I’m curious why you use the word free for what the sitter is receiving but not for what the host is receiving. Maybe you meant the HO gets free reliable pet care. But personally, I don’t think as a sitter I’m getting free accommodations. I’m participating in a mutual exchange where I am providing a valuable service in exchange for accommodation. Fortunately, 90% of the sits I’ve done have been very equitable exchanges where both sides fully appreciate each other’s contributions. I try to avoid sitting for people who devalue my contribution by saying I’m getting ‘free’ accommodations.
It sounds like you’ve had bad sitters, who might need tighter screening.
In your entire list, the only thing that would apply in my case are what the hosts offer voluntarily as far as welcoming items. And personally, I’m perfectly fine without those.
Maybe it was unknown until now. Last spring I was petsitting in Australia as a hobby and I don’t belong to any of those categories
I was offered a car on two out of five sittings and a didn’t use it. I did a combination of public transport, uber and hiring my own car. I don’t think any owner incurred in any extra expense other than what they chose to offer (some welcome food, which I replaced, and, in two occasions, a transport card) I not only did not ruin any linen or houseware but in one case highly improved the cleaning standard of those.
That said, Petsitting is a great hobby for me, it is something I chose to do because I enjoy it very much and I don’t complain or enter the discussion about it being free for one or both parties, I’m not interested in monetizing a mutual agreement. As I don’t consider the higher price I’ll pay for a beer in a pub versus having it at home. I go for the company and the atmosphere and I happily pay the price.
I have no objections to sitters being gone all day. My cats are healthy indoor-only young adults. If I worked full-time out of the house, they’d be alone for probably 9 or more hours most week days. It really depends very much on what the needs of the pets are. It’s one of the reasons cats-only sits tend to have more applicants.
Was that OP generated by ChatGPT?
@mmariapiehl You’ve posted in a section for Sitter Questions. However, it doesn’t seem like you actually have questions for Sitters/Guests. And according to your listing you’ve had only one THS Sitter/Guest and that was over four years ago.
If this post is because you aren’t finding takers for the current dates you’ve listed, then there is probably an imbalance with what you are offering, requesting, or demanding. A suggestion might be to post in this section for help via feedback on the listing.
Edited to comply with posting guidelines
Speaking of pillows, a few HOs have provided newly bought pillows for me (applicable to longer sits). I think this is a. thoughtful and hygienic and b. wise.
If I’m driving, I’ll bring my own. Recent sit, I flew so could not. The pillows on the sit absolutely stink* so I had to go out and buy new ones (and new bedding). Thank god for IKEA.
*I’ve read that “pillows should not celebrate a birthday” and these seem to have celebrated many.
People so seldom sleep in their own guest rooms. I think it’s a good idea to do so every once in a while so you can take a good hard look at your mattress, pillows, guest towels, etc
Well, the forum is actually ‘Sitter Questions, Advice, & Chat’. This seems to be advice to sitters, so probably not a bad place to post it. Even if I think that advice may not be well-received by the majority of sitters lol…yes, we get it. Some HOs think the sitter is getting the better end of the deal. Some sitters think the HO is. Humans are very funny. 
@Val Ok, but when dispensing advice there is an expectation that it is based on experience. This doesn’t seem like the case here.
No, they were great sitters - except for the one who crashed the car - and I would have them back any time. For example, a wonderful couple who loved my dog put all of the sheets and towels, including large beach towels, in a single load in the washer. Things go wrong.
It was the only bed/bedroom. But yes, that too.
Oof. Their own bed…how was the rest of the house?
Doesn’t sound great. And personally, if I had ruined the host’s belongings, I’d expect to replace them, instead of saddling them with the costs.
Well said.
There are huge savings for a pet sitter. It’s essentially an even exchange. Which is why it works well.
It’s a trade. A huge savings for the sitter ( our home would air Bnb for 400.00 per night and most homes would be at least 150.00 per night) and not as much a financial savings for the homeowner (although there is some savings) but more to know that their animals will be well taken care of and can stay in their home.
I agree with you. If HO read comments from sitters, we can get a pretty good idea of how they will be in our home. Both positively and negatively. It’s always been an exchange for us. Both sides benefit. But we have had ruined things as well. However we still use the platform as our dogs can stay in our home. And that’s important to us.
In the US there is a great risk to loaning out a car. If you total it, we would be out a ton of money. And I don’t think you would want to pay it. Totaling a car could mean a small amount of damage. I’m not sure how it works in other countries. But we don’t take the risk.
The savings are completely imaginary. Like I am saving millions right now by not going shopping for some Ferraris this morning.
Petsitting is a hobby that costs the sitter money. I would spend much less (or spend it on other stuff) if I stayed at home. I would be just as comfortable there. No risk of lumps in the bed (like this other thread where a sitter did not get any sleep).
So I push back at this idea by some homeowners that we sitters should be grateful and show a better understanding of the huge value of what they so generously give us.
Essentially it’s free for both HO and sitters. Hence the exchange concept. We had one sitter ruin something that was important to us but I then learned not to leave anything of value to me, out for them to use. We all learn along the way.