Question and answer
Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you
do for your clients.
A. Horse, Home and Other Pet Sitting,
Training, Walking, Basic Grooming.
Personal Assistant services including Organizing, Decluttering, Packing,
Errands, Logistics Planning, Motivation, Business Consulting.
My Husband and I also do some Remodeling, Home Repair, Computer Clean Up, and
Photo Editing
I am a Certified Health and Life Coach
Q. Describe three recent jobs you've
completed.
A. Client with Horses, Dogs, a young puppy,
and Chickens. One of the things I loved the most about this job was working
with her puppy with basic manners and obedience, and also learned a few new
things about egg colors. The best part was working with a barley grass grower.
I never admit to knowing everything, that is impossible and I love it when I
have clients who can teach me.
I have a new client who has a silky hen in the house. Poor thing is nearly
blind and too fragile to be out with the others. She is adorable and cuddles!
Cutest thing ever!
I work with special needs animals as well, and one of my clients horses is
diabetic and insulin resistant. Has a history of laminitis and foundering. I
was able to provide more information and suggestions to them and directed them
to learn more about Natural Balance founder Gene Ovnicek.
My newest life and health coaching client recently told me that because of me,
she is now picking up her brushes again. She is an artist who has taken a break
for several years and now is back, feeling inspired and motivated. She said I
am her muse!
Q. What advice do you have for a customer
looking to hire a provider like you?
A. Always ask for references and call on
them.
Ask open ended questions and probing questions versus yes or no type of
questions.
Be wary of Testimonials because there is no way to prove that an actual client
wrote them.
Don't shop around for the best price, but for the best value and exceptional
quality and work ethic of services.
Always ask how much time does the per visit rate give. You may find a lower
rate, but will that only give you a 15-20 minute visit?
My per rate visits are 45-50 minutes or longer. I limit my services to only 3
clients per day so that I can dedicate my undivided attention to each of these
clients and their loved pets and animals. Reducing stress on an animal is
critical when the owners are away and my belief is the only way you do that, is
keeping the normal routine and giving each animal special time and attention.
Always have a neighbor or friend contact and someone who can just watch how
often and how long a new pet sitter is really at your home.
Always do a phone interview first, then meet for the first time in a public
place and if comfortable to move forward, then do a home visit consultation.
Reliable and professional pet sitters will not have an issue with this.
First time, first job a Pet Sitter may ask for payment up front just to ensure
payment and trust. Afterwards, payment would typically be after the job is
completed.
When hiring a Personal Assistant or Coach be sure it is with someone that has
similar values and personality as you do. Rapport is everything when hiring a
personal assistant and health, life coach!
Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish
you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?
A. Many qualified and skilled pet sitters have
fewer testimonials because satisfied customers tend not to post compliments,
versus dissatisfied clients will post complaints.
Most pet sitters per visit rate only give you 10-20 minute visits. Be sure to
always ask how much time that per rate visit gives you.
Many home and pet owners have installed Nanny camera's to see how long a pet
sitter stays and how they interact with your pets and while in your home. If
you don't have a Nanny camera, use a neighbor to keep an eye out and verify
that you are truly getting what you pay for.
If you pets seem stressed or have had any destructive or behavioral issues
while a pet sitter was watching them, it is very likely it is a result of lack
of engagement, exercise or play time. Many pet sitters say they will walk and
exercise your pets - just be sure that they truly are.
Make sure you feel a good rapport and comfortable with your pet sitters
personality, and that they prove a good interaction and rapport with your pets
during the in home interview visit. Women tend to have more instinctual
tendencies and better rapport with animals due to animal imprinting instincts
with the mom in nature. I am not stating that there are not good male pet
sitters, but the industry as a whole has more woman pet sitters in part, due to
this innate natural instincts and abilities.
Many pet sitters establish a 'business' years later, but their experience could
be many many years before. For example, I was born and raised with animals all
of my life, I started training and pet sitting for family and friends since
1991, and didn't establish my business until 2008. So always asking more
probing questions into a pet sitters history of their experience and pets that
they have owned themselves is a good practice.
Q. Why does your work stand out from others
who do what you do?
A. I have a lifetime of experience with
animals and business. I treat my work like a business with the highest
standards of excellence, honesty, integrity and work ethic. I treat your home
and valuables as if they were my own, and you and your furbabies like
family!
My priority is to serve, this is my passion and it is my full time career. I
will be here tomorrow, 5 years from now, 20 years from now!
I am a local resident and business, reputable, qualified, certified and am
active in my community, associations member and continually attend seminars,
training and on going learning to always stay up to current and new
advances.
I strive to be the best in what I do, I always exceed expectations, and work
ethic, integrity and honesty are my highest priorities.
Q. What questions do customers most commonly
ask you? What's your answer?
A. Sadly, many initial phone calls the
potential customer asks "what do you charge" and sometimes that is
it. This is truly sad because a per visit rate can be 10 minutes or 50 minutes
depending on the pet sitter. What you get for your per visit rate also varies
significantly among pet sitters.
Pet's are like our children for pet owners who truly love and cherish their
'kids' - I would prefer that a potential customer ask about rate or price/cost
after interviewing and asking other key questions first.
I always try to educate a potential client about what differentiates me from my
competitors and before answering the 'cost' question, I ask the client how much
interaction, play and exercise time are you wanting for your pet? It is easier
for me to give a price if a client just wants the rush in and out and basics,
and cheap cost or if they want more dedicated time and attention for their
pets.
I have basic, standard and premium rates. I take no more than 3 clients per day
to ensure that I am giving the time I promise, the quality and engagement
asked, and exceptional service which many times includes lots of extra's
without extra charge.
Q. Do you have a favorite story from your
work?
A. My goal is to build a rapport and
relationship bond with my clients and pets that I care for. I do not only stop
by to feed and check water or clean, I stay and play, engage and interact with
all animals. I take time for grooming, exercise and play. While doing so, pets
and people for that matter, sometimes do or say the cutest things! I have too
many stories to pick a favorite!
Q. How did you decide to get in your line of
work?
A. I was raised with farm animals and domestic
pets my entire life. I have been dubbed as a 'whisperer' by many. I not only
understand animal behavior, but I can connect and read animals. I study and
understand principles of pack or herd behaviors and instinctual fight or flight
conditions. I have owned and loved my own animals and pets my entire adult
life. I started out by 'helping' out friends and family, working with them on
training their new horses, cats and puppies. I am known as the litter box
trainer who teaches cats to potty in the toilet! I left a corporate life to
pursue my dreams and passion and that is to work with animals and help others
to alleviate stress and worry in their lives. I took certification courses and
formal training to ensure that my knowledge level exceeded just being a pet
owner. I wake up every morning excited to go to work. I treat my work like a
business in my integrity, work ethic, dedication, commitment to excellence, and
responsibility. I treat my clients, homes, family, and pets as if they were my
own and like family. Even if I help just 1 person, it is all worth it.
Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education
to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
A. I am a certified Dog Trainer
I am certified in Advanced First Aid
I am a certified Life and Health Coach
I am an association member to many organizations.
You can view all of my experience and credentials on my home page at my web
site pamperedpetsandpeople.com
Q. What is your greatest strength?
A. I ALWAYS exceed people's expectations and
go above an beyond what is asked. I am the type of person that I don't just
walk by something that needs to be done, I take care of it, clean it, fix it
even if it something that I won't charge for. I believe in complete customer
satisfaction and always doing the right thing regardless of policy or payment.
Always! My 14 years of Corporate Customer Service experience has taught me
that.
Q. What are you currently working on
improving?
A. I am always working on additional
credentials, certifications, training and joining association memberships to
keep my credentials current, and always stay active within my community and
industry. I strive for excellence and am always learning. I never claim to know
everything about everything, but what I do not know, I will research, study and
learn!
