Hi there, after 3 yrs of using THs with no problems i’ve had to decline a confirmed sit due to them (after confirming the sit) deciding they wanted to do this full time and on our last day of holiday would want me to come back early so that they could hand back their keys.
I’m now not getting any applications at all. I’m reaching out to people and no one is available or able to do the sit.
I’ve spoken to customer service but still no applications.
HELP tips needed. We’re due to go away on the 4th April and it’s looking like i’ll be staying home.
Hi @Smith77 have you considered linking your listing in your forum profile (they are two different ‘profiles’ for the THS main site, and this forum) and some sitters can review your listing in case there’s something to add to make it attractive.
There is still time to find a sitter - depends on for how long you need someone as we are approaching the Easter Holidays (I’m in the UK). Boarding kennels are also busy these couple of weeks.
I’m not quite sure what you mean when you write that the sitter ‘wants to do this full time’, but how long would the gap be between the sitter leaving and you arriving? And what pet do you have?
Of course, a cat could probably be left by itself for several hours and the sitter could post the keys through the letter box (I’ve done this on several sits).
Or leave the keys in a pre-arranged safe place - under a plant pot, with a neighbour, or local shop.
Or, as Colin suggested, perhaps a neighbour could fill in those ‘gap’ hours?
Deciding on wanting to do this full time, shouldn’t have had an effect on their commitment to you, or what time they had agreed to leave.
I don’t know what pets you have, but why don’t you have them sit for you, and simply get a dog walker to pop in on the last day, or have a friend or family member pop in, or if you’ve a cat, is it really important they stay, they could just post the keys.
I hope you get sorted, add your main THS profile to your forum profile, incase anyone on here may be able to help.
It seems you have already unconfirmed the sit? I too wonder whether it would be easier to organize something about the keys last day?
My handovers last day will usually be «cold», where I do the last tasks and leave, putting the key where we have agreed and notify the host of status and time of departure. This has been agreed as a part of our sit-agreement and I leave at the specified time to start my journey home. (Sometimes the host would like to stay longer and then they organize someone to pop by after I have left. )
If the sit is now cancelled I guess the sitters are free to do what they want incl other sits but if you left on friendly terms there is no harm in reaching out.
@Smith77 I’m wondering why the sitters need you to come back a day early to hand back the keys?? That sounds strange and unnecessary. It seems a pity you might miss your whole trip for the sake of one day.
I don’t know the whole circumstances but we very often leave before the host gets back and if the gap is going to be too long because of logistics its usually possible to make arrangements for cover with a friend or neighbour.
I hope you can work something out with them and still go on your trip.
I’ve done sits where I’ve left the day before the HO came home, most often as a result of them changing their dates. I’ve also done sits where I knew from the start I wasn’t available for the first or last day of the sit and I made that clear in the application. HOs can usually make arrangements for a friend or family member to step in for one day. I did one sit that I had to leave for an entire weekend. It was a 6-week sit and I had an important family event that was a 7-hour drive away in the middle of the sit. I applied anyway and explained it in the application letter, fully expecting them to just decline me. But they wanted me to sit for them and were willing to make arrangements for a friend to care for the pets that weekend. I’m actually on a second 6-week sit for them right now. My next sit that starts in a couple weeks changed their dates after I applied. I messaged them that I wasn’t available for the new dates since I wouldn’t be able to arrive until they day after they leave and I was going to withdraw my application. But they said no problem, a neighbor can step in for the first day.
Given that this is a friendly exchange and not a paid service, flexibility on both sides can be beneficial in ensuring everyone’s needs are met (including the pets). In my experience, if HOs have an option for a good sitter, most would prefer to make other arrangements for one day rather than for their entire sit. I’m thinking maybe there is more to this story.
Yup - as confused as everyone else. I’ve never needed to meet HO at the end of a sit to return keys. Hope you get it sorted, and compromise can be worked out.
Yeah, also confused by this post and there are no responses from the OP either.
Odd.
As others have said, we’ve often left before the HO’s return - no physical hand-off upon departure.
Seems there could have been several solutions here.
Post your sit link in your profile and experienced sitters can give you feedback to consider for making your listing more appealing. Also, if it comes down to a week before your sit, you can promote your listing as a last-minute sit, for which THS will offer support.
I’m afraid it sounds like you made a mistake by cancelling your confirmed sitters as you could easily have made arrangements with a friend or neighbour for the last day. As others have asked, what do you mean by the sitters wanting to do this full time? It makes no sense
That they want to do pet sitters as their only form of housing. So they decided to give up their flat after confirming my sit. They then wanted to leave my dog from 1130 in the morning when we had agreed 1700. We don’t have a letterbox, but the point was that they wanted to leave her for such a long time and for me to come back early so they could do this. they also cancelled our first call and then didn’t answer the pre arranged call……. so numerous concerns here. We’ve found someone now thankfully.
Thank you so much for your help and suggestion, I thought i had linked it…. eeek, first time using the forum. Thankfully we have someone confirmed now after I reached out to about 40 local peeps. Thanks again
There were a number of red flags with them in all honesty. A dog walker is a great idea though. Thank you. Totally didn’t think of that. Will do this next time (although hopefully won’t need to). I reached out to lots of people over the past few days and me have someone. Thanks for your reply and super helpful suggestion
The key was there key that they were handing back. In colchester! I’m in hampshire….. we didn’t want the dog left all day and night alone. There were numerous red flags with them in cancelling calls and not picking up on pre arranged calls. I now thankfully have someone.
It’s their keys to their flat, not my house. That’s the problem. They wanted me to come home early from the holiday so they could nip off early to hand back their flat. something they decided after confirming my sit.
I’m still a little unclear on why them going full-time is relevant here. I assume they wanted to leave early to get to another sit. However, sitters who are not full-time still might do multiple sits in one area after they have traveled there.
So, they inquired about leaving 5.5 hours earlier than planned and you cancelled the entire sit. Seems like it would have been easier to ask a neighbor to come by for a couple hours.
I hope you find another sitter in time for your trip.
Edit - just read your response above about them wanting to drop off their keys. Sometimes things change in life, and a little flexibility can make things easier.
