Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a sitter?
Booking a sitter is as easy as checking a sitter’s profile for preferences and availability, pushing the “Book a sitter” button, and filling out a brief form. When you complete the form, we’ll forward it to the sitter you chose and let you know when everything is set up!
Do sitter costs vary?
No, all sitters charge a base rate of $20. Additional fees may apply if you want the sitter to bring a consumable activity, such as a painting set or a crochet kit. If you are booking a sitter outside of the range provided on our Locations page (found at the top of our site), more fees may apply to pay for the sitter’s time and gas.
How do I pay my sitter?
At the end of their shift, sitters will collect payment from you individually. Each sitter charges a base rate of $20, although additional fees may apply if you want the sitter to bring a consumable activity (such as a painting set or crochet kit) or if you are booking a sitter outside of the range provided on our Locations page (found at the top of our site). Payments are NOT made directly to Horsetooth Helping Hands. Most of our sitters accept cash, Zelle, Paypal, or Venmo.
Do I interview my sitter beforehand?
If you’d like, we offer free interviews through Calendly using Google Meets. Each sitter has a link on their profile to schedule an interview based on their availability, so you don’t need to contact them separately.
Do you care for children with disabilities?
Some of our babysitters have experience with children who have disabilities, though the pool may be limited. Each sitter will specify on their profile what they are comfortable with. Remember that most of our sitters are youth and are not experienced healthcare professionals. However, for more basic tasks, most of our sitters are able to help and will follow any instructions you provide them.
How do I become a sitter?
Under the “About” section at the top of our site, there is a link called “Join Our Team.” Refer to that page for more information about joining our team. We’d be happy to have you!
Can I hire an overnight sitter?
Overnight sitting depends entirely on the preferences and availability of individual sitters. Our sitters will specify on their profile the times and dates that they are alright with sitting. Because most of our sitters are students, the pool is limited for overnight sitters.
What happens if I need to cancel?
When you are scheduled with a sitter, you’ll receive their contact information. If you need to cancel, inform the sitter directly. If you are unable to contact the sitter directly, email us at matilda@horsetoothhelpinghands.com and we’ll try and get in touch with them.
Can I schedule same-day?
Some of our sitters are able to schedule same-day, although we request that you schedule 3-5 days in advance. This allows us to ensure we have activities available, and that we can deal with any interfering plans. If you need to schedule same-day, we charge an additional $15 fee. We also cannot guarantee we will have requested activities available if you schedule same-day.
What happens if there are complications?
If a sitter needs to cancel or you decide you would like a different sitter, email us at matilda@horsetoothhelpinghands.com and we’ll try and schedule you with another available sitter. We cannot guarantee that we will have another sitter available.