Basic Service

Regular Home Visits
​Mail & Parcel Pickup
Heating, Curtains and Lights
Garbage, Recycling and Compost
Car Starts
Frequent Updates
Emergency Contact​

​Other Services

​Pet Care & Cuddles
Plant Watering
Yard Maintenance
Pool Maintenance
Snow Removal (Walkways and Steps)
Homecoming Groceries
​Light Home Maintenance
Wherever you've been, and however much fun you've had, there's simply no place like home.  Reliable House Sitting Ottawa offers a variety of services to give you peace of mind while you're away, and make your homecoming a stress free, enjoyable experience.
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All you will need to do is unpack your bags, cuddle your pets, and get the kettle on.  Welcome home!

Basic Service

During regular home visits with the Basic Service, I will collect your mail and parcels and forward if needed, take out your garbage, recycling and compost on garbage day, make sure the house is at the right temperature, move curtains, start your car, and switch lights on or off.  No length of time away is too long or too short; whether a weekend or a year, you will receive regular updates as often as you want, and will have someone available to contact in case you need something done urgently in Ottawa.

Other Services

For an additional service charge, I will take good care of your pets, water indoor plants, maintain your pool and yard, clear the snow from your walkway, and even pick up groceries so your cupboards are stocked for your homecoming. Further descriptions of each service are provided below (those with asterisks are part of the Basic Service - see Rates for more information)

Key Management Service

You can leave your keys for me to manage ready for your next trip away at no additional charge (they are kept labelled in a lock box). Now here comes the kicker - if you want me to return your keys to you at your home if you live outside of the green zone, there will be a fee - typically the cost of one visit or so (outrage!).  Other perhaps less controversial options include picking them up from me yourself, or arranging for me to leave them at an agreed secret location at your address (or even with a neighbour).

Detailed Service Descriptions

* Included with Basic Service - see Rates for more information

Regular Visits *

The cornerstone of house sitting, regular visits will significantly improve the safety and security of your home while you are away, and in fact are often required by insurance companies should you leave your premises vacant for a specified period of time.  Would-be intruders "casing" an area are looking for properties that have uncollected mail and parcels, curtains that don't move and lights that never change.  By using a house sitter, there is a sense of occupancy and daily activity that acts as an excellent deterrent.

Heating *

Perhaps the most important reason to have someone come into your house periodically during our frigid Ottawa winters is to make sure your pipes don't freeze and burst. Water damage in your home can be one of the most expensive and costly repairs. When cold weather settles in and temperatures begin to plummet, it's crucial that your house remains at a steady temperature of 17°C according to Hydro Ottawa. I remember as a kid coming home (in the UK) to a flooded house - it's simply not worth the risk.

Mail and Parcel Pickup *

Just because you're on vacation, those nice people at Amazon or Canada Post don't stop working or expect you to put your shopping on hold.  There's always bargains to be had, no matter what time of year.  As part of the Basic Service, Reliable House Sitting Ottawa will be available to pick up your parcels and mail (and forward them if required), so that your absence is not advertised to all who pass by, and your packages are not left exposed on the front door step only to find their way under somebody else's tree this Christmas.  ​

Garbage Day *

There are few things more frustrating in a homeowner's life than missing garbage day (it's quite remarkable how quickly that truck can zip by while you're brushing your teeth).  Especially so in the summer, when the contents of your green bin undergo a relentless ripening and start to compost in the bin, providing a wonderfully nutritious meal for your new batch of pet maggots. Reliable House Sitting Ottawa will put out your garbage, compost and recycling for you at no additional fee.  ​

Car Start *

Turn the key. Click. Nothing. It's a horrible feeling when your car battery has decided to fade away (for reasons which, obviously, were nothing to do with anything anyone did). By having your car started on a regular basis and run for a short while, you can ensure that the "what do I do now" sinking feeling can be avoided the first time you go to drive your vehicle after you come home; especially important if you're out of milk and just need that first cup of tea. Or maybe more important, to get the kids to school.  Now, is it red first, or black first?

Emergency Contact *

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. With all the planning in the world, sometimes things don't quite go accordingly, so it's good to know that as part of the Basic Service I will be just a phone call or text away, ready to help if needed. Whether it's needing something shipped to your location, being home for a forgotten appointment, or a last minute decision to extend your stay because you're having such a wonderful time, Reliable House Sitting Ottawa has you covered.

Plant Watering

The typical indoor house plant, according to the web, can survive without water for up to three weeks.  Humans, however, can only survive for a week maximum (don't try this at home kids), which only goes to prove that plants make better housemates than humans. They are also better listeners.  If you are going away for any extended period of time, Reliable House Sitting Ottawa will keep your favourite house guests hydrated so there is plenty of fresh oxygen and greenery to greet you on your homecoming.

Pet Care

If there's one thing we really miss while we're away, it's our pets. I know how important your furry, or not so furry, soul mates are (we have four cats, and love them to bits), and I will give them all the love and attention they need until their human's happy homecoming. Regular feeding, watering, playtime, cuddles and walks if needed (not the fish) are all part of the Pet Care Service. I prefer larger dogs to be looked after by someone who can be with them for longer periods, since they do get lonely - but smaller dogs who may only require a couple of visits per day (and not overnight) are certainly in my wheelhouse.  Outdoor cats will need to stay indoors for the duration of the service period.

Yard Maintenance

Ottawa summers can be the death of the healthiest lawn and flowerbed. The heat and humidity can cause the hardiest of grass, plants and trees to wilt without regular care. Mowing, weeding & watering are all part of the Yard Maintenance Service so that your yard will be just as you left it, or perhaps better, depending on what state you left it in! Whether you are going away just for the weekend or for an extended period of time, I will take care of your yard and flowerbeds, and ensure the lawn is ready for that first game of croquet upon your return.

Homecoming Groceries

Maybe it's late; you're probably tired from the journey, and the cupboards and refrigerator are bare, aside from the milk that expired a week ago and the fruit bowl that is now home to a voracious and ever growing family of fruit flies. You simply don't have the time (or the energy) to stock up. In the words of Anthony Oettinger, "time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana". With the Homecoming Grocery Service, I will make sure there is fresh milk in the fridge and fresh fruit in the fruit bowl.  

Snow Clearing
Winter is coming. Tired from your flight, you don't want to be shoveling your walkway so that you can get into and out of your house for (dare we say it) making your way to work the next day. If you don't have a service already, let Reliable House Sitting Ottawa clear away any snowfall on your walkway above 2cm for your homecoming with the Snow Removal Service. For additional safety, walkways will be salted and gritted, as a visit to the emergency ward is on nobody's want list the first night they are back home.

Pool Maintenance

A crystal clear clean pool can turn into a mess from algae, cloudiness, and low chlorine in no time if you don’t have a plan.  At your request (and with specific instructions), the Pool Maintenance Service will cover any or all of the following tasks: check the filter, pump, and chlorine feeder; shock the pool; empty the skimmer baskets; skim the water surface; check the pressure gauge; test and add chemicals; and generally make sure everything is as it should be for your return (nothing like a cool dip after a hot, tiring trip).

Important Notes

Equipment and materials required for any service must be furnished by the homeowner. If equipment or material is needed to be purchased by Reliable House Sitting Ottawa, expenses will be charged to the homeowner after their approval.

There will be a fee (typically the cost of one visit) if you live outside of the green zone to return your keys. Other "fee-free" options are available, such as leaving the key at your home (or with a neighbour) on the last visit, or picking up them up yourself.  You can also let Reliable House Sitting look after your keys (ready for next time) using our secure key management service (or what I like to call "labelled in a lock box").

For insurance reasons, any information provided by Reliable House Sitting (either in writing or verbally) must not be construed as advice. This is why exact instructions are required from the homeowner to perform any relatively complex tasks such as pet care, pool maintenance, yard maintenance, cleaning, as well as emergency contacts (e.g. friends, relatives, veterinarians, electricians etc).  
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