Question 1

Who is Sarah The Sitter, LLC?"

Accepted Answer

Hi! I'm Sarah - a native Clevelander and local Lakewoodite. I've always been a huge animal lover, growing up with Sandy, our beautiful golden retriever rescue, as well as fish, toads, hermit crabs and anything else my poor mother would allow me to keep in the house. I started volunteering as a cat companion and dog walker at Berea Animal Rescue in 2006 and began pet sitting, dog walking and house sitting for friends and neighbors in 2016. I decided to make my business official in 2019 and am enjoying meeting and sitting for numerous new clients around Lakewood, Rocky River, Gordon Square, Ohio City & Tremont. I am also a frequent international traveler and have joined TrustedHousesitters so that I can provide pet sitting/house sitting services while traveling abroad. I look forward to meeting you and your beautiful pets!

Question 2

Why should you chose an in-home pet sitter/house sitter?

Accepted Answer

Dorothy said it best, 'There’s no place like home!' Boarding facilities and doggy daycares are wonderful in their own way and definitely provide a much needed service, but we can probably all agree that there is nothing quite like curling up in your own bed (or on your owner’s couch or bed!), playing in your own backyard, and being surrounded by the creature comforts of your own home - especially when your humans are away! Having an in-home pet sitter or house sitter also provides peace of mind, knowing that someone is at your home, checking in on the little things while you’re away - grabbing the mail so it doesn’t pile up, watering the plants so they don't keel over, keeping an eye on the house in general so it doesn't fall down, and, of course, ensuring your pet is having the best, safest, most comfortable time possible while you're away.

Question 3

What services do you provide?

Accepted Answer

Check out our services & pricing on our 'Services' page!

Question 4

What are your hours of operation?

Accepted Answer

I take bookings Monday - Saturdays! I do try to keep Sundays to myself, however if there is a vacation visit that overlaps on Sundays I wil obviously accommodate that client. Please contact me to discuss your specific needs.

Question 5

What cities fall within your service area?

Accepted Answer

Lakewood, Rocky River, Gordon Square, Ohio city, Tremont, and other areas depending on availability & drive time. Clients outside of my service zone will be charged an extra drive time fee depending on the distance.

Question 6

Do you do an introductory visit/meet & greet?

Accepted Answer

Yes, of course! Once we decided that service is needed we will schedule a complimentary 30 minute meet & greet at your home so I can meet your pets, get the lay of the land, gather last minute information, and discuss any questions you may have.

Question 7

What are your service prices?

Accepted Answer

In my experience, everyone's pet care/house care situations and needs are unique, from dog walks to cat cuddles to feedings to brushing to transport to overnight stays to house sitting, to the number of pets within each household, etc. Some standard prices are listed on my Services page, however if you are in need of some of my other services (i.e. Overnight Visits or Adventure Time Visits), due to this variety in service, I have found that it makes the most sense to chat directly with you regarding your specific needs and then we will come up with a care plan and a quote for service.

Question 8

How much notice do you require to book an appointment?

Accepted Answer

I prefer at least 48 hours notice, if possible, however I understand that life happens and things come up! With that in mind and depending on my availability, I may be available for same day or emergency appointments. Of note, there may be an extra charge for last minute bookings.

Question 9

Do you charge extra for holiday visits?

Accepted Answer

Due to high demand during these times, a $10 holiday fee is applied to each visit.   Holidays include:   Thanksgiving Day Christmas Eve Christmas Day New Years Eve New Years Day Easter Day Fourt of July Labor Day Memorial Day

Question 10

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

A note on cancellations: It is understood emergencies happen last minute, however these dates and times are specifically being held for you and your pet, so please understand that Sarah the Sitter is turning down other clients in the meantime. Thank you for being amazing clients and understanding the challenges of being a small business! *Sarah The Sitter, LLC reserves the right to waive or adjust this clause on a case by case basis.   To book day walking/adhoc petcare services, clients can book as far in advance as they wish. For example, if the client has their work schedule one or more months in advance, they can book for that entirety if they are confident in their schedule.    Cancellations for day to day/adhoc petcare services are 7 days in advance. To cancel, the client should text Sarah the Sitter at 216-396-0123 and request cancellation. If cancelled within the required 7 days, a full refund will be given to the client. If more than three days of visits are cancelled in bulk, then a $25 cancellation fee will be charged. Please avoid repeat cancellations if possible. To book vacation visits longer than 3 days consecutively, a 50% deposit is required to hold your booking. The remaining 50% balance will be due at the start of service or the day the service is completed. The client can always pay in full at the time of booking. Cancellation for larger vacation visits/overnight visits (booked for longer than 3 days continuously) is as follows: If the client needs to cancel or rearrange their visit dates, the client must provide at least three weeks notice so Sarah the Sitter, LLC can reschedule those dates and times with another client.    If three weeks’ notice is given, a 25% cancellation fee (of the total visit amount) will be charged. For example, if the total visit was $300 and the client paid $150 deposit to hold the spot, Sarah the Sitter will charge a cancellation fee of 25% of $300 equal to $75, and the remaining $75 of the initial 50% deposit is returned to the client. If anything less than three weeks’ notice is given, the client will forfeit the full 50% deposit. For example, if the total visit was $300 and the client paid a $150 deposit to hold the spot, Sarah the Sitter will retain the $150 deposit in full.

Question 11

How do you handle key pickup/drop off?

Accepted Answer

Technology is amazing and, these days, most of my clients have keyless entry (a keypad or some type of code) to enter their homes so there is no need for me to handle keys in this situation.   For clients who still have keyed entry, some utilize a secure lockbox outside their home and simply provide me with the code to access the contained key.  This is the best option as the key stays at the location.   For clients who do not choose to utilize a secure lockbox, I will offer a key pickup/drop off and will keep the key for the duration of the visit (for example - some apartments utilize a magnetic key fob so I will keep the fob the entirety of the visit and then return it when the visit ends).  If you need me to pick up and drop off the key, there will be an $8.00 charge for each pick up and drop off.

Question 12

What types of pets do you care for?

Accepted Answer

I'm most accustomed to caring for domesticated pets such as dogs, cats, & small household pets (i.e. birds, bunnies, hamsters, etc.), however I am open to caring for a variety of pets. If you have an animal that falls outside of this scope, please feel free to reach out and we can discuss your specific needs to see if a partnership would be a good fit.

Question 13

Are you bonded & insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I am bonded & insured through Pet Sitters Associates, LLC.

Question 14

Do you collaborate with other local pet sitters?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely!   Being a small business owner in a profession that can feel slightly solitary at times, it is absolutely vital that I connect with and collaborate with others in my profession. I love and welcome all opportunities to meet and refer out to other pet sitters who provide the same level and standard of care that I provide in the event that I am unavailable for service.    I always recommend that my clients have at least one backup pet sitter in the event that I am traveling or otherwise unavailable.    Please let me know if you need a list of other pet sitters that come highly recommended. We collaborate often and even tag team visits at times, which can be really fun!

Question 15

Are you a member of professional pet sitting/house sitting organizations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I am a proud member of Pet Sitters International and am also a member of TrustedHousesitters.

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