Sitter services are more convenient nowadays. You can just go online, sign up for a particular sitter service, post a job, and connect to a sitter. You can do all that without having to leave the comforts of your home.
In terms of safety, you can run several background checks on the sitter right from your computer. You can even refer to the reviews posted by some parents before hiring a sitter.
As easy as that may seem, there are still times when you need a last-minute sitter. When that happens, you simply won’t have the time to run several background checks on the sitter.
As easy as that may seem, there are still times when you need a last-minute sitter. When that happens, you simply won’t have the time to run several background checks on the sitter. When you need a sitter in the next thirty minutes of your precious time, you’re going to hope for a miracle to get you one.
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With UrbanSitter, you won’t have to hope for a miracle since it’s pretty easy to get a last-minute sitter.
As a matter of fact, you can get a response for a last-minute job in just 3 minutes or less. With registered sitters located in and around major metropolitan cities, finding someone to fill in that last-minute job won’t be too stressful anymore.
UrbanSitter is available in more than 60 cities and has more than 1,000,000 registered users. Given all that, you might be wondering if this particular childcare service is safe for you.
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UrbanSitter’s Mission: Be The Safest And Most Trusted Provider
UrbanSitter takes the safety of families and sitters very seriously.
In fact, UrbanSitter was developed with safety as top of mind. Hence, the social aspect of hiring and word-of-mouth recommendations were built into the UrbanSitter ecosystem.
UrbanSitter has made its mission to provide the safest and most trusted place for parents and sitters to connect.
As of November 1, 2019, every childcare provider on UrbanSitter will have passed a comprehensive background check with Evident ID, which is one of the leading identification and verification companies in the U.S.
As of November 1, 2019, every childcare provider on UrbanSitter will have passed a comprehensive background check with Evident ID, which is one of the leading identification and verification companies in the U.S.
While UrbanSitter sitters and nannies have always been required to pass a multi-step background review, the company certainly believes that it is important to continue setting the bar for safety higher and lead the online sitter marketplace in trust and safety.
UrbanSitter’s background checks will be very comprehensive and will include:
- Nationwide Sex Offender Registry Check
- Global Watchlist Check of terrorist, sanction, and other watchlists
- National Criminal Search for history of felony and misdemeanors
- Progressive county searches based on adverse records
These background checks start at $9.95.
You will find that popular and trusted sitters within your neighborhood are most likely to have had background checks done on them by other parents.
You will find that popular and trusted sitters within your neighborhood are most likely to have had background checks done on them by other parents. They will have a background check badge displayed on their profile page. If they already have one, then there is no need for you to order a background check on them.
How Can You Find Trusted And Quality Sitters On UrbanSitter?
Referring a sitter through word-of-mouth is commonly done among friends and family members. It has its advantages as well as some drawbacks.
A word-of-mouth referral usually comes from a small group consisting of friends and family members. It might even just come from one person, which is not enough to vet for the credibility of a sitter.
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In a worst-case scenario, you might not even have reliable friends and nearby family members to provide you word-of-mouth referrals. The question is, who can you turn to?
In a worst-case scenario, you might not even have reliable friends and nearby family members to provide you word-of-mouth referrals. The question is, who can you turn to?
That’s where UrbanSitter comes in handy for you and for any other busy parent who might just be in need of a sitter right away.
UrbanSitter is fairly new compared to the other online sitter services. Spearheaded by Lynn Perkins, this online sitter service was launched in 2011. It eventually gained popularity, garnering thousands of parents to sign up because of its easy-to-use platform.
UrbanSitter reinvents online sitter service by offering responsible, reliable, and capable sitters within your network. Hence, a sitter is introduced to the network of a parent who has previously hired and rated her.
This is how UrbanSitter stands out among the other online sitter services. It leverages the recommendations and ratings of close friends and social groups who are all socially connected to each other offline and online.
Through the use of its algorithm that leverages these social platforms, recommendations are made available to you … Only quality and trusted sitters whom your friends have already hired or use on a regular basis will show up on your list of recommendations.
UrbanSitter makes use of your social media connections on Facebook and LinkedIn. Through the use of its algorithm that leverages these social platforms, recommendations are made available to you. This is a great time saver since you do not have to screen through thousands of sitters. Only quality and trusted sitters whom your friends have already hired or use on a regular basis will show up on your list of recommendations.
In case you don’t have social media, it’s okay. UrbanSitter will alert you to sitters who are highly rated within your social circle and who live nearby. Once a sitter has been rated, you will also be informed through email. This makes it easier for you to book a sitter since you can just click on the link in your email. Related read: Save On UrbanSItter With This Coupon
UrbanSitter is, no doubt, a great service to add to your parenting toolkit. You can always rely on the reviews of other parents who have already vetted the credibility of the sitters. This makes it easier for you to determine if the sitter is right for you.
… it gives you the peace of mind that the person you plan to hire is someone that people you know have trusted with the care of their child.
Since your Facebook or LinkedIn account can give you access to a sitter who is already connected to your other friends, it gives you the peace of mind that the person you plan to hire is someone that people you know have trusted with the care of their child. This makes it very easy for you to hire a last-minute sitter.
Word-Of-Mouth Referrals Simple And Safe
Is Urban Sitter safe? It’s safe to say that it is. UrbanSitter has taken word-of-mouth referrals to a higher level. It not only collects reviews and ratings from parents. It shares them with the various networks the parents are socially connected with.
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UrbanSitter works with a 3rd party service provider that conducts background checks. The sitters can run their own background check so that they can post a safety badge on their profile.
This makes it safe for parents to do word-of-mouth referrals. You are assured that the sitter has already undergone a background check. That’s one less thing to worry about.
Do Your Due Diligence
UrbanSitter encourages parents to practice due diligence by taking some time to really assess the skills and qualities of a sitter.
Consider what matters most to you and trust your instinct when hiring a sitter. Make sure to interview a potential candidate and really get to know them well.
And of course, it would definitely be helpful if you contact someone within your social circle as identified by UrbanSitter, regarding any questions or concerns you might have about the sitter you are interested in.
And of course, it would definitely be helpful if you contact someone within your social circle as identified by UrbanSitter, regarding any questions or concerns you might have about the sitter you are interested in.
The Bottom Line
So is UrbanSitter safe? The bottom line is, yes. UrbanSitter is safe to use even if you have to hire a sitter at the last minute.
Since it takes the traditional word-of-mouth referrals online, you’re not just connected to sitters who have been recently hired by a friend of yours. You are also connected to sitters who have been highly rated and recommended by parents you know or are part of your social network.
Having access to reliable reviews, ratings, and recommendations of people whom you know personally well is a big plus when hiring a sitter. This can surely make a lot of difference when choosing a sitter.
Disclosure: Compensated Affiliate. Click here for details.
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A nerd at heart (haha), I have been following and analyzing the world of online sitters for a couple of years now and have seen a lot of innovations and changes in this market. In between taking care of my loving (and demanding 😜) family and writing, I also do a lot of “traveling” on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Read More
Out of all the babysitting services I’ve tried, both online and offline, Urbansitter is the safest for me. My friends recommend the sitters and that’s what makes me feel safe with Urbansitter. I also like that I don’t have to call up my friends for recommendations since they can rate the sitters online.
Before a sitter is featured on Urbansitter, she initially undergoes background. Of course, she has to pass it. If she doesn’t, then she can’t be featured on Urbansitter, Hence, the sitters you see on Urbansitter are pretty much screened already.
I think Urbansitter profiles the parents according to their searches. For example, I’ve started searching for after-school sitters and now I get notifications on sitters who can babysit at that particular time. That’s a time saver for me. I like that very much.
It’s good to have more than just one person to get recommendations from. We should never just settle for one person because that’s not enough to vet for a sitter. Urbansitter gives me a lot of people to rely on when it comes to recommendations. I feel safer that way.