How to Compete Successfully as a Newcomer - Part I

I recently had an email exchange with one of our subscribers, Jerry. He wrote that he and his partner are "currently doing their first caretaking assignment." Jerry said that he is interested in more information about "How to Compete Successfully as a Newcomer." In Part I of my response to Jerry, I share some of his questions and my answers:


Jerry: While preparing to advertise ourselves for the first time, would it be useful to be bonded, or is bonding throwing money away?


Gary: Some property owners will ask that an applicant for a housesitting or caretaking position be "bondable." In that case, they may ask if you have been previously been bonded for another job. Other property owners will require that you be bonded and, as your employer, they will work through the process with you. This means that your employer is offered insurance coverage that will pay the employer IF you steal from them. This is usually required in jobs where you handle cash or valuables. Some property owners feel that bonding provides them with protection as a background check on the applicant is run by the bonding company. You can read more about bonding and insurance at: http://www.nfib.com/object/4034479.html


Jerry: How about a certificate in Red Cross First Aid for pets?


Gary: If pet care is something that you are specifically interested in doing and an important aspect of the positions to which you are applying, you might want to consider becoming certified in that area. If pet care is not your specialty, but there are pets on the property, you can ask the property owner if the certification is needed. If so, you can decide if that is something that you would like to obtain.


Jerry: While we will be scrutinized by the owners for qualifications during first contact, how do we scrutinize the owners to discover if they're revealing everything important about themselves and their expectations prior to our committing ourselves to a face-to-face interview, perhaps traveling long distance to get there?


Gary: Most prospective caretakers and housesitters will begin by running an online search on the property owner. During the interview process, some applicants will ask if there have been previous housesitters and caretakers and inquire as to whether they can contact them. We have other subscribers who will contact the police chief or sheriff of the small town where a property is located to find out if there have been any incidents involving the property owner. We keep information on all property owners who have advertised in the Gazette in a database and, since 1983, we have never heard of any serious problems between a property owner whose ad appeared in the Gazette and any of our subscribers.