A few months ago, Michael and I were in a pretty tough spot. As I have been at home with Hadley full-time since she was born, it hasn’t exactly been an easy journey for us financially. Although I have been able to save us a bunch of money through my (somewhat) extreme use of coupons and my overall thriftiness in general, there are still times where money’s tight. Being me, I wasn’t willing to jump back into the workforce and be away from my daughter before I was absolutely positive that there was no other way that I could help to improve our situation from home.
So as I was scrolling vigorously through my Pinterest boards one night (a.k.a. my nightly routine), I just so happened to come across a pin that immediately caught my attention. “Turn your passion for pets into a work at home career!” After reading that, I knew; this was it.
To start, Rover.com is a very secure site that allows clients to find pet-friendly people in their area that are able to watch their furry friends for them while they’re away! This is where we come in; the sitters!
How It Works
Rover has all sitters create a personal profile that potential clients can view and see if you’re a good fit. When a client sends a you a request, the dates of the stay and a little bio of their dog(s) are included as well. The website then gives the option to schedule a Meet & Greet to make sure the stay is right for everyone. To book a stay, you simply send a confirmation message to the client, which allows you to finalize the prices and any discounts or promos you would like to add. Once they finalize the stay, it’s all booked and you’re ready to sit!
What’s great about Rover is that all payments are handled directly through the site. This keeps everything organized and secure for everyone! Funds are added to your account at the time the stay is booked and made available to you 48 hours after the stay has ended via PayPal (or check if you prefer.) Note: Rover does take a 15% cut out of each stay that you book (they had to make money somehow, right!)
Also, booking through the website directly guarantees 24/7 veterinary access as well as premium pet insurance, which covers emergency vet bills up to $25,000, after $250 deductible. You can read more about Rover’s premium insurance here.
Getting Started
Prior to booking your first stay, you must first submit your application to Rover.com. After you are accepted (which only takes a day or two), your profile becomes visible to potential clients and you can start sitting right away!
Sign up here!
Some Things to Consider
Before submitting your application and completing your profile, be sure that this is a good career choice for you and your personal situation. For me, I have a house with access to a fully-fenced yard and no restrictions on animals. I am at home full-time and am able to tend to the dogs as needed, including play-time, potty breaks, and walks. So if you’re a stay at home mom like me, this could be a great fit for you! Also, consider the amount of dogs that will be coming in and out of your house on a daily basis. Are you okay with cleaning up accidents on the floor? (Especially if you’re watching puppies!) Have you considered the potential for destroyed furniture and personal belongings? (It happens!)
If you’re an animal lover like me, this is the job for you! After months of stressing myself out trying to find a way that I could work from home successfully and really contribute to my household, I’ve found a way that I can do that that’s actually fun! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting dogs of all breeds, each with their own unique personality. So far this month, I’ve made over $500 and I’m already booking up for the holidays! It’s definitely making a difference for us financially and it’s such a great feeling to have my own income again!
Rebel has made so many new friends…
…and Hadley has, too!
All in all, I don’t think that I could find a better way to work from home. It’s honestly more of a hobby than it is an actual job anyway! I get to hangout with dogs all day and it gives me a reason to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, get some exercise, and above all, just have fun! If you’re in need of some extra income, be sure to give Rover.com a try! If you think you can handle it… 😉
