House Calls, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services do you provide?
House Calls provides a variety of services in order to give your pet exactly what he/she needs, they include…
Love & Attention
Food & Water
Exercise & Daily Walking
Scoop Maintenance
Security checks, & Daily Home Inspection
Mail & Newspaper Pickup
Garbage/Recycling
Indoor & Outdoor Watering
Single or Multiple daily Visits
Overnight visits
Medications Administered (per veterinarians instructions)
And more…
*Special requests please let us know!

What kind of pets do you care for?
House Calls has pet sitters with a wide range of experience with virtually every kind of creature; Some of these animals are dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rabbits, iguanas, turtles, fish, frogs, and even horses! Please let us know if you have a special pet or unusual needs, we will do our very best to meet your expectations.

What makes House Calls special?
The people at House Calls strive to provide the most professional and friendly service combined with ready availability. Our twenty-five plus years of experience caring for pets while their owners are away has enabled us to establish a team of reliable, experienced sitters and to do our best to meet every client's needs.

Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
House Calls Pet and Home Sitting Services is fully licensed, bonded and insured -- With a business license, a business services bond and Personal Liability and Property damage insurance. House Calls is also proud member of National Association of Professional Sitters as well as Pet Sitter International. Being a member of both of the largest governing organizations in the pet care industry, we are required to abide by the highest of standards.

What does you being licensed, bonded and insured mean to me?
What House Calls being licensed, bonded and insured means to you and all of our clients is PEACE OF MIND. At House Calls we take responsibility for your pets and possessions when you put them in our care. That means that your property and your pets are fully covered, should anything occur while in our care. Having these policies in place shows a level of professionalism and commitment that you can trust.

Can you provide references?
The pet sitters at House Calls come with glowing references from many satisfied clients. Please ask your sitter to provide them to you during your initial registration meeting.

What is the purpose of the Initial Registration Meeting?
The purpose of the initial registration meeting is, to provide an in-home consultation so that you have the opportunity to meet with your pet sitter and communicate any information necessary. This is so we may provide the best care for your pets and your home.

Why do you ask for our home owner’s insurance information?
In the event of an emergency we at House calls will make every effort possible to reach you first. If you choose not to be contacted while on vacation with emergencies we will handle everything as if your home was our home. For example… let us share a pet sitting job that required us to have insurance policy information. One day a client left in the morning and the pet sitter arrived for the first visit that evening. As the sitter began walking down the hall to where the kitty’s supplies were kept, she discovered that the carpet in the hallway was wet. It turned out that a pipe had burst in the master bath! Since the client had not reached their destination yet, only a message could be left. So the pet sitter turned the water off and the insurance agent was called. From there the insurance agent took steps to minimize the damage to the floors. Once the client returned the message we had left on the cell phone, they were extremely thankful that we were able to handle the situation.

What if my pet has an emergency?
House Calls will ask for your vet information as well as an emergency contact person just in case a pet emergency occurs. If your pet sitter arrives and there is an emergency with your pet, we will always try to reach you first. We then will take whatever steps necessary to make sure your pet is safe and receiving anything it might need.

What is your policy regarding keys?
At House Calls we require two copies of your keys prior to service. One set is used by your pet sitter and one set stays in the office in case of an emergency that requires the office to do your service. To avoid key pickup/drop off fees when you need service again, we strongly recommend that you allow us retain your keys for future services. You can rest easy no matter if your keys are attached to us while in use or are stored safely away; your name and address are never attached to them. All keys are assigned a special tag, and labeled with our personal coding system. House Calls is VARY serious about the security of your home while you are away. Your pet sitter will not pick up or leave keys "under the mat" or "hidden under the patio planter" nor lock the keys in the house on the last visit. If you wish us to use your garage door openers in lieu of keys, we will need away into your home in the event of a power outage.

How do you screen your sitters?
House Calls assures that all pet sitters will provide professional, reliable, loving care to your pets. Each sitter is carefully screened, interviewed and required to provide proof of bonding and identity.

When can I expect to meet my sitter?
Once you have booked service through a House Calls office, you should expect a phone call from your assigned pet sitter within 24 hours. Your sitter will arrange a time to meet with you and your pets in your home that is convenient for both of you. Please contact us if you do not hear from them during within this period.

What does 'The Guarantee' mean to me?
At House Calls ‘the guarantee’ means that we provide pet care absolutely, positively to your satisfaction with every service we provide, or your money back. It is that simple.

What do you charge?
House Calls will need to assess your needs before assigning a rate for your pet care. There is a basic guideline we observe, but have some flexibility in pricing for different levels of service. Single visits begin around $20/ea and live-in services around $60/night depending on what area you live in, and what your needs are. Your pet sitter will set your price at the time of your meeting. Please feel free to call and we'll work up a service plan designed to meet you and your pet’s specific needs.

How am I billed for service?
Once you book service your pet sitter will confirm the service dates, get updated instructions from you and provide you with an invoice for your records. Services are payable in advance. You can mail your payment to the office, leave your payment on the counter or pay on PayPal before service begins.

Can I make last minute arrangements?
Absolutely! House Calls provides service 7 days a week, 365 days per year. If we are not answering our phones live, we are checking messages frequently throughout the day. In the event you are leaving within 24 hours we provide an emergency phone line so that you can be helped ASAP. Live in services book up quickly, so please try to allow a month’s advance notice. If we are unable to provide you with the service you request, we will do our very best to find the next best solution to meet your needs. (Some offices may charge a fee for booking last minute services.)

How do you determine what time you'll pay visits to my pets?
Whether providing your pets with individual visits, live-in services or midday dog walks, we strive to keep your pets as close to their normal routine as possible. When your pet sitter meets you for your initial consultation, please let them know all you can about your pet's normal activities so that they can do their best to keep that schedule!