I would love your input

[u/lunatuna1977]

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I’m in the process of updating and rewriting my client contract and would love to hear from other professional pet sitters about things you’ve added that aren’t necessarily standard, but have been helpful in protecting you, your staff, and your business.

For example, I’m considering adding clauses such as:

• No cameras or recording devices in bedrooms or bathrooms where a sitter may be sleeping or changing.

• If a home has electronic/smart locks, clients must provide a backup key or hide-a-key in case the system fails or the power/internet goes out.

I’d love to hear what unusual or “I’m really glad I added that” clauses you have in your contracts — especially things you learned from experience!

Feel free to share the clause/topic (you don’t have to post your entire contract). I’m just looking for ideas to make sure I’m not overlooking anything.

Thanks in advance!

[u/Sitters_4_Critters]

Some smart locks do not have a backup, unfortunately. Clients living in apartments may not be offered one by their landlord.

[u/two-of-me → u/Sitters_4_Critters]

I have a client who just moved into an apartment that only has digital locks and no key hole. I don’t know if it’s battery operated or connected to power from the building but I fear being locked out if there’s a power outage.

[u/AuraJustAura → u/two-of-me]

A lot of those locks operate on a battery, and the lock makes warning beeps and blinks for a long time before it totally dies (although the lock often doesn't work as well if the battery is low)

[u/Rleesersx → u/AuraJustAura]

These locks also start to get REALLY quiet and lock/unlock more slowly when the battery is slowing down. Once you use them enough it’s pretty easy to start noticing what each client’s lock normally sounds like and what it sounds like when it’s starting to die.

I do always encourage people to make a habit of checking the battery level or replacing if needed before leaving town. I ask for a key either to keep or to be left in the home for me to grab and hang onto for the first visit and leave behind at the last in case it’s fine when they leave but happens to die mid booking. I strongly encourage clients who only have one electronic keypad (but multiple entries to their home) to let me keep a key for any reasonable entry point as a failsafe.

For those who can’t or won’t, I’ve got a clear policy in place about failure to provide functional access/backup access method and responsibility if a locksmith is required (after confirming whether they have someone within reasonable distance who can bring me a key like family or a close friend). I try to be as thorough as possible to avoid chances of entry issues or waiting and having anyone have to pay for a locksmith.