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Family and care guides
Babysitters, elderly carers and pet sitters near you: how to check references properly, and what to agree on before the first visit.
Hiring a babysitter, a carer for a parent, or someone to look after your dog is a decision about trust, and trust is not something a single listing can establish.
Here we cover how to check references so the check actually means something, what to agree on before the first visit, and what these services genuinely cost.
What this category covers
- Babysitters and event childcare
- Home nursing and elderly care at home
- Dog walkers
- Pet sitters and boarding
- Vets and groomers
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Frequently asked questions
How do I check references so the check actually means something?
Do not ask whether they were happy, because everyone says yes. Ask how long the person worked for them, why it ended, whether there was a situation they handled badly, and whether they would hire them again. The pauses and the vague answers tell you more than the praise.
What should we agree before the first visit?
Times and what happens when someone runs late, the rate and how you pay, what happens if either side is ill, who to call in an emergency, and the house rules on screens, food and where they walk. Put it in a message. It is not distrust, it is what stops an argument later.
Do I need a contract with a babysitter or a carer?
For anything regular, several times a week, yes, because it settles notice, holiday and cover. For occasional sitting, a written note of the rate and the hours is enough.
What do these services cost?
Think in hourly rates, then add for travel, late hours and the number of children or animals being looked after at once. The current ranges are broken down in the articles in this category, because they shift year to year and by area.
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