Frequently asked questions

What does property care include?

Property care includes a combination of services based on what you need. I offer:

• Home Visits — scheduled walkthroughs to check for leaks, HVAC issues, storm damage, and security

• Drop-In Visits — quick check-ins for plants, mail, and peace of mind

• Overnight House Sitting — someone in your home overnight for added security.

• Cat Care — Overnight, feeding, playtime, litter box, medication, and lots of love

• Mail & Package Pickup — checking mail, forwarding important mail when requested and collecting deliveries

• Vendor Coordination — letting contractors in and supervising their work if requested

• Security Monitoring — checking cameras, alarms, and ensuring the property looks lived-in

• Return Home Preparation — stocking the fridge, a full clean top to bottom, adjusting the thermostat, and making sure your home is welcoming when you arrive
  
  

Your property care plan is built around you. We'll work with you to create a schedule and scope that fits your home, your travel, and your budget. There's no one-size-fits-all, just what works for you.

How often will you visit the property?

It depends entirely on your property and preferences. Some clients request daily walk-throughs, others weekly, and some prefer overnight presence. We create a custom schedule that makes sense for your home.

What happens during a scheduled walk-through?

We check the interior and exterior systematically, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Water intrusion, HVAC performance, security system status, signs of pest activity, anything a contractor left undone, and anything you request.

Do you supervise contractors and service people?

Yes. We can meet third-party vendors, gardeners, cleaners, maintenance workers, delivery people, so you don't have to coordinate from a distance. We can, if asked, verify the work is done correctly and report back.

What about mail and deliveries?

Mail is collected regularly. We can hold it, forward it, or open and scan specific items on request. Deliveries are accepted and secured. Nothing sits on a doorstep.

Do you take care of Pets?

We specialize in cats. We provide attentive, experienced care for cats, daily drop-in visits or full overnight stays, depending on what your pets need. We don't care for dogs, fish, birds, reptiles, or exotic animals.

Cat care includes feeding, fresh water, litter, medications if required, brushing, play and the kind of attention that keeps an animal calm and settled in their own home. We take the time to understand each cat's personality and routine.

If a veterinary visit becomes necessary while you're away, we coordinate it, transport your pet, communicate with your vet, and report back to you.

Will you stay overnight at the property?

If requested, absolutely. Either because your cats require it, because the property benefits from someone on-site, or because you simply prefer it. Overnight arrangements are discussed and agreed upon before the engagement starts.

What happens if there's an emergency while I'm away?

You hear from us immediately. We assess the situation, take whatever action is needed, coordinate with the appropriate vendors or emergency services, and document everything. You make the decisions; we handle everything on the ground.

Are you insured?

Yes. Fully insured through Pet Care Insurance (PCI) with an add-on House sitting endorsement (Cat Sitting and House Sitting Specialist)

How do engagements begin?

We meet in person, walk your property together, and talk through what you need. If it seems like a good fit on both sides, we put a simple agreement in place before anything starts. We don't take every inquiry, we take properties we can serve well.

What areas do you cover?

We serve properties from Tiburon to Novato, Truckee to South Lake Tahoe. We are based in Sausalito and keep our client list small enough to remain genuinely available to everyone we work with.

What does it cost?

Prices vary depending on what you need. Here's a general guide to help you plan, your final quote will be confirmed during our interview.

Drop-In Visits: $40
(includes full home check, mail/packages. Add $10 - 1 hr. cat care for up to 2 cats.)

Overnight Stays:
$60 — overnight security and home care (no pets)
$100 — overnight stay with pet care
$100–$150 — overnight stay with pets needing medication or special care

Vendor Coordination: $40 to meet and let in a vendor (up to 1 hour), then $40/hour beyond that

Full House Cleaning: $150–$400, depending on the size of your home and the level of cleaning you need.

A thorough cleaning of your home while you're away or before you return. Includes:

• Dusting and wiping down surfaces

• Vacuuming and mopping floors

• Cleaning bathrooms (sinks, toilets, showers, mirrors)

• Wiping down kitchen counters, sink, and outside of appliances

• Strip and make beds

• Laundry

• Emptying trash and recycling
  
  

We don't do deep cleaning (ovens, refrigerators, windows, etc.), this is a maintenance clean to keep your home fresh, tidy, and ready for your return.

Final pricing depends on the size of your home and the specific tasks you want. We'll confirm the scope before you leave.

Return Home Preperation: This is a custom service built around what you need. Common requests include:

Grocery Shopping — We'll stock your fridge and pantry with the items you want (list and cost to be arranged prior to departure)

Errands — picking up prescriptions, dry cleaning, or any other items you need

Plugging in Your Car — making sure your EV or hybrid is charged and ready to go

Airing Out the Home — opening windows to let fresh air in before you arrive

Adjusting the thermostat — so the house is warm or cool when you arrive

Turning on lights and opening blinds so the home feels welcoming

Setting out fresh towels and linens

Taking out trash and recycling

We fulfill most requests

Travel Surcharge: +$40 for locations 40+ miles from Sausalito or South Lake Tahoe

Holiday Surcharge: +$25 per night for major holidays

Last-Minute Bookings: +$25 for bookings made less than 48 hours in advance

Payment:
A 25% deposit is required to hold your dates, with the remaining balance due on the first day of the sit. We cannot make exceptions to this arrangement.

Cancellations:
Cancellations more than 2 weeks from the 1st booked date receives their deposit back.
Cancellations less than 2 weeks from the 1st booked date will not receive the deposit back.

Single parents and low-income families—please ask about reduced rates.

Do you offer security monitoring while I'm away?

We can monitor your security system continuously while you're away. If an alarm triggers, something suspicious on your security cam or anything requires attention, we respond immediately.

Do you handle pool and hot tub maintenance?

We provide routine oversight, checking water levels, testing and balancing chemicals, and monitoring equipment to catch anything that looks off. For more intensive work, repairs, or anything requiring a licensed technician, we coordinate with the appropriate vendor and manage the process so you don't have to.

Can you prepare my home for my return?

Yes. We coordinate everything so your home is ready for your arrival.

That includes fresh groceries based on your list, flowers if requested, arranging housekeeping to refresh sheets and towels, climate set to your preference, mail organized. If you left a car, we can have it ready as well.

We ask for a homecoming stipend in advance to cover purchases, amount agreed upon based on your needs. We ask for at least 48 hours notice before your return so everything comes together properly.

Are there services you don't provide?

We do not:

Oversee major construction projects or perform structural, roofing, construction or major plumbing, electrical, hvac or security system repairs. We coordinate licensed contractors, we don't replace them.

Care for dogs, fish, birds, reptiles, or exotic animals of any kind.

Provide financial management, bill payment, legal correspondence, or sign documents on an owner's behalf.

Move, store, or clear owner belongings or arrange item pick-up.

Make significant repair decisions without owner approval.

We don't drive owners or guests, prepare meals, or provide childcare or eldercare.

If you're unsure whether something falls within our scope, the right answer is to ask. We'll tell you directly.