Frequently asked questions

Two layers. First, hard verification: a sitter account can only be created with an active @arbor.edu email address, proving she is part of the Spring Arbor University community. Second, human judgment: every application is personally reviewed and approved by our founder before the sitter can see or claim a single request. We recommend you still do what good parents always do — text or meet your sitter beforehand and trust your instincts.

Every approved sitter is notified the moment you post, and claims are first come, first served. Evenings and weekends posted a few days ahead move fastest. You will see the claim — with your sitter’s name, class year, and phone number — the instant it happens.

Most Spring Arbor families offer $15–20/hr depending on the number of kids and the evening. You set the rate on every post, and it is shown to sitters up front — no negotiating on the doorstep. See our full local rates guide.

Yes, any time from your dashboard. If a sitter had already claimed it, she is automatically notified so nobody shows up to an empty driveway. Repeated late cancellations work exactly like you would expect in a small town: they are noticed, so please be considerate.

No. The membership is $20 for the year, you post as much or as little as you like, and each sit is a simple direct arrangement between you and your sitter.

Current members of the Spring Arbor University community, 18 or older, with an active @arbor.edu email. Your application — name, class year, a short bio, and phone — is reviewed personally, usually within a day.

Once approved, you are notified every time a family posts. Open the board, see the date, time, kids, and rate, and claim what fits your schedule. First come, first served — the family gets your name and number automatically.

Release the sit from your dashboard if it is more than 24 hours away — it reopens instantly and other sitters are notified, no hard feelings. Inside 24 hours, call the family directly. Reliability is the currency of this network; guard yours.

No and no. Joining is free, staying is free, and you keep 100% of what families pay you.

Not currently. Our vetting is university verification plus personal screening — real, meaningful, and honestly described. It is not a criminal background check, and we will not pretend otherwise. Optional background-check badges are on our roadmap; in the meantime, families should meet their sitter and make their own judgment, as with any childcare arrangement.

Minimally. We store what the service needs — your name, contact details, and your posts — and share contact information only between a family and the sitter who claimed their sit. We do not sell data, run ads, or post anything publicly.

Because direct pay is better for both sides here: sitters are paid instantly with zero fees, families pay exactly what they offered, and the money stays in the relationship where the trust lives. Our membership model means we have no incentive to insert ourselves.

A Spring Arbor mom with deep ties to the SAU community — read our story. This is a local business run by a person you can email, not a marketplace run by a growth team.