Arrival & Departure Times Are Here: Let’s Start Every Sit with Clear Expectations

[Mark_B]

Hi everyone!

Earlier this month, we let you know that we’re introducing new features throughout December.

We’ve been exploring ways to improve the experience, by learning from members about what helps sits go well and where things can be clearer. That’s why we’re introducing arrival and departure times. While this is a small change, we hope that it will improve sitter and owner expectations and lead to better communication. This is a part of our commitment to make the platform the best it can be.

From today, owners can now add arrival and departure times to their listings, and sitters will be able to see them before applying.

This update is all about making sits smoother, more aligned, and more respectful of each other’s time. It’s a simple improvement, but one that can have a big impact on how we plan, communicate, and connect.

Why This Matters

We’ve heard again and again that unclear timing can lead to:

• last-minute surprises
• rushed handovers
• awkward travel planning
• unnecessary stress on both owners and sitters

This change isn’t just about adding a field, it’s about making it easier to set clear expectations early and communicate well, so everyone feels calm and confident heading into a sit.

What You Can Do Now

For Owners:

• Add your expected arrival and departure times when creating your sit listing
• Not sure yet? Choose a time window or “not sure yet.” You can always update later
• If you want to edit an upcoming listing to add in arrival and departure times, please do this on your desktop. A future release will allow you to edit on the app

We will continue to improve this feature in the new year:

• Owners will soon be able to edit arrival and departure times in the app
• There will be timely prompts added ahead of a sit to make sure owners have added in arrival and departure times before the sit begins
• We will also add alerts so sitters will know if the times change

Benefits for Sitters:

• You’ll be able see the timing details before you apply
• You will be able to apply to sits knowing exactly what’s expected. No more guessing whether you need to arrive the night before or leave at 10am

Tip: A conversation goes a long way

This feature is helpful, but it doesn’t replace conversation. We always recommend messaging each other early to confirm timings and avoid surprises.

All members will be informed about this update, and others, in the Trusted Times

[Shafofo]

This sounds helpful in theory but I’m confused by the dates on your example. I don’t mean to be persnickety, but you are showing a Start date on Oct 13 with an Arrival time on Sept 20. Departures are also wrong. It doesn’t give me much hope that this coding has been properly tested and won’t just lead to more problems.

[Mark_B]

Hi @Shafofo

Thanks for your post.

The image(s) are illustrative of the different stages and not intended to be seen as part of a flow.

To avoid any confusion, I’ve removed (and will update) some of the imagery.

EDIT: Image in OP updated.

[Solela]

It’s never been a problem for me. The Ho’s always adapt to my arrival time, which depends not on me but on the trains or planes times. We discuss it and it works very well that way.

I’m annoyed at having to pay new booking fees for this improvement.

[Erlend]

Excellent update, even though these details are easily sorted out after applying.

I normally travel a stretch, often by plane, for a sit and to know if the HO leaves early in the morning is very useful for especially shorter sits where staying at a hotel isn’t an option.

[RedLassie]

We are adults. We can arrange arrival and departure times between ourselves.

[MaggieUU]

Can the HO change the times in the listing after confirmation?

[Huronbase]

Now for back to back sits. Will you have a problem applying if the times overlap?

[ziggy]

……….. changed mind

[Shella_in_the_Forum]

I like this feature. It will be helpful to know before I apply when the host needs the sitter to arrive and when they can depart. Very often I have applied to a sit for a particular date and then found out during the video call that I am really needed to arrive the day before the start date for the hand off. Or that the host’s return flight gets in at 11 pm so really I need to stay until the following day. This doesn’t replace good communication. The system doesn’t tell us whether there is an overlap night embedded at the start or end dates. (Or multiple overlap nights which I won’t do.) So, the video call conversation is still important.

[KC1102]

I think this is helpful for people who regularly book sits back to back. Knowing ahead of time if I will be able to arrive by the time they need me there, or stay until they would like us can save time.

And I see from some listings that hosts can choose an option that it can be decided later, which suggests there may be some flexibility depending on the host’s and/or the sitter’s schedule. If I already know at the time of applying the earliest I can arrive or the latest I can stay, I note this right upfront in my application message.

Of course, like the initial post states, arrival and departure times should always be explicitly discussed and agreed upon. This is one area where issues can easily be avoided through good communication.

[HappyDeb]

@Mark_B it sounds great, but can I ask… some of the non tech savvy owners we’ve sat for, have struggled with tweaking their dates. So if the timings of 2 sits ‘looks’ like they are going to overlap, does it get flagged with both owners of those sits, or anything like that, or is it purely just for info only.

[BunnyCat]

Solved by @ziggy

[ziggy]

Sorry to interfere @BunnyCat but I just happened to have taken a screenshot a few minutes ago of a current new listing on THS. Is this what you were mentioning?

[BunnyCat]

Is that a confirmed sit or just an application? I am not able to see Sit Essentials on my side.

[ziggy]

That is on the listing page

[Silversitters]

I like this new feature it shows in both the App and webpage .

It could be missed as it doesn’t show by the dates - it’s a separate new section

Sit Essentials at the bottom of the listing

If the arrival and departure dates aren’t fixed - it shows as to be agreed later .

A good idea that gets a from me .

[BunnyCat]

Thanks @ziggy got it to work. I had to update my app and find some of the newest sits that were posted today.

[Newpetlover]

It’s so evident that they’re hastily trying to justify the new fee!

Where’s the improvement?

@Mark_B

We will also add alerts so sitters will know if the times change

Sitters will be notified of HOs unilateral changes, how thoughtful of THS!!!

So this means I may be “officially” informed of a change after I have made all travel arrangements.

IMHO, this is worse than the previous system where I had only to deal with the HO, with no problem so far. I now might have to deal with HO + THS, as they are subtly implying that departure and arrival time can be changed after sit confirmation.

There’s also another problem with this:

What sitters need to know is the expected arrival and departure time for them and whether they are expected to overlap. It seems the departure times are for the HO. If they are leaving at 3am to catch an early flight and that’s what they list, does it mean the sitter is expected to arrive at that time?

Again, too much rush to bury down the reactions against the new fee. Just making things worse in my opinion.

[Silversitters]

@Newpetlover @ziggy

From the screenshot in the OP

The host is told to Add sitter arrival and departure times

“set the time so your sitter knows when to arrive - set the time so your sitter knows when it’s ok to leave .”

Or

tick the box to agree with sitter later .