Losing a job unexpectedly can be a jarring experience, as Kevin Liu discovered when he was laid off from his tech position for the third time. This instability prompted him to seek ways to diversify his income and build greater financial security. While considering various options, he remembered a college acquaintance’s success with pet sitting. Intrigued by the idea of being paid for an enjoyable activity, Liu decided to explore this avenue further.
In June 2020, Liu joined Rover, a popular pet-sitting app. Unlike some platforms that are unpaid, Rover connects pet sitters with paid jobs and provides insurance for a 20% booking fee. Initially, Liu intended to supplement his income and limited his service area to a 6-mile radius around his home in Austin, Texas. His first booking involved looking after a lively puppy in a one-bedroom apartment. The owner was comfortable with Liu staying at the apartment for the duration of the pet sit, appreciating that he worked from home and wouldn’t be frequently leaving.
Rethinking Strategy for Profitability
Despite enjoying the experience of caring for the puppy, Liu quickly realized his initial pricing was too low to be profitable. After Rover’s fees and taxes, his full-day rate of $26 barely covered his expenses, including the cost of groceries for his own meals. This led him to gradually increase his prices as he gained more experience. He also learned that maintaining a high response rate and quick response time significantly improved his ranking in Rover’s search results, leading to more booking opportunities.
Experiencing Diverse Lifestyles Through House-Sitting
As Liu’s pet-sitting business grew, he began receiving bookings from families planning vacations and couples embarking on weekend getaways. This expanded his social interactions and allowed him to experience various living environments. He had the opportunity to stay in luxurious homes, including five-bedroom residences with infinity pools, cliff-top houses with breathtaking views, and even a three-story mansion complete with an elevator.
Balancing a Full-Time Career with a Thriving Side Hustle
By August 2020, Liu had returned to a full-time role in the tech industry. However, due to the flexibility of working from home, he was able to continue house-sitting. He transitioned from offering dog walking and drop-in services to focusing on house-sits that involved caring for multiple pets simultaneously, maximizing his earning potential. While most of his clients owned dogs, he also took on less conventional assignments, such as looking after a snake and five geckos. These particular sits proved to be quite manageable, with the snake requiring feeding only once a week and the geckos needing daily misting.
Peak Earnings and Future Bookings
Liu’s most successful year for pet-sitting was in 2022, when he earned $26,110 before taxes and fees. He already has bookings extending six months in advance. While his tech job remains his primary source of income due to its higher pay, pet-sitting has become a significant and relatively passive income stream. He finds genuine satisfaction in helping people by providing reliable care for their beloved pets.
Unexpected Challenges and Valuable Lessons
The primary challenges Liu encountered in pet-sitting were not typically related to the animals themselves. He learned to navigate interactions with various dogs, maintaining a safe distance on sidewalks and remaining aware of his surroundings. However, a more significant incident occurred when a tree fell on a house he was staying in. Fortunately, no one was harmed, and the owner arranged for the necessary repairs.
Liu also found a wealth of practical advice and shared experiences within online communities. He learned valuable insights on benchmarking his prices and setting income goals from platforms like Reddit. Recognizing a need for more accessible information, he began sharing his own experiences and tips on TikTok in August 2022. His video detailing his first year of pet-sitting garnered over 500,000 views overnight, leading to numerous questions and even offers to pet-sit in different cities. However, due to his full-time job commitments, he has not yet pursued these opportunities.
Setting Premium Rates and Prioritizing Client Convenience
Currently, Liu charges $170 per day for his services, and clients often schedule their holidays around his availability, particularly during the busy summer months and festive seasons. His longest pet-sitting engagement lasted 28 days, caring for an elderly Shih Tzu while the owner was away for work. Liu emphasizes providing a luxury service, aiming to make the entire experience seamless for the customer. Upon their return, clients can expect not only that their pet has been well-cared for but also that their home is tidy, their plants are watered, and any deliveries have been collected. This attention to detail enhances the overall client satisfaction and justifies his premium pricing.
Maintaining Routine Amidst Varied Accommodations
While house-sitting in beautiful homes can feel like a vacation, Liu makes a conscious effort to maintain his daily routine to stay grounded, especially with his demanding day job. He typically wakes around 5 a.m. to feed and let out the dogs before heading to the gym for about 90 minutes. Upon returning, he takes the dogs for a walk before his first online meeting, usually scheduled between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. He works until approximately 5 p.m., after which he feeds the dogs and takes them for another walk. Evenings are reserved for socializing with friends or visiting his own apartment for personal tasks like changing clothes or watering his plants. He generally retires by 10 p.m., valuing a quiet lifestyle. Although he pays $950 monthly for his apartment, he chooses not to rent it out, as it remains conveniently located within a 4-mile radius and serves as a familiar home base.
Dispelling Myths About Pet-Sitting and House-Sitting
A common misconception about pet and house-sitting is that it is an easy endeavor. Liu stresses that not all clients are easygoing, and not all pets are well-behaved or trained. Transparency in pricing is crucial, ensuring both clients and fellow pet-sitters have a clear understanding of realistic rates. While it is a rewarding profession, Liu emphasizes that it is indeed a job requiring effort and dedication. He has also adjusted his services, now taking on fewer puppies due to their demanding and irregular sleep schedules, which can interfere with his full-time job.
