Hi! We are very new to THS and have only been a HO so far. Our first few sitters were AMAZING! However, our current sitter wasn’t providing any updates, so I checked in with her and was shocked when she acted like a daily update was an inappropriate request. My surprise was because the video on “How it Works for Pet Owners” on the THS website states “Sitters will provide daily updates.” This gave us peace of mind and it is exactly what our previous sitters did. (We aren’t expecting a novel with 100 photos. Just a photo or two and a simple update.) My husband reached out to her a few days later when we still weren’t receiving daily updates and she was defensive, rude, and asked if we didn’t trust her in our home. The last thing we want is to have any sort of conflict with a sitter. So, I began to wonder if she, as a sitter, is unaware of this THS promise to HOs. And, we have now added “daily update” info to our Welcome Guide and to our listing to hopefully avoid this type of situation in the future. Can someone please let me know if sitters are aware of this THS promise to homeowners???
As sitters we are not told it’s part of the exchange to send daily updates, instead it’s discussed during video call and you find a happy balance. Daily is too much on a 3 month sit but totally viable on a week sit for example. THS are naughty putting that on the video because it’s not conveyed to us at all. That said, her attitude wasn’t great and it’s fair for you to ask. Just agree it up front next time. #setyourterms
I was thinking this too. As long as the property and pets are in good hands, we don’t want to be bothered with daily texts and pictures showing our dogs being walked and appear to be ‘happy’.
Hi @BeKind — I really feel for you. It’s unsettling when you’ve had AMAZING sitters and then suddenly have a very different experience. I’m glad those first sits gave you the peace of mind you deserved.
On the question of the “daily updates” promise, we weren’t actually aware that THS states this to homeowners. For us, sending daily updates was something that came intuitively right from the very beginning — and we’re now 14 years and 155-plus sits in. A few simple photos and a short note really do go a long way.
It sounds like you’ve done exactly the right thing by adding your expectations to both your listing and Welcome Guide. That should help prevent this kind of misunderstanding in the future.
As @Cuttlefish states, THS shouldn’t state how often sitters send updates to the owner as it is something that is discussed between owner and sitter. Some owners I’ve sat for don’t want updates at all unless there’s something interesting or a concern. Others want updates every other day. I’ve rarely had an owner who wants daily updates. However, whatever the owner requests I will adhere to.
I was not aware of this as a sitter. I’ve done over 40 sits. Some owners don’t want much communication at all - just a couple of lines a week to say all is OK. Only once did I have an owner who wanted daily chats and photos/videos of the cats. The sit was for almost a month and it felt quite tedious, especially since one of the cats was feral and the other was a senior who slept mostly.
Irrespective of what others have said - personally, as a sitter, I always send daily updates no matter how long the sit is. I’ve done 3 month sits, 3 day sits - if I was a HO I’m want to hear how things are going and to see photos of my animals every day.
As with everything on THS communication is key - make your expectations clear in the video call and/or in writing because, as you can see from the feedback, people have different outlooks on this. I, like others, wasn’t aware that THS stated that ‘sitters will provide daily updates’ - sitters often can’t see THS marketing to HOs.
Most sitters do ask and are happy to give the quick daily updates that we ask for. We had one sitter who didn’t though she did respond promptly when we texted mid week to check in. We let it go that time but now have it in our listing that we prefer a short daily update, so sitters who find that cumbersome can opt out before applying. Most of my sits are a week with occasional sits that are 2-3 weeks.
I didn’t know about that video as a HO, LOL. So pretty sure most sitters wouldn’t have watched it either.
As far as updates I think sitters put too much time into thinking about what to send. Really just ‘Happy Monday (or whatever day of the week it is), all is well here. And then a quick snap. That takes 5 seconds. Frankly you can snap 30 pictures on day 1 and just send them a day at a time. As HO we are just looking for a very quick check in, not a daily diary of everything that happened.
I’ve never seen anything telling sitters to provide daily updates. This is something that’s important for HOs to let sitters know and not make assumptions. HOs vary enormously in preferences regarding updates. For most of my sits I’ve sent once a day updates. However, for longer sits HOs have generally said to just send updates every 2-3 days. I’ve also done sits where the HOs did not want updates at all. They said to only contact them if there was a problem. I’ve seen listings indicating the HOs want pictures and videos sent 2-3 times a day. I just pass on those because that just seems unnecessary.
Once again the new THS marketing is making promises it can’t deliver I’ve been an HO here since 2019 and can tell you only new Members are seeing this. Sadly it’s just going to create unreasonable unspoken expectations and lead to frustration and disappointment. But at least the forum will stay lively!
OP, try to take THS marketing for what it is and remember this is only a matching site so take care to get to know your potential sitters (they are not actually “vetted” for animal care), trust your gut, communicate your needs clearly and all will be well.
Ive never had a reminder to send a photo. One man I sat for was on a business trip and said he definitely did not want any photos of his cat. THS is so inconsistent. Out of 40 sits I’ve received reminders to clean the home twice. The other sits I’ve got no notifications.
Daily updates would be too much for us but, when we don’t receive updates the first few days or periodically throughout, we too begin to get anxious and concerned.
To sidestep conflict but gently push for your daily updates, you might respond to the sitter with something like
Sorry to be a burden but we are pretty new at this and still learning. THS led us to believe that daily updates are to be expected and our first few sitters behaved that way. We only just learned the daily update claim is misleading THS marketing and not any part of their Terms and Conditions or Terms of Service. We would appreciate a short daily message to reassure us that you are doing well but can accept if that’s too much to ask of you. Thanks.
and attach the screenshot from the video you posted here by way of explanation.
This may sort it out in your favor, they may tell you to take a long walk off a short pier and they may reflect their impatience or intolerance in their review of you post-sit (Note that if their review of you makes a response from you necessary, do be aware that you can respond ONCE at any time in the future. A well thought out response (like your OP) will mitigate any negative comment by in the sitter’s review of you.)
I would suggest your review of the sitter, particularly the stars for Communication with explanatory comments, reflect how this sorts out with them.
The truth is that neither homeowners nor sitters are employees of THS. So it is unlikely that sitters have read every word about expectations. People join. They write profiles (sitters) and listings (hosts) and that’s it.
Off site and even on the forum, you’ll find sitters and homeowners “debating” the appropriate amount of updates.
I am a combined member. As a homeowner I insist on daily updates. My sits are all under 3 weeks, usually under two weeks. I mention daily updates on my listing and again during chats with sitters. I look at reviews not only to see the number of stars, but to read if there are any comments on stuff like communication and updates. I mention updates in the reviews I write. This hasn’t been an issue.
As a sitter, I provide daily updates whether the homeowner explicitly asks for them or not. I also do some local compensated pet care – mostly cat care (or rabbit) drop ins. I also text each drop in visit.
Personally, a rule out for me with a sitter is any wish to “compromise” on stuff like updates, or feeding. (I’ve seen sitting rolling their eyes at 3 feedings a day for the cat. I make it clear in the listing why 3 and that the times are flexible but if someone applies to give me a hard time about this, they are wasting time for both of us.)
This is a matching site. There are definately terms of conduct, but I don’t believe “daily” updates is mentioned in those terms. It’s important to vet sitters and find someone who meets your needs. You are under no obligation to confirm someone just because they apply.
I’ve been an HO here since 2019 and can tell you only new Members are seeing this. Sadly it’s just going to create unreasonable unspoken expectations and lead to frustration and disappointment. But at least the forum will stay lively!