It’s been interesting and a little eye-opening to read through everyone’s replies here.
It’s clear that everyone’s different - some sitters will do tasks that others won’t - but ultimately sitting is a mutual exchange and the pets come first.
I thought I’d share a screenshot from the THS website which should set expectations:
There shouldn’t be a situation where a sitter turns up at a sit and finds they have additional tasks. We’d always recommend reaching out to Member Services directly if that’s not the case, and if the requests of the owner go beyond basic pet and home care.
Really, lawn-mowing? I sit in the US, where lawns can be huge, using a riding lawn-mower. That is not in my skill set, nor is an electric or gasoline-powered one. Watering plants seems reasonable, but lawn-mowing seems like something one hires someone else to do. Definitely not something I could agree to do, so those sits would be out.
I would highly recommend that lawn mowing is taken off the list. I would consider that work that goes above and beyond pet-sitting. I agree, some may privately agree to do it. But, I wouldn’t put it up as a listed expectation. For example, I arrived at a sit where the owner joked that they fought over mowing the lawn. In reality they were on a multi-acre property and we spent 25 hours a week to maintain their massive “garden”. It was slave labour and we didn’t understand it until we arrived. This policy might create entitlement in owners that can easily become abusive. I would focus on the number of hours myself. Just feedback. In my opinion, if your lawn needs mowing, pay me a cash-in-hand rate or let it go while away (if possible). Alternatively hire a professional and arrange with sitter who is willing to allow that.
I think that THS needs to better enforce the rules it has about Airbnb and other “work” being mentioned as a requirement in the listings. It also has to enforce rules for stays that sometimes appear that clearly aren’t "homes’ but shelters that may have some kind of sleeping area for the “volunteer.” I’ve reported on sits that describe conditions that sound dangerous and usually those listings have disappeared even if I haven’t gotten a “thank you” from THS for saving them from a lawsuit and more bad publicity. A lot of this could be acheived with updated AI going through listings and a report button with categories to clarify what was happening and which “rule” was being broken by a listing.
However, once people start debating whether lawnmowing is too much we’re on a slippery slope. And it becomes very subjective.
I fully understand why some people don’t want to do sits that involve too much responsibity or various conditions. I can’t imagine for instance applying to a sit with more than 2 dogs. I can, however, imagine, sitting for 7 or more cats in some circumstances. I don’t understand the logic in not permitting those listings as long as the conditions are disclosed on the listing. Amazon sells many products that I have no interest in buying, but their presence in the marketplace doesn’t mean I’ll find fewer products that I want or that the overall quality of products sold is diminished.
If full time sitters are concerned about wasting time on what are for them “junk” listings, the answer might be a better filter system so that they don’t have to see those sits in their searches. Then if they still aren’t finding enough sits, they could add the ones with more responsibility. That would be something of value for sitters that would solve the problem.
Personally, as a homeowner I wouldn’t mind being screened out from sitters who woud consider certain aspects of my listing too much. I’ve occassionally found myself having chats with people literally rolling their eyes at the idea of 3 daily feedings for my aging cats even though this is clearly stated in the listing.
The alternative to banning “lawnmowing” which could take anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours depending on the size of the lawn and the type of mower, would be some computer prompted system that gets homeowners to better describe the time that responsibilities would take and to give more details about them.
I hear what you’re saying about the lawn mowing, and I’m happy to pass that feedback over to the team!
My understanding is that any tasks should be discussed in advance before the sit was agreed, giving the sitter the choice to accept or decline depending what they’re comfortable with. I know there can be situations where that doesn’t quite work out though.
I do know that Member Services would be supportive if a task was unreasonable. One of our Forum members shared concerns over a listing which asked for lawn maintenance, but the lawn was around the size of a football field, and when I passed the listing to MS they were able to reach out to the owner to explain that wouldn’t be a reasonable request.
If there’s any response to my feedback about lawnmowing being on the list of general homecare tasks, I’ll pop back and update the discussion
I did a lot of lawn mowing on one sit.. it wasn’t expected or negotiated at the start of the sit but there were a couple of clues that I was being prepared for the role. One clue was the Home Owner filled every can with petrol while she dropped me off for my big food shop at the start! The second clue was I had a crash(!) course on how to use the sit on mower! Now I’m a vicar’s son who got quite good at lawn maintenance on a 3 acre vicarage grounds. Once you’re on the machine and it’s going well the size of lawn hardly matters, it’s more of the same. However they had grass on a sloping apple orchard that required the use of petrol driven mowers.. this was much more strenuous! I did all the grounds before they got out of control the sit was 3 weeks in the early summer and the grass was growing fast. The gardener had gone on holiday but not with the Home owners, so I stepped up.
If I can help, I will. They paid me for the task, which was most thoughtful. The elderly dog did not need walks as the grounds were extensive so I was happy to use that time helping in the garden..
I therefore propose keeping no hard and fast rules. Sitters vary so much in age, skills, stamina, personal commitments like work or family that it’s never going to be one sit fits all. Vive la diference!
They took a photo of me on the sit on mower before they headed to France towing a caravan!
Naive? Moi? Ha ha!
@Highfive It sounds like you made the best of an unexpected situation. Whilst they should have discussed this with you ahead of time the fact that you took the job on and that they paid you (which was appropriate) makes it seem OK in this case.
And I agree that perhaps there should be no really hard & fast rules. Tbh if a host asked me to oversee airbnb changeovers (for example)- and offered to pay me appropriately- I’d have no problem earning a bit on the side- as long as it didn’t consume all my free time or get in the way of my real housesitting duties. I know this is one of the extra jobs THS specifically disallows (as part of housesit duties) but I would still do it as a private arrangement.
Hi Maggie, Therer are most definitely exploiters. I was once on a site called ‘Help X’ where you put in approx four hours work a day, five days a week, in exchange for all food and accommodation. I did a lovely one in France, fofr 3 weeks chatteau and campsitre, /various tasks and great food. Free use of canoes and bicycle’s and loved it, But thern I was contacted from a sheep farm somewhere near the Peak District, I believe. They wanted somebody to work six hours a day minimum, hand feeding lambs and other things. There was also travel time on top of that six hours +..From what I recall you had to be taken miles across farmland by tractor or something. It was something like a half hour off road trip, so added to the six and an hour for lunch would be nearer an eight hour day. But the worst part was this was a full five days monday to friday but you had to leave Friday evening and arrive back Monday morning. So,. only four nights accommodation and four evening meals. And this was for six weeks. There may have been a slight possibiliy of staying for the weeend buit strongly discouraged, as no food provided or cooking facilities and you were miles from anywhere. Meals were only provided Monday lunchtime till Friday lunchtime. They were wanting unpaid slave labour. I declined., wondering if anybody did actually take uip their offer? And then I discovered Trusted Housesitters…,.
Lamb to the slaughter! Not very tempting and 5 days on the trot! You dodged a barrage of bullets and bunting of red flags!
As a schoolboy I did a couple of months living in a beautiful farmhouse with a family and was a farm hand on a sheep farm. I learned a lot and worked hard for keep and pocket money.. no days off! But it was outside, fabulous countryside and a novel experience so no regrets. I love Suffolk sheep but remain carnivorous too.
It does sound as though you were saved by THS! I’m a retired teacher who wouldn’t like to offer tutoring anymore ! But my skill set works well with caring for living treasures! Handing back is also something I relish about this occupation!
Older and wiser! Hopefully more skilled and time rich now. Glad not to be desperate and that I can pick and choose what I am willing to accept and for how long. I still make mistakes but nothing is permanent and I am still learning as I go.
should all be
detailed on the pet parent’s listing.
The problem is there are too many HOs springing tasks on arrival or gradually asking for more. The listing is the place for all that information to be disclosed. And owners should get reminders that need to be ticked or answered every time they list new dates.
Interesting how the extra task then evolves into further tasks and expense.. I know they aren’t there themselves the Home Owners but surely there is a a friendly neighbour who could take over the project! Or a close friend/ relative.. we are heading into Cheeky Country and they think they have a passport to take you there too!
The end review may be an additional pressure to comply but it seems they are banking on your good nature which has clearly been displayed in your previous reviews.. it makes one feel like ‘easy meat’ not pleasant at all. Assertiveness training should be offered as sitters sign up to this role!
