I know this has been discussed previously, but it would be really nice if the listed dates align with when HOs actually want the sitter to be there. If you are leaving on the 10th but the sitter is expected to arrive on the 9th, please either make the start date the 9th or at the very least state in the listing that you want the sitter to arrive on the 9th. Don’t assume that the sitters are available the day before. If I apply to a sit, I am available to arrive on the start date, I may or may not be available the day before. I’ve had multiple calls where I’ve found out during the chat that the arrival date is different than the listed date and it’s not possible to me to arrive then. Wasted time for all involved.
In addition to indicating the actual start date, it’s helpful to include in the listing if you expect the sitter to arrive the day before, visit your home, but then go stay in a hotel at the sitter’s expense.
Clarity in the listing can avoid a lot of wasted time.
The qualifies as a rant because the truth is that the homeowners listing the wrong dates are not likely to be the homeowners visiting this forum. This is the type of information that homeowners need to get and it isn’t given.
I agree. Visiting this forum made me aware of this issue and prompted me to add information about coming the day before right at the start of my listing.
Because of the current “no overlapping sits” rule, it is actually better if owners set their dates as the actual dates that they will be away from the home, in my opinion.
It should be Common Sense to state in the listing exactly what day/time that the sitter should arrive, and if the owners are going to host the sitter on the first night or last night, etc.
I have seen informed listings in which the owner explicitly states “We would like the sitter to arrive a day early (on Wednesday July 9 in the afternoon to early evening) to meet and get a tour of our home, and we will arrange a hotel nearby (at our expense) for the sitter. Our flight leaves on Thursday July 10 at 11 am, so we would like the sitter to arrive at our home on July 10 at 8 am to officially begin the sit.”
To me, it seems like common sense to do what @PVGemini mentioned.
Regardless of what THS requires or not, if I were a host, I’d want to save everyone time by specifying when I needed a sitter to show up, including overlapping days, even mentioning whether they were optional or necessary.
Unfortunately, some folks don’t seem to think things through.
I do wish THS would have the capability to flag listings where the listed dates don’t align with what the owner communicates when you have the initial call. This happens SO often. I’d say at least 60% of my sits. Some are “padded” - they list more days than they will actually be gone. Others are “skinny” - they list, say, 5 days but expect the sitter to come the day before and stay the day after, so 7 days.
An easy fix, which has been communicated elsewhere, would be to have TWO date fields: One for “sitter needed” dates and one for “owner departure and arrival” dates. When the dates match, GREAT. When not, the sitter can make an informed decision before applying. In case @Jenny would like to pass that on once she gets back from her hard-earned vacation.
If coming the day before is mandatory – then it needs to be part of the sit date. To me keep it simple. The sit starts the day you need the sitter to arrive. It ends the day the sitter can leave.
If you are open to having them come earlier or leave later as an option, mention it in the listing.
Yes, the extra day up front is part of our sit date. I explain in the first paragraph that the dates listed “show when the sitter’s presence is needed” and then in the Home and Location section there’s a paragraph headed OUR DATES that specifies that we need a sitter to come 24 hours before our departure. The fact that we have a separate house on the property that they can stay in during the overlap would hopefully make that requirement bearable for the most introverted sitters.
That is a really thoughtful solution, for those who prefer not to be in the house with others.
I personally prefer to have overlap with the HO’s, at least on the front-side of a sit – so I can get the tour, see how things work, and help with transition for the pet and myself. But I know some really dislike sharing the home with strangers. It’s good there are so many sitters (and homeowners) on THS…everyone’s needs are a bit different, but there’s usually a good fit out there somewhere for most situations.