@Newpetlover I posted almost identical comments earlier on this topic but deleted it as I just couldn’t word it correctly. Along the same lines though. Also “to be agreed later” is exactly as it always was…communicate, discuss and see through. So I make my travel arrangements, future bookings etc as set according to HO on listing then their plans change and I get notified. Then have to renegotiate. What is so different to how it’s always been???
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This is not good. What if HO changes the arrival time after confirmation and sitter is unable to match it? Or if HO changes departure time to a later date and sitter already has another commitment?
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I’m not convinced this new feature will be helpful, especially for sitters. Many of the sits we’ve completed have required us to arrive the day before the HO’s departure, or to leave before they arrive home, yet the sitter arrival and departure times give no indication of wider requirements. This feature may also suggest to HOs that sitters are available entirely to suit their needs, when of course there needs often to be some negotiation and compromise.
I see that many of the listings have simply inputted their dates, stating that times are ‘to be agreed later’, which adds precisely nothing to the information already available.
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@Silversitters thanks for that but I honestly think that most HO’s won’t have any idea what time they are leaving and returning, unless they have booked and paid flights. A lot/many/most drive so no firm plans made, particularly if they list like two or three months or more ahead. It sounds good in theory but I personally don’t think it will work in practice without a lot of to and froing with changes as the HO’s travel plans are set in concrete.
@weltenbummler my point exactly!
Same here. But, that info isn’t included in the new feature, so we’d still have no idea whether buffer periods have been added to either end of a sit.
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@Happypets again, exactly!
Will it be possible for HOs to change their times after confirmation?
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My thinking is that this would flag up the hosts who thought a 3 am arrival / departure was a reasonable request and then sitters would know not to apply . 
Also for those sitters who plan back to back sits , if they know that they can’t arrive until late afternoon ( because they are coming from another sit ) it’s helpful to know before applying if the host needs you to arrive in the morning - then you won’t waste time by applying.
We have had several sits where the host’s expectation was that a sitter could arrive early morning- but this expectation wasn’t stated in the listing and we had maybe a four or five hour drive to get to the location .
The tick boxes could help set expectations from the outset and where the host hasn’t made plans it can be sorted later .
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Don’t you think it will simply make sitters more accountable?
On our last sit, we’d agreed arrival and departure times, then when we were on our way we received a message from the HO, saying they were running late and could we arrive a couple of hours later. We had no option but to accommodate that request, but it surely leaves the sitter wide open for unwarranted criticism, unless the arrival time is amended in the dashboard (which no HO who is running late is going to do).
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Thanks for clarifying I seem to be overlooking important information this morning. My apologies, especially for @Mark_B.
I still see no improvement and still think this
can be really risky.
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I agree with that part but I see more risks than benefits.
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@Happypets apparently yes
I think it will mislead HOs to assume they can now simply specify their own needs and expect sitters to comply. It’s surely increasing HOs expectations. And, if @Silversitters is right, and many sitters - especially newbies - don’t bother applying because they believe they can’t comply with the required timings, then many sits will surely go unfilled.
Timings alone are simply not sufficient. We always do ask in our initial applications, what time HOs need sitters to arrive and to leave, but it’s always followed up with more details about their departure plans and how we can make things work for us both. This new feature makes things more one-sided from the onset, which may possibly make negotiations more challenging.
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I don’t plan on doing anymore THS sits but if I did I would taking a be screenshot of the original times agreed when the sit was confirmed .
Our only four star review was given because we left at the time agreed ( midday )but Having previously said that we didn’t need to be there when they got back , in the review the host said they would have preferred us to have waited until they returned home.
It was a cat sit and we had an onward journey home of six hours . 
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Oh really? That’s sad news.
We’re on the fence at the moment, about whether to do any more via this platform when our current membership expires.
I have to say, I’ve so far not come a cropper with arrival and departure times for me or the hosts. As @KC1102 says, it’s something that you discuss with the hosts before accepting the sit and, if they need to be adjusted, after. This wouldn’t have helped on my short Christmas sit, where the hosts changed the dates 3 times. They asked if I could stay an extra night only recently as they had misread their return flight. I said no as had other things planned with friends.
However, this will satisfy some people. Just to say, it could go wrong in any event
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Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Thanks! Glad you like it, there will be more new features on the way. 
Yes, (and similar to before the change) it’s expected that both parties would have a conversation to discuss if the newly proposed times are workable.
No, this feature won’t impact (or be impacted by) overlapping sits. The times are purely informative.
Thanks Sheila! It should make things a little simpler when deciding if a sit is right for you.
Have a great day!
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Who’s going to check the arrival and departure times ? Cameras ?
I read a Ho’s review who has used his door camera recordings to check his sitter’s arrival time.
What do we do if the train or plane is delayed or any unforeseen event ?
This new system is becoming stressful and very rigid.
This is a rule that is the complete opposite of a free service and a relationship of trust.
When you travel abroad for the first time, you don’t know the public transportation system, it can take time, and you can easily get lost. And also, I want the right to stop and do some grocery before arriving at the apartment.
We’re not employees. It’s unbelievable.
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hi @Solela
Thanks for reaching out.
The timings shown are designed to be informative and help members understand if a sit is workable for their schedule. In instances where everyone is able to be flexible, nothing changes.
You’re right, that unforeseen situations can occur, if/when that happens, nothing changes. You do the same thing you do now - in most cases that involves reaching out to the other person and letting them know.
Hope that helps.
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