I just finished a week’s sit with complex instructions re. Care of goats, hens, ducks, dogs and property, and have been shocked to have the homeowner "‘complain” that I didn’t eat all the food she left for me (but didn’t tell me it was for me); that I didn’t fold the dirty laundry when I stripped the beds; that I was cleaned out the goat and hen sheds ‘too well’ and that there were “sticky spots” on the kitchen floor from what she assumed to be wine - though she explicitly told me not to clean. Worse, she says one of the elderly/ailing dogs wasn’t pleased enough to see her when she returned and why hadn’t I said anything about them being ‘off colour’ while she was away?
I spent so much time trying to fulfill every instruction that I never spent more than a few hours a day away from the property and enjoying the area. I spent the whole of the final day scrubbing the bathroom, cleaning and preparing the large house for their return… even lighting the woodburner and setting it on low so they came back to a warm house, and arranging some garden foliage in a vase for the table. I had to walk each dog separately every day as one was super-friendly but not lead-trained, while the other had to be muzzled as it was highly reactive and they tangled leads if walked together. Both dogs had to have meds taken at different times, and had to be walked in daylight around unlit country lanes.
My question, dear fellow sitters is, am I being unreasonsble to feel unappreciated at the complaints made?
Am I being sensitive? Yes (understandably). Is the Home owner being petty? Definitely. Take a breath, realise the world is made up of very interesting people, smile and move on to the next adventure. Good luck.
Please write an honest review so that future sitters are informed . If you want help with writing a review that’s factual and non emotional-there are some forum members who are great at giving suggestions for reviews.
@PussInBoots I can absolutely understand you feeling upset & shocked. This HO has no idea about fair exchange and showing appreciation towards a very caring (unpaid) sitter. Several of the “issues” she mention in your public review could have been addressed to you privately. E g not eating food left for you!! You are not a mind reader! We never eat HO food if not offered it- the expectation is to provide our own- so HOs have to be clear in their communication about what is offered! Communication, in general, is key to a successful sit.
If you can find a way to tactfully and unemotionally respond to their review it might help balance things out for future readers. Situations like this always sting a bit but I hope your next few sits will be with easy going and appreciative hosts so you can put this experience behind you!
Has she made the complaints to you privately or has she written a public review for the sit @PussInBoots? If it’s the former then we can absolutely help with crafting a review of your own. If it’s the latter then we can help with a response. Have you written a review of her yet? She sounds wholly unreasonable and demanding BTW and yes it hurts but it sounds like you were a fab sitter. #tellusmore
Wow! What country was this sit in out of interest?
Of course you’re not being unreasonable but the home owner most certainly is. How lucky she has been to have you!
As others say, please do write an honest review and as @Silversitters suggests, write your draft here so that other members can assist if necessary.
Well done to you for your hard work. The owner should be on a paid sitting site considering all that she expected of you!
That’s like “As I swam ashore I dried myself, to save time".” [Credit: The Goons].
But this HO is ‘avin’ a larf, as we say in certain corners of the UK. Not only is she being petty, but she should have hired a professional for this sit, given the level of work expected. Instead, she gets someone conscientious who does it for nothing. And then she, the HO, finds almost comically trivial things to complain about. Gah!
