Trying to find someone to look after your kids, pets, home, or elderly family member can be a nerve wracking task.  However, there are some sites designed to help you find and screen people in your area that can provide care for you.  The two top sites on the internet are SitterCity and Care.com.  While both offer the same basic service- finding care takers near you- the two have some important differences.  The following information can help you find the right service for you.

Both sites are designed to help you find babysitters, nannies, senior care providers, house keepers, and tutors.  SitterCity also advertises dog walking services, while care.com includes special needs care providers.  Both sites offer you the ability to pull up a list of care providers near you, and then review information about the care provider.

Sittercity.com

SitterCity gives you a search box where you type in your zip code and select from a dropdown box listing the types of providers.  When you enter the information, a list of providers comes up, giving you a picture and brief description of the individual- a little like an online personal.

When you click on a provider, additional information is displayed, giving you an idea of the skills and abilities of that provider.  The site does offer background checks on individuals, references, reviews, as well as an educational and personal history.  Once you find a provider you are interested in, you can contact them through the site.

Care.com

Care.com also gives a search box where you add your location and select the type of provider you are looking for.  After you add your information, a list of providers is displayed, giving you a picture, description, and a few details such as age, experience, and hourly price range.  When you click on a care provider’s profile, it takes you to a page that gives you detailed information about availability, education, and experience.  The site also offers background checks on providers and allows you to contact them through the site.

In addition to allowing you to search for providers, each site gives you the ability to list a job and accept applications from individuals through the site.  SitterCity and Care.com both require you to join the website for full access to all of the features of the site as well as to be able to contact providers you find on the site.  SitterCity offers an annual membership for those looking for providers at $9.99 per month (billed as a one time $119.88 charge), or a $9.99 monthly membership with a one-time $39.99 sign up fee.  Joining SitterCity is free for care providers.  Care.com gives you the option to join free with a limited membership that allows only basic access to search, post jobs, and create profiles.  Care.com offers a full membership for $140 annually, $70 for a three month membership, or $35 per month.

Both sites are easy to navigate, although Care.com gives you a more thorough profile.  The sites each have a screening process for care providers.  SitterCity uses a four part screening process, which includes a background check, references, and reviews that you can use to evaluate each provider (available for viewing when you join).  Care.com also offers background checks and references, as well as a Safety Tips section which gives you information on how to ensure you are getting the right person for your job.

Care.com is an online service that matches care & service providers in the areas of child care, tutoring, pet care, personal assistant services and senior care to the people who need their help.

By joining Care.com as a paid premium member,  subscribers receive full access to the service including caregiver contact details, background checks and references.  They can also post jobs detailing their specific care needs.  All premium members have access to caregiver alert emails and  weekly member newsletter filled with expert tips and advice.

Features which distinguish care.com from their competitors:

• Care on Call: Broadcast a message to caregivers near you in seconds
• Free Background Check
• Care Club: Online shopping mall rewards program that offers discounts and Cash Back rewards to Care.com members when they shop at participating online retailers in Care.com’s Care Club
• Co-ops: group of moms or parents take turns caring for each other’s children in order to save on child care
• The Tell A Friend program: help your friends find quality caregivers while also getting rewarded

Unlike other websites, they have 2 interesting categories of sitters: special needs and care gig provider. A care gig provider will assist you with running various “gigs” from parties & events, shopping, moving services to general errands and even vacation services.

Care.com also offers money back guarantee.  If a subscriber  creates a job posting, and doesn’t hear back from one of the hundreds of thousands of caregivers listed on Care.com within three days, then the subscriber can close the account and receive a full refund of any membership fee paid.