I’m wondering how many owners are part of a gated community or HOA where your prospective house sitters are more attracted to the amenities than to the pet sittings. Most of our pet sitters appeared to have taken good care of our cats, but a few have been obsessed with pickleball and have put us in an awkward position. Technically, we aren’t allowed to let visitors use the pickleball courts, tennis, pools etc without being accompanied by one of us. However, we have offered them our fob so that they can use these facilities. In a few cases, I felt one or 2 were too eager to get on those courts asking how they could access it, play with groups…etc- and in one case, the housesitter invited her friends to come play! That’s 3 people - and we are only allowed 2 and they weren’t even with us. She went on to say- who’s gonna know? That statement was irresponsible and I felt very uncomfortable with her at that moment. But we are already overseas by now! She also asked if her boyfriend could come and stay for one of the weeks- we don’t usually mind this, but I felt like this was all done after the fact. We came home to an overheated house with the AC fan on Auto! . I want our house sitters to use and enjoy the amenities, but discreetly. Another one played pickleball all day and was out exploring quite a bit- I have no idea how much time he actually spent with our boys.
guess this is what attracts them, and I should be grateful?
As a sitter, I would never think of “abusing” those type of amenities. This past summer we did a sit in a resort where they had swimming pools and different activities but the homeowner invited us to join in those activities which we really enjoyed and were welcomed by the residents who lived there. I wouldn’t partake in any activities or have friends come and join unless I asked the homeowner prior to arriving at the sit.
You seem to want to pick and choose over the “who’s gonna know” bit. You admit to having sitters use your fob to use the facilities they are only supposed to use with you. Then you get upset when a sitter has the same attitude. Since from other post I see you don’t want people going out much, then what other than the amenities of your HOA would attract them?
That’s incorrect. I’m not sure if the
Moderator is posting all of my replies, or you’re misreading them. Of course they can go out- but the cats are top
Priority and they need to let them out- watch them- feed them accordingly… then go do their stuff. That’s all. I’m just trying to say that the house sitter should not make up their own rules, which they seemingly try to do - maybe they do. We would never know. The fob attitude you address does not make sense. Again, of course we have to provide the fob, but we also “trust” as in Trusted Housesitters that they won’t abuse the HOA rules, ie invite other people. This is for the Housesitters- not their friends.
You mentioned on another thread that you wanted sitters to stay at your home and said you found some good ones. Now you have issue with sitters who want to use your HOA facilities. Maybe you expect too much or aren’t clear enough in your listing — be specific about how little you want anyone to leave the house and that will allow people to self-select in or out of your sit. And you can always pay for a sitter if you can’t find a match.
It sounds to me like you want a paid level of work without paying. There are other platforms for that.
You say you don’t know how much time a sitter is spending with your cats. How would you want to monitor people, because internal cameras aren’t allowed on THS.
Your sitters are a bit set up for failure. On the one hand, they cannot go exploring, and they do not have the time to visit their friends off site. But if they abide by your rules and stay on the grounds, they cannot invite their friends to the pool or to pickleball.
They are always free to go exploring and they do. We discuss everything with them and they work their schedules around our needs, and they don’t have a problem with it. My dilemma and, hence, my query, is how to deal with those that abuse the HOA rules. There was only one. I’m just wondering if there’s a tactical and fair way to discuss- if at all.
They can use the facilities, but they cannot invite friends, which they have done. We are already bending the rules by allowing them access to the facilities without our being there. We have all 4 star ratings- FYI
I would spell it out to them (on the Welcome guide, or even in your profile) exactly as you have done here, possibly going as far as to explain what consequences there may be for you (or for them, if any).
You’re not reading these posts carefully- I was agreeing with another person’s
Post about her horse and cats and birds. I was being empathetic that people
Should be tending to the needs of the animals before running off to explore. I did not say NOT to explore.
We are fully aware of other services. I can assure you we’ve done our homework. We have researched various options, but we decided we would prefer someone to stay at the house with our cats. I’m not sure I understand how a paid service is different than this service. Our place would be $1500 a week on Airbnb. I think it’s fair that our providing a nice home with amenities (they are free to use but not abuse) in exchange for some kitty loving time and making sure they go out as directed is not asking too much. I feel you’re taking this too personally and making assumptions. We’ve been given 5 stars each time. We are happy with 99% of our Housesitters. No problem- and we keep attracting great sitters. I just had a query on how to deal with abusing HOA rules. We don’t want to get penalized and we don’t want to not offer these services in the future if some people abuse them.
Thank you @Peonie19 this is what I was looking for- constructive feedback. We don’t want to put in too many rules, but this is one we should add. Appreciate it.
I read your other post and thought, I could do (and have done) that sort of arrangement if I take it as a bit of a staycation with resort type facilities eg a couple of swims a day, a yoga class etc. back to the house hang with the pets and read a book. If there was any indication that the facilities were off limits or I’d have some security guard follow me around intimidatingly it wouldn’t be a staycation - it would be stressful. Communicate but keep the language light and friendly (I’d avoid words like abuse, it’s loaded and subjective).
There’s no need for anyone to take anything personally — it’s supply and demand, logic. If most hosts don’t require as much as you do, then you’ll have a harder time competing — and that’s true of all hosts unless you have something that sitters consider more valuable to offer, such as free time.
So all things equal, if one host expects a sitter to do three feedings or walks for multiple animals, another host who expects two feedings and two walks will tend to get more and better sitters, unless the first host say has a sit in a more desirable location.
The trades on THS follow logic. The host doesn’t get to randomly assign value to their sit — it’s assigned by supply and demand. And demand depends partly on sitter circumstances and preferences.
For instance, my primary house is in a touristy region and could rent for thousands a week on Airbnb. If I just wanted to stay in a nice home, I wouldn’t travel or join THS. That’s just an example.
Many sitters have comfortable homes, for instance. So do many hosts. No exchanges happen in isolation — it’s always based on supply and demand.
@Florida I understand where you are coming from and I empathise with you. I have done house-sitting in an over 55’s gated community with rules exactly as yours and I abided by those rules. The amenities are there for people to use according to the rules of the community, not the homeowners, so each person, INCLUDING the HO’s, must abide by those rules. For a sitter to even invite friends into such a community to me is simply plain rude and disrespectful to both yourself and your community. To also ask to have a boyfriend stay for a week??? I find this a gross abuse of the sit and of your home. I would never allow it personally as that would not be what I advertised for initially and wouldn’t expect to be put in such a position after the fact when you are not even in the country.
I think it is fair that your sitters have the ability to use the facilities but in a respectful and time limited manner whilst maintaining the requirements of what was initially agreed to. I don’t understand why others don’t recognise the same.
. I want our house sitters to use and enjoy the amenities, but discreetly. Another one played pickleball all day and was out exploring quite a bit- I have no idea how much time he actually spent with our boys.