House Sitting
I stay in your home and keep everything safe and well looked after — lights on, plants watered, deliveries taken in, and a real person on the property the whole time you’re gone.
George · Wilderness · Sedgefield · Knysna
Your home.Your pets.Well cared for. House Sitting & Pet Sitting in George, Wilderness & Sedgefield
If you’re going away, I’ll look after your home and your animals as if they were my own. Overnight stays, daily pop-in visits and home checks.
Free, with no obligation — every booking starts this way
Available in
George · Wilderness
Sedgefield · Knysna
Sedgefield · Knysna
Who’s looking after your home
Meet David de Pontes
Handing your keys to a stranger is a big ask. So here’s exactly who I am.
I’ve spent more than twenty years managing businesses — retail stores, a car wash, a construction office. That work meant being the person trusted with the keys, the alarm codes, the daily cash-ups and the banking, opening up in the morning and locking up at night, year after year.
Between 2008 and 2011 I ran my own delivery service for retired folk in their homes, which included helping with their pets. That was the part I enjoyed most, and it’s what brought me here.
I’m now based in George, and Peace of Mind is my own small business looking after homes and animals across the Garden Route. It’s just me — you’ll never be passed to somebody you haven’t met.
20+ years of managementTrusted daily with keys, alarms, stock and cash
Contactable referencesHappily provided before you book
No criminal recordClean, and glad to put it in writing
Non-smoker, sober habitsQuiet, tidy, no surprises in your home
Own transportCode 08 licence, so vet trips are never a problem
English and AfrikaansWhichever you’re more comfortable in
Updates and photosYou see your animals every day, not just on your return
Kind words
References from people who’ve trusted him with their keys
Written by clients who have used David’s house and pet sitting themselves.
Always most impressed by his ability to handle any and every circumstance in both house and pet sitting. He is always calm and level-headed, able to deal with any emergency. My Pekingese, Diego, is always happy to see him. My home is spotless on my return.
Owner of Diego, a Pekingese
I highly recommend David for any house sitting or pet services you require. I have been using his services for years. He is clean, tidy and reliable. The bonus for me is that he doesn’t smoke and drink. My dog and cats just adore him.
Client of several years
I would like to endorse the services that David de Pontes gives his clients. David is caring of your pets and home with great care and attention, and you can leave your home and pets in his care with great peace of mind.
Client
The full written references are available, and all three are happy to be contacted before you book — just ask David.
How it works
Three steps, then you can stop worrying
1
Get in touch
WhatsApp or phone me with your dates, where you are and what needs looking after. I’ll tell you straight away whether I’m free.
2
We meet, free of charge
I come to your home before the booking. You meet me, I meet your animals, and you show me the routine, the alarm and the vet’s number.
3
Go away and relax
I keep to the routine you set, send you updates and photos while you’re gone, and hand your home back exactly as you left it.
Services
Whatever your home and animals need while you’re away
From a quick pop-in to water the plants, through to staying in your home for a fortnight.
Pet Sitting
Feeding, fresh water, walks, playtime and proper attention. Dogs, cats, birds, fish and small pets — kept to their own routine, in their own home, rather than going into kennels.
Pop-In Visits
For short trips and day-long outings. I check in, feed, walk, water the garden and make sure everything is running the way it should be.
Price list
Simple, honest pricing
No call-out fees and no surprises. This is what it costs, written down where you can see it.
R150per visit
Home Check
I pop in to water your plants and check that everything is in order — doors, windows, gate and bins. No pet care.
R200per visit
Pet Check-In
I check on your pets, feed them, refresh their water, make sure they’re happy and well, and give them proper attention.
R350per night
House & Pet Sitting, overnight
I stay overnight and look after your home and your pets — feeding, attention, walks and normal pet care. Your house stays lived in and your animals keep their routine.
Travelling costs
Anywhere in George, the prices above are all you pay. Outside George, travel is charged at the standard AA rate per kilometre — the published South African rate, not a figure I’ve invented. I’ll work out your trip and tell you before you book.
How you pay
By EFT or cash, whichever is easier. I’ll send you my banking details once your booking is confirmed — they’re deliberately not published on this website, so you’ll only ever get them directly from me.
Securing your booking
Overnight stays need a 50% deposit, asked for only after our meet and greet, with the balance on my last day. Pop-in visits and home checks need no deposit. Over December, Easter and school holidays the deposit is non-refundable.
Where I work
House and pet sitting across the Garden Route
I live in George and work across the whole area, so I’m never more than a short drive from your front door. Every service is available in every area.
George
This is home — I live here. From Heather Park and Blanco through to Denneoord and the Kraaibosch side, I cover the whole town. Whether you’re flying out of George Airport or heading up-country to family, I’ll stay over, pop in daily, or just check the house.
Wilderness
Wilderness homes are often left standing empty between visits, and an empty house on a quiet lane looks exactly like an empty house. I’ll stay over and keep the place lived in, walk the dogs on the beach and along the lakes, and keep an eye on the garden.
Sedgefield
Africa’s first Slow Town, full of holiday homes and retired residents who’d far rather their animals stayed put than went into kennels. In Sedgefield, Myoli Beach and around the lagoon I look after pets in their own beds.
Also covering nearby
Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay, Hoekwil, Wilderness Heights and Kleinkrantz — the full range of services, pop-in visits included.
Knysna — overnight stays only
I’m happy to come through to Knysna to stay in your home for the duration. What I can’t do that far out is pop in daily — I’m based in George, and I’d rather be straight with you than promise a drive I can’t make properly.
Good questions
Things people ask before they book
Which areas do you cover?
George, Wilderness and Sedgefield with the full range of services, plus Victoria Bay, Herolds Bay, Hoekwil, Wilderness Heights and Kleinkrantz. In Knysna I take overnight bookings only, since I’m based in George and daily pop-ins that far out aren’t practical.
How much does house sitting and pet sitting cost?
A home check is R150 per visit, a pet check-in is R200 per visit, and house and pet sitting with an overnight stay is R350 per night. For longer stays or several pets, send me a message and we’ll work out what suits you.
Do you need a deposit?
For overnight house and pet sitting, yes — 50% to secure your dates. I only ask for it after our meet and greet, and the balance is due on my last day. Pop-in visits and home checks need no deposit. Over December, Easter and school holidays the deposit is non-refundable.
How do I pay?
By EFT or cash, whichever is easier for you. Once your booking is confirmed I’ll send you my banking details directly. You won’t find them anywhere on this website — that’s deliberate, so nobody can pretend to be me and take your money.
Do you charge extra for travelling?
Not in George — the prices on this page are all you pay. For homes outside George, I charge travel at the standard AA rate per kilometre, the published South African rate for business travel, so it’s independent rather than something I’ve made up.
Do you stay overnight in my home?
Yes. With the overnight service I stay in your home, so it’s lived in and looked after, and so your pets keep their normal routine and have company through the night.
Do you look after cats as well as dogs?
Yes — dogs, cats, birds, fish and small pets are all welcome. Tell me about your animals and their routine when we meet, and I’ll follow it exactly.
Can we meet before I book?
Yes, and I’d encourage it. Every booking starts with a free meet and greet at your home, so you can meet me and I can meet your pets. There’s no charge and no obligation.
What happens if my pet gets sick while I’m away?
I contact you straight away and take your pet to your own vet. At the meet and greet I take down your vet’s details, your pet’s medical needs and an emergency contact, so nothing has to be worked out in a hurry.
Do you water plants and look after the garden?
Yes, happily. Watering the plants and the garden is included, and I can also take in deliveries, put the bins out and generally keep the house looking lived in.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can, especially for December, Easter and school holidays when the Garden Route gets busy. For a quiet week, a few days’ notice is usually enough.
Get in touch
Let’s make your time away stress-free
Tell me your dates and what needs looking after. I answer WhatsApp quickest.
WhatsApp
078 118 5749
078 118 5749
Phone
078 118 5749
078 118 5749
Email
depontesd@gmail.com
depontesd@gmail.com
Serving
George · Wilderness · Sedgefield · Knysna
George · Wilderness · Sedgefield · Knysna
Already booked with David?
Send me your pet’s routine, feeding, vet details and house instructions, so everything is looked after exactly the way you like it.