls and forward messages if required.
They bring their own bed linen. They do not use your freezer food, but may use dried ingredients, which they replenish.
What happens if they are taken ill?
Our handover system comes into operation and sitting staff remain in your house until their pet and house sitting replacement arrives.
What about Insurance?
Whilst undertaking an assignment, house sitting team members are our employees. They are therefore covered by Fidelity Bond insurance, Employers Public Liability and bound by our Terms and Conditions of Employment.
Accidents can happen - breakages or accidental damage caused by house sitting staff are covered by our comprehensive insurance policies.
We recommend you advise your insurance company that we are sitting in residence - some companies offer discounts when pet and house sitting services are used.
How versatile are your pet and house sitting staff?
Absentia’s pet and house sitting personnel are All extremely versatile. They appreciate concerns you may have about the house and pets. Many are specialists in their own field. They will care for your pets: from walking dogs to stabling horses, milking goats or taking care of hamsters, llamas...even iguanas! House sitting staff can also happily undertake light gardening duties, watering plants etc.
In your absence, sitting staff will use their discretion and objectivity regarding any time period they are away from your home.
Our pet and house sitting staff undertake many different assignments, from Cottages to Stately Homes or even running clients' Bed and Breakfast.
What if there are any problems?
They have your emergency telephone numbers relating to the care of your home and animals, and are able to cope with any crisis. They always have the benefit of the help and advice line at Head Office.
Health and Safety
House sitting personnel have your emergency telephone numbers relating to care of your house and animals. They are able to cope with a crisis. House sitters also have continual benefit of our Head Office Advice Line.
How much notice do I have to give?
We appreciate as much notice as possible, but can provide pet / house sitting staff at short notice and in some emergencies, within 3-4 hours. However, when given more time, you can meet the pet and house sitter beforehand.
What happens if our return is delayed?
Don't worry, they will remain pet and house sitting until you return.
What type of properties do you look after?
We provide house sitting services for everything from small cottages or town houses to large country estates. We can offer sitting staff to stay in houses for sale or those awaiting probate. We offer a specialist caretaking service, taking instructions from banks, building societies, lawyers, solicitors and estate agents. We can stay house sitting in a property from 3 days to 3 years or longer.
Can I leave my elderly relative in your care?
We are happy to discuss special arrangements of your elderly relative but do not provide nursing care within our house sitting service.
How versatile are our house sitting staff?
All members of our pet and house sitting team are extremely versatile. Many are specialists in their own field. They will take care of your pets, eg walking dogs, stabling horses, milking goats etc. They can take messages and forward emails if you operate a business. Sitting staff can take care of Catteries, Kennels, Bed and Breakfast establishments as well as monitor gardeners, builders, cleaners and renovations for properties at home or abroad.
What other types of service do you provide?
Holiday
A usual house sitting assignment would be whilst a Client is away on holiday or business trip. Our pet and house sitting staff live-in, keep the property secure, care for your pets, water house plants, take telephone messages, keep records of who has called at the house and provide light gardening duties.
Probate
Empty properties may be a target for burglars. We send a house sitting team member to move in, often at short notice, thus reducing this risk. We maintain a high security presence as part of the sitting service, liaising with executors and family members. If the property is to be sold, we continue as with a Holiday sit, but offering a welcoming presence to potential purchasers.
Specialised Caretaking
These are often long term pet and house sitting arrangements for Clients who work overseas but choose not to rent out their property. Having house sitting offers a Client and their family the flexibility to return home on an ad hoc basis, allowing pets to remain in their familiar surroundings.
Caretaking Abroad
All of the above can be adapted to suit your requirements.
