YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Frequently asked questions:

 

Why should I choose Friendly Housesits?

 

We house sit on reccommendation basis that means that we probably house sat your friends house or your relatives house in the past which gives you peace of mind and more security over who we really are rather then relying on an agency who don't really have the personal touch. 

 

What references do we have?

 

As mentioned above we house sit on recommendation basis so your friends and family are our references. We also provide a list of references and what people have to say about us on our website. Just click here to check it out. 

 

Do we have a police check?

 

Kat has a police check from UK and Australia as part of her visa and can provide the certificate if you require. David has a police check done by his employer (although he doesn't hold the actual certificate as it has been done by an employer) however he is happy to give you a contact who can confirm that he has a police check.

 

Do we provide you with a written agreement between you and us prior house sitting?

 

Yes we do. For the security and convenience of both parties we will prepare a written agreement to be signed by both parties setting out the arrangements. (This will include start/finish dates, pet responsibilities, house duties, bill payments etc.) Every agreement is diferent and it will depend on your requierements which will be discussed and agreed up front.

 

Do we pay you a bond?

 

In some circumstances we are prepared to pay bond if this make you more comfortable to cover you against any accidental breakage and other emergencies. We make this part of an agreement and issue you with the receipt. 

 

I have pets or other animals, will you be able to look after them?

 

We love pets and we are happy to look after them. We both have experience in looking after dogs (puppies, small, medium sized and big), chickens, birds and other small pets. Just give us the details about your pets when you contact us.

 

 

Will my insurance be valid while I am away?

 

Most insurance companies will void your Home Contents Policy if you leave your home unattended for a particular amount of time. This situation can usually be averted if you place a house sitter in your home. However, insurance providers and their policies vary so you should check with your insurance company and check your policy.

 

Does my Home Buildings Policy cover us against injury of the house sitter?

 

Again, most home and contents insurance should cover you for this but check with your insurance company as to your specific level of cover.

 

Do we remain in the house most of the time?

 

Kat is a student so she is at home most of the time and work freelance from time to time which is again work from home. David works in the office environment so he is away during the daytime, but evenings we both spend at home together. 

 

Who pays for the utilities?

 

The general rule that most of owners follow is that the longer you are away the more we pay for the utilities, it's only fair. Gas and electricity can be difficult to measure exact usage for a shorter period. Internet is one aspect that we are willing to pay. This is something that we will negotiate with you up front and make part of our agreement.

 

What do we bring with us?

 

We expect that your home will be fully furnished and we will only bring what is required for every day living such as clothing, personal hygiene, couple of books and our laptops. We can also bring our own food and cleaning products with us.

 

What arrangements do we make for repairs or when something goes wrong?

 

We are otpimistic, but sometimes an emergency can occur and something goes wrong. Washing machines can break down or plumbing can fail. In those cases we make sure that this will be part of our agreement and we recommend that you will leave us with the following:

• A list of preferred tradesman (if any)

• How would any work to be done is billed and who pays for it.

• A contingency fund to be left for this specific reason with a neighbour or friend.

• Emergency contacts.

• If you have a pet we will require emergency contacts for the vet.

 

Why don't I just rent out my house?

 

Unless you are going for an extended trip, leasing can be hardly worth the trouble. Most agents and renters are not interested in any rental arrangement of less than 6 to 12 months. If you need flexibility on your return dates, tenancy leases are expensive to change.

 

Is it ok if I mark a part of my home off limits?

 

Yes of course. We respect your privacy and if you wish us to avoid some parts of your home we will respect your wish and we will not be offended if you lock that part of your home. We understand.

 

Can I terminate the arrangement prior to the expiry of the arrangement?

 

No. The homeowner (you) also contracts through a signed agreement to allow minders (us) to stay for the time specified in the agreement.

 

What if I need to come home early due to an emergency / illness?

 

That's fine, but you will need to acknowledge that this would have the effect of putting us “out on the street”. Accordingly, it is reasonable to expect to accommodate us for up to a week (or pay us a sum of $350) to help us while we find alternative accommodation.

 

Can the agreement be extended?

 

We will be happy to extend the agrement if we are available for extended stay. In this case we will email you the agreement with amended dates and you will have to confirm by email. 

 

What is the shortest/longest length house sit you can do?

 

We normally prefer longer stays, this is usually between one month and six months up to a year, but sometimes we can do short stays for couple of days if you require. It depends where we are at the time, so please give us a ring for further details. 

 

 

What if I need to contact you?

 

You are most welcome to contat us any time, we usualy respond straight away or within our timeframe of 24 hours. You can contact us on the number mentioned on this website or send us an email. We will be happy to hear from you.