Hi everyone!
I just wanted to let you know that I passed over feedback to the team about this 
if I hear anything back I’ll let you know.
Jenny
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One sit I saw advertised in Spain wanted a daily video at a certain time and set place on the property! I think that’s getting a bit over the top . I’d be interested to read what other sitters thought about that.
That is a ridiculous request.
I tend to send photos or videos everyday or most days, but in over 15 years, have never requested or discussed the frequency of messages.
One time we were looking after a dog and cat. One day I sent a video of just the dog. The HO wrote back franticly asking “Where is the cat”!
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@Marion Thank you for this level-headed response.
Our sits are only 10-14 days long, but yes, we want a daily text from our sitters. That way, we know THEY are ok, too.
And 99% of the time, the text leads to a humorous or interesting anecdote from the sitter or from us. It really helps us all bond with each other!
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Our cats are shy and I always let sitters know it’s ok if they can’t find them for a photo. As long as the cat food/treats are being eaten and there are deposits in the litter boxes, just a quick all is well text without a photo of them is fine.
My dog on the other hand is easy enough to snap a pic of 
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We too did not know that THS promises daily updates from sitters. But for us it doesn’t matter much as we usually discuss frequency of messaging with hosts before the sit begins. On a short sit- of up to a week- a daily update would be our default anyway. For the majority of shorter sits daily is requested. Longer than 2 weeks we’d prefer, and suggest, every 2/3 days. But we always go with what is requested. E.g our Christmas sit last year was 3 weeks and they wanted a daily pic (with no long messages attached!) Another 2 week sit wanted no updates at all except emergancies. And this was a sit where the dog had just been operated and was still stitched up & bandaged-but she only wanted one message- when we’d been to the Vet to get the Switches out! And we’ve had everything inbetween. On our most recent sit the host was adament that we send NO pics! A first for us! The dog is 13 and she said “ I know exactly what he looks like”!
What we do always do is included a mention of all animals even if not all are in the pics we’ve sent, to avoid the scenario above mentioned by @Itchyfeet !!!
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I was not aware of this but have always given daily updates if requested. Had to send at least two a day to one three week sit, which did get a biot too much, as also constantly wanteding photos. Howerver it does not take much to just send a daily update message that all is fine etc. Getting a rude reply is not on.
Some homeowners say they do not want any updates, unless a problem, as like to switch off from technology when away but the normal is a daily update.
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Wow… this is good to know. It is also not THS who can make that promise. Sitters are members not employees of THS. On long sits like 2 + months I do not want to be checking in with a HO every day. I always discuss frequency of check ins with the HO in the initial zoom meeting. HO’s that want dailies are not a fit for me. But who knew they were being made this promise?! THS certainly does not tell sitter members this. So neither you nor the sitter is at fault.
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“Nope.” 
Not at all… was just what I said – how do you know something hasn’t happened to them, if they’re out wandering somewhere too, or navigating unfamiliar busy traffic. I think it’s a good point to mention to sitters, that you want to know they’re doing OK too.
I send update pix from my phone but also take “real pix” on my “real camera” and usually send owners a collection of portraits after the sit when I can sort through them on my computer. I think they’ve appreciated it.
If the rapport with the owners is there, I’ve also sent an update or 2 “from the pets” either wishing “mom and dad” a Merry Christmas, or to say “we’re fine”. One was from a cat complete with spelling errors – I bet they wondered what the heck when they first started reading it 
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@BeKind the screenshot is from a marketing overview video explaining how the TrustedHousesitters process works, but it doesn’t create a rule that all sitters must send daily updates. Communication preferences are agreed individually between each owner and sitter and can range from 1–2 updates a day through to only hearing from the sitter if there’s an issue or emergency. TrustedHousesitters’ official guidelines state that homeowners and sitters should “agree on communication during the sit” and clarify “how often the pet parent would like to hear from you during your stay.” The platform’s Code of Conduct requires members to communicate clearly and respectfully, but does not mandate daily updates. You have correctly added that requirement to your listing and any future sitters should respect your preference.
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Although we’ve done close to 100 sits with THS this is the first I’ve heard of an expectation of daily contact. We always ask how often people would like contact. Some house holders have asked for this, and of course we respect their wishes, but most don’t need, or want, to be contacted every day. It gets a bit tiresome sending daily pictures if we have cats or dogs we can’t take to interesting places. There are large cultural, and especially age related, differences in how often people text or take pictures.
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This video that you linked does say “sitters will provide daily updates” - so I can understand why this host assumed that is what is expected and required.
I wasn’t aware that this is what THS are telling new hosts in this video until @Bekind pointed this out .
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Hello everyone!
Thank you to @BeKind for raising this with us - and to everyone else for sharing your thoughts.
I fed back to the team about the video and wanted to share their reply below with you. Hopefully, it’ll clear up any concerns you might have had.
Jenny
"Thank you for flagging this. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
We want to clarify that daily updates are not a platform requirement; however, many owners do expect regular updates. The frequency of updates is ultimately up to the owner and sitter to agree on together, based on what works best for both sides.
We’ve passed your comments along to our Marketing team, who will review and update the video to ensure the messaging is clearer moving forward.
Thanks again for helping us improve."
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The marketing department of THS clearly needs to communicate better with the rules department!
This reminds me of a situation I used to run into periodically when I was in active practice as an eye doctor. Many contact lens patients believed AOsept contact lens systems that produced bubbles during the disinfection process sufficiently cleaned the lenses because that was incorrectly stated in the advertisements for the product. As a result, many patients would skip the cleaning step entirely and experience all sorts of problems with their contact lenses.
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I also was unaware of this, but as with most things dealing with communication, it could also be in how it is received by each individual. When I read that, I thought, “they will if asked”, not “mandatory daily”. I would think it’s determined on a case by case basis and upon the HO requesting it.
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I tend to do daily updates, but do not know why the HO feels it necessary to send me photos of their vacation. Particularly of people I do not know.
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Take it as a compliment, I guess – they consider you a friend that they want to share with? 
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wow, that pet owner sounds rude
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I know it’s been discussed here before, but I don’t mind at all when people send me me pics from their holidays, I see it as them sharing, reaching out, trying to develop more of a relationship. This is the kind of sitter/owner relationship I value, and it bodes well for more return sits in the future.
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TBH for anxious HOs who worry a lot, even daily update once is not enough
Many sitters will avoid such sits, seeing the hosts as high maintenance if they’re overly anxious. Maybe hire a professional sitter if a volunteer sitter through THS doesn’t offer the hand-holding needed.
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