Thanks so sorry!!!
1 Like
I have completed 16 sits and this doesn’t include a couple repeats that weren’t booked via here… (- I’ve asked for all repeats to be here so that peeps can see my schedule hence forth!)
You know, in the hosts’ “sit details” - they let us know what expectations and responsibilities that they have of us, the sitter… but why don’t we get a place to write in our profile what we would really appreciate in return? Smiles.
So I have just added the following to my profile – I put it in the section “Why we want to house sit” — so it shows a ways down in my profile… this first paragraph was there before. Then the update! Please lmk your thoughts!!
As stated above, I have been exploring the life of a “digital nomad” and find I have the right attributes to serve those looking for support with their homes and animals. I am a quick learner, curious, responsive, capable, attentive, and very warm with all mammals—humans and pets!
—>>Updated June 2023: I have now completed 16? sits since I joined this site in January. Before that, I had many solid references of homes and pets I had cared for through the years, which helped me in jumping straight into it! My first sit in January was in the UK (where I am still a legal resident), and you can see my 5* reference from that fabulous Irish pet owner - plus many others ever since. Tara had 3 English Bulldogs, with a lot of special needs, and I truly enjoyed looking after them! It was a perfect beginning to a wonderful experience over the past several months in this new adventure!
I always go out of my way to go above and beyond. Wanting to give A Plus efforts. Lots of walks, cuddles, care - photos - keeping your place tidy and having it clean and lovely upon your arrival home. I usually like to leave little gifts in exchange for anything I have gently used - (ate or drank and not shrunk - oh my! 
I feel I would like to give home/ pet owners some gentle advice on what I have felt to work best in this exchange… I think it could be good if this platform actually asked for these things from the pet sitting community and possibly gave the house sitters a list like this of what sitters liked… but I thought after a few months into it… it’s worth a little share to put here!
My favourite thing about this site is the reciprocity angle… and I have experienced that in spades with most of my sits. Little things go a long way… making me feel welcome as though you are expecting a house guest - like imagine a friend of friend, or a beloved distant relative, is coming to stay and perhaps you are going to show them the town and they had offered to help you out with your furry family or something like that was pre-arranged! Perhaps this imagined scenario sets the stage for what might be considered appropriate preparation. Maybe going a little bit extra to extend oneself to prepare for your guest.
In places where it’s been possible, of course I have loved being given a guest room when available — however, when that’s not possible, for me to have the bedroom I am to occupy, to feel a little effort was made to help make me feel as comfortable as possible for the few days or even weeks of my stay. Having personal effects put away on bureau and surface spaces and clear for my own use feels very respectful. And making some room in the closets and providing hangers. And where possible, also being offered a nice location in the home for a working desk with a comfortable sitting and/or office chair… Perhaps letting me know that perishable food and condiments or whatever else are welcome for consumption, etc.
This all goes a long way in truly making me feel welcome and appreciated. I have been blessed to experience this on most of my stays, and I think my reviews reflect this. I love giving and yes, also receiving the praise and the accommodations as are avail. Thank you for taking the time to read my share here. I hope to be seeing you and your furry family soon! Warmly~ Jewels
Hi Jewels
I definitely agree that there is a lot of helpful advice to give HO’s to help them prepare for a sitter and give them a nice experience in their home. You mention a lot of good things. It is common for sitters to list some important things they need in their profile --strong wi-fi for work, non smoking home,etc…
But this seems a bit too detailed and long winded and many of these things would probably be better brought up once you have applied for a sit and have begun communication with the HO.
This is just my personal opinion obviously. Some HO’s may find it helpful while others might find some of the way you worded things off-putting–conveying tone in written communication can be tricky. Everyone is different of course!
2 Likes
I think it’s a bit long winded personally, I got bored halfway through reading it. Sorry.
3 Likes
So sorry @jewels but I agree with the others. I stopped reading halfway through when I couldn’t see what you’re trying to say…
3 Likes
@jewels - in my opinion it is too much information.
Homeowners will probably be reading profiles from other sitters as well.
Decide what is most important to you and situations you are definitely not comfortable with and just mention those. Once the homeowner shows interest and wishes to take things to the next stage is when you have the opportunity to ask further questions and see if it is a good fit for all concerned.
2 Likes
Me too. But I think this has been discussed before
1 Like
Hi @jewels
As I thought, this has been discussed before. See the following:
1 Like
I find it so hard to believe that they are reading this properly. Makes me sad.
I agree with others that this is too wordy and would be a turn-off. Good homeowners already do what you ask (though I draw the line at clearing all my personal stuff away - that’s not a reasonable request for a house that people live in) and the other HOs won’t change their behavior because of this. They - and maybe some good HOs - just wouldn’t choose you because you might seem more demanding than other sitters.
I think your concerns are best addressed in a video chat before accepting a sit. You can see whether there is a desk, what bed you will use, and get some idea whether it is a clean house.
3 Likes
Hi Jewels,
I agree wholeheartedly about the reciprocity aspect. I personally like the language you use - hosts and house guests - and the concept that suggests.
I once applied for a sit but had some reservations. I delayed a bit before hitting ‘confirm’ and the home owner sent a message saying, ‘Do you want the job?’ I confirmed the sit for logistical reasons, but my intuition was right: this home owner seemed to see us as (unpaid) staff, and expected us to help with a business situation. When we said yes, but pointed out the bit of policy that says this isn’t in the deal, she was affronted. (If she’d made a respectful request rather than expected, I wouldn’t have felt the need to point it out!)
Our learning from that is that everone is different: hosts and sitters. I think TH gives good advice to hosts to make sitters feel welcome, but some are more transactional, some more relational. You can often tell from listings, and even more so from a conversation. Rather than list too many expectations, we tend to go more for relational hosts, and find they also value reciprocity and naturally do the kinds of things you mention. Those who like things more detached, professional and boundaried will probably attract sitters who value the same approach. It works best when there’s a match!
So I would echo KC1102: you probably don’t need to say so much about this on your profile, just enough to show home owners what you value!
1 Like
Thanks everyone for telling me you feel it’s too long… I don’t have a problem getting hired, and decided to put this somewhere on my profile as an experiment… because it’s very important to me. I am a writer and often accused (smiles) of being too long winded - so that’s fine! I put this in the last section - and I don’t think most of the applicants ever read even the first part of my profile. They see my awesome reviews, and schedule a chat interview and then hire me! … My issue is that even those hosts who I like, and adore their dogs, those who I have sat for repeatedly, I feel that they don’t REALLY get the reciprocity thing… they don’t REALLY get the idea of having a guest… I met a woman in March in San Diego who is a host and a sitter (dual) and she said it’s mostly an American issue… Europeans are naturally more understanding of the reciprocity… it makes me sad… she said that I will come to see this… I have sadly. I am looking forward to being in the UK this summer!
Also when someone is new please don’t tell them it’s been discussed before! I want to discuss it today, in the now, present. Thanks however for sharing the back story. I DO THINK that there should be a place on OUR profiles that gives OUR ideas of what we would appreciate to feel more comfortable!
1 Like
You can certainly add it in your profile description, but it may not get read, unfortunately. Even if it does get read, keep in mind, homeowners might read this today and think, yes sure, but the housesit might only take place months from now and by that time, they have certainly forgotten what you wrote, especially if they’re not super organised. So best to remind them closer to the time too.
1 Like
@jewels, you asked for our thoughts and we gave them. It is obviously working for you so that is great.
We have a different approach and we also have no problem securing the majority of sits we apply for.
Happy travels
1 Like
Not yet working for me… I just put it up yesterday. As I said in the start of my reply, that I appreciated your thoughts and still decided to give it a try, as it’s way down in my profile. I have been on this platform since early January and before that have had pet and house sitting private ‘clients’ (bosses, friends, family, etc) … and now that I have 16 (plus ones not put on the platform as I mentioned) – I have come to realise I’d really like to share with some of the sitters some things that make me feel comfortable… like there are a couple that I really like, but don’t appreciate how they didn’t go out of their way to help me feel more comfortable… so I’m just learning to ask for my needs to be met and … DO very much appreciate peeps’ opinions! Thank you! :))
I really DEEPLY appreciate this response! Thank you SO MUCH! I may curtain the words… going to leave it up there for about a week… I did put that link above it and it’s in that ‘why do you want to sit’ section, which is so far down, I seriously DOUBT anyone will read it… but I could when I get hired next, sweetly suggest that they read that post and that I put some of my own requests on my profile. I am irked by a few/ couple - situations where they just did NOT go out of their way to prepare for me… I still managed to be comfortable… but I had to alter things… and in one particular case of a place I’ve gone twice, I just didn’t hang out in my room a lot because it was a teenager’s room that wasn’t really set up for me … and it just felt like a place to crash with the beautiful dog. Smiles.
People are different so you’re always going to get different responses and home owners will prepare their home for sitters differently, no matter what you say (which could put them off) or what THS asks them to do. After 62 housesits (some on other platforms) all with 5 star reviews I’ve learnt to become flexible. Yes, I don’t always get somewhere to hang my clothes or a pristine clean home but the owners have been lovely, in the main, and I’ve made some good friends through housesitting.
You will have to try to lower your expectations and go with the flow.
3 Likes
Hi Smiley~ Thanks for your feedback. I certainly am a go with the flow person and consider myself friends with some of the peeps that I feel could do a bit better in treating me like a house guest. I have all 5 star reviews and sincerely go out of my way to do an outstanding job. I’ve been very flexible. I am stating that I realised I’d like to ask for my needs to be met. For me the comfort level affects my ability to be happy and takes up time for me to ‘sort things out’ so that I don’t get into a funk. Having clear surface areas, a few hangers, and not having to sleep in a teenagers bedroom with all their tropheys etc… it makes me feel a bit like my needs and comforts are an afterthought. I have adjusted up until now and am thinking… I would like to be stronger in asking for my needs to be met… if I go above and beyond… asking for a small effort… could go a long way. Right now I am staying in a beautiful homestead with chickens, edible garden, lovely guest room, etc… and still she didn’t put fabric on top of the shelves with the boxes. SO problem solved - found 2 blanket throws and draped them over the boxes. I am very into feng shuei and honestly looking at boxes for two weeks… that can really disrupt me. I love beauty and can be happy in a small village house… it’s just again about the extra effort.
Both my applications and about me sections are long too and I’ve had luck getting quite a few confirmed sits. Probably depends on the person reading it.
1 Like