J-rap Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 We sometimes leave our home for long periods of time. We've made different arrangements, but this time, our next-door neighbor's oldest dd has watched it for us. She's a senior in high school. For two months, she's been running over to our house almost daily, poking her head inside to make sure the heat is on, running down to the basement to make sure nothing is flooding, and picking up random mail flyers that people leave on our doorstep. She probably spends 5 minutes nearly every day doing this. We did have one problem when we were gone, when our water heater began leaking water throughout our basement (it's unfinished, concrete, so nothing was damaged, thankfully). She caught it, and was the one who called the plumber and then waited at the house to let him in and work on it, etc. She texts me updates regularly. We've told her she could hang out in our house to study, etc., if she was ever looking for somewhere quiet. (She's from a big family. :)) She also is able to park her car out of the street and in our garage when we're gone. (Someone else shovels snow.) She's very responsible, and it's been a huge peace of mind to have her do this for us. She has told us a number of times that she doesn't want us to pay her, but of course we will. I have a figure in mind but am wondering what others think about an amount, because I might be way off. I know if it's too much though, she'll feel very uncomfortable, and then I'm afraid she won't accept it. (That's what this family is like!) I'm searching for just the right amount. I could also get her a gift certificate to somewhere I suppose, or even call it a combination house-sitting/graduation gift. Or, maybe those two things should be separate... Anyway, just wondering what others think about a fair (for her) amount! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 This depends partly on the cost of living and income level in the area. I'd say $50-$100, up to $200 if combined with graduation gift. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 My uncle is doing something similar for a neighbor. He goes over every few days just to check on the house. They are having their mail forwarded, so he doesn't have to do that. When there was a blizzard, he popped over a couple of times to make sure the trees hadn't fallen on the house. He was paid $500 for checking on the house between Christmas and March. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 $200 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 It took us about 9 months to clean out my in-law's home in a suburb of a large city, while we lived 3 hours away. We paid the next-door neighbors $100 per month to handle the issues that fell-thru-the-cracks for us. Maybe 2 hours per week, but just knowing they were available gave us tremendous peace of mind. My main goal, with your wonderful neighbor, is to make sure she's content & doesn't quit! :) We mailed them a check with a short thank you note each month. I know I've mentioned this before, but I think thank you notes are the BEST way to make sure the person feels appreciated (not just the cash). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynamite5 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Peace of mind every day for two months? No less than $5 per day. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Peace of mind every day for two months? No less than $5 per day. Agreed. My neighbor, who has a nice home in a lower income area that has problems with home burglary, paid my son that much just to feed his colony of feral cats! Ds didn't go into the house, but had a key to a locked, enclosed porch where the supplies were. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 I was thinking $5 per day also. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 $200, and if she refuses, smile, then make her a $200 check as a graduation gift. Tell her your peace of mind knowing she was keeping an eye on things - and catching that leaky water heater - was priceless! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 I'd pay her $10-$15 per hour. So add up 10-20 minutes (avg. 15 since it includes texting, walking back and forth etc...) x how many days you were gone (60 f0r example) plus the additional time spent on the plumbing issue. So about $150-$200 for the regular time plus an additional $10-? for the time spent waiting on the plumber. Graduation gift is separate. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 $5/day and then round up to the nearest $50. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 $250-$300 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 Thanks everybody... This was super helpful, and confirms what I was thinking. I had actually been thinking somewhere between $100/month or $5/day. And I agree that a nice thank you note is important! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree Frog Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 My uncle is doing something similar for a neighbor. He goes over every few days just to check on the house. They are having their mail forwarded, so he doesn't have to do that. When there was a blizzard, he popped over a couple of times to make sure the trees hadn't fallen on the house. He was paid $500 for checking on the house between Christmas and March. Wow! Last summer, my college aged dd housesat for a family for 2.5 months. She took care of 2 cats, watered (with a sprinkler that needed to be moved) the extensive 1 acre lawn, individually watered the many potted plants daily, and made sure the grass was mowed. DS mowed 3 times. The 2 of them split $500. DD decided she wouldn't house sit for them anymore because of all the work the owners required and the relatively little pay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Before I read the replies, I was thinking at least $100, but closer to $200. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Generous graduation gift? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 And maybe an offer to be a reference in the future? Sometimes it’s hard to think of people that wouldn’t mind.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 And maybe an offer to be a reference in the future? Sometimes it’s hard to think of people that wouldn’t mind.... Great idea -- yes, I'll be sure to offer that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I would keep the two gifts separate though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I'd say $10 a day. That's what I pay for someone to come let out my dogs (well, they get $10 per visit, but it's only about 10 minutes tops) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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