What should the quote include?
List walks, meals, visit times and the longest agreed gap between visits. For an overnight stay, ask when the sitter arrives, leaves and may be away during the day.
Which charges need a closer look?
Ask about extra dogs, holiday dates, short-notice changes and a late return. Check whether a booking platform adds a service fee after the sitter's listed price.
Have the provider mark each item as included, optional or charged separately. An item left blank is a question to resolve, not something to count as free.
Before you decide
Request a total for your exact departure and return times. The word overnight alone does not explain daytime coverage, so put the schedule in writing before you book.
Compare the total you would pay
Put the offers side by side using the same work, dates and quantities. Add required extras and applicable taxes to each starting price. Keep optional upgrades separate so you can choose them deliberately.
- For an hourly price: ask about minimum time, the expected hours and approval before the bill grows.
- For a package: ask about its limits, expiry and the price of work outside it.
- For a deposit: confirm whether it counts toward the total, when the balance is due and what happens if you cancel.
Keep the agreed price and work list together. If the plan changes, ask for the revised total before agreeing to the extra work.
The rewrite date records an editorial update, not a verification of local prices. How we research fees.