This is pretty common with AIRBNB rentals.
Irritating, but an inexpensive fix.
This is pretty common with AIRBNB rentals.
Irritating, but an inexpensive fix.
I always have two toilet rolls in each of my bathrooms in my rental. That should do the average person two weeks or the unaverage 20 days. Guests get a discount for longer stays. Part of the discount is because the supplies I provide only last one to two weeks.
As long distance sailors I had to calculate how much provisions we needed for each voyage. We used 1 roll of dissolving toilet roll every 10 days. Interesting fact or what?
Not guilty of that as a HO! Toilet rolls, facial tissues, kitchen rolls, basic toiletries even though many HS use their own…I tend to calculate what we would use in the time they are staying and double it! I do like people to feel at home and be comfortable!
That is very kind of you @Boodie !
And I should say it is the case in the majority of OH.
And as @ElsieDownie I’m often very surprised by the amount of loo rolls in people’s home ! I think if there is enough for 1 week more or less I would think it is ok to buy some more. And before HO comes back I always check !
I think I am the same kind of people as @anon39388349 's husband : I shall wait till the last piece to go and get some ! As French people I am used to “bidet” and find it very useful (saves lots of tree cuttings
and leaves you with fresh feeling !!
)
At our present sit there is a bidet incorporated into the toilet. We are definitely getting one in our ensuite when we settle down.
Because they’ve been to Costco.
Normally, as far a I understand the THS rules, all personal consumables should be brought in and paid for by the housesitter. So, while I gratefully accept the home owner’s bed ware and a towel, I bring with me the toilet paper or replace the roll(s) which I need during my stay. The same applies to personal body-care products as well as (for longer stays) dishwashing liquid and laundry soap. The only consumables I take from the hosts and do not replace are house cleaning products and, of course, their pet products. Hence, I believe especially for longer stays you should really buy your loo paper yourself!
LOL I agree. On my first sit, the owners told me to help myself to the pantry and the things stored in the basement. When I checked out the basement they had multiple bottles of every known condiment. What are they, survivalists?
Thank you so much for this post. As a sitter, I really appreciate HO who are respectful and conscious to support us while we take care of your beloved furballs! All of these costs, even if there is food offered, is still so much cheaper than sending pets to a kennel or a cattery. And it just makes for a lovelier time. Thanks for setting a good example!
Thank you for being such a great example of a treasure HO. I have been so appreciative whenever a HO has gone to the trouble of supplying even some basics just to start and treated us guests. It actually made all the work we did for them a true joy.
This is so important to note. Staying in an airbnb you have total free time. When pet sitting, you have to often wake up and walk the dog/s or feed other animals at a specific time. It’s nothing like being on a holiday to be honest. I love waking up late with no obligations on a holiday. For me, the limitations on my time and having to keep the pets regular schedule is not comparable to staying in an airbnb on my own, so I don’t see it as a fair comparison. Thus, I have no shame in being left funds/food/gifts/tips for my time, as you really are tied to the pet/s schedule every single day and doing a job which is worth thousands of dollars. A small note on supplies etc. - I would never accept a sit without toilet paper supplied (not more than 5 dollars/month all said) or I am expected to pay for anything I use such as sauces or pasta. All these things are inconsequential to the savings they already receive. On my last two sits, I was additionally given $200 per sit just to spend on anything else I wanted, in addition to being able to use pantry supplies. To me, that’s the decent way to do this. Both were 1 month sits with a single pet.
If a HO tried to charge me for toilet paper and such, I’d find that petty. And I say that as someone who replaces supplies if I use significant amounts of them when I sit. I even buy treats and such for pets, which are more expensive than toilet paper, without looking for reimbursement — I do that out of choice.
When someone is saving a bunch on pet care and begrudges sitters small amounts of supplies, that’s notable to me. The last time my husband and I boarded our dog with his trainer, it cost $3,000 USD. If our dog weren’t a damaged rescue pooch and could be watched by a THS sitter, I would’ve happily bought them a pallet of toilet paper.
I personally would never ask a sitter for money to buy these things or to replace them. I’d feel very out of place about asking for replacement or money for toiletries or cleaning supplies. Mainly because we always buy in large amounts of toilet paper and paper towels either at Costco or Target, so we don’t have to buy these things for months or have any of our guests replace them. We’re also conscious of our environmental impact, so things like the 8 pack of paper towels lasts forever (and we compost) and most of our cleaning products are from blueland.
I also understand not everyone has the same access to large stores, or has the financial means, and with inflation things can get pricing. I’m sure there are sitters who even prefer to bring/buy their own but that is why communication is key.
Thank you for your email. I’ve always found my furries got on well with the sitters and it’s nice to hear from you.
Best wishes
Barbara
Please supply these items for your sitter as they are doing you a great consideration by taken care of your beloved pets in your home. The cost of paper products is minimal compared to the cost of a kennel, in home sitters or drop in service, which is nothing compared to the peace of mind you receive from knowing your pets are being cared for in their home environment.
[quote=“Debbie-Moderator, post:75, topic:8113”]
Please supply these items for your sitter…
The cost of paper products is minimal compared… [/quote]
Perhaps this should be on a list of minimum expectations, such as clean bedding and hot water and no 3rd parties.
Yes, absolutely. I would love for @TrustedHousesitters to write that in their articles educating HO. As paying members of THS we too are customers and it’s embarrassing that HO (only happened once) don’t supply basic minimum items that are essential to the sit. A live-in sitter will need toilet paper, utilities, pet food, emergency funds, a clean house, clear instructions and cleaning products to do their job. For me, these are the minimum basics.
I have just seen a sitting that had potential until I scrolled down and read that there was a laundry room for use but you need to bring your own detergent and supplies.
Then there was a detailed photo of the laundry room with 5 bottles of detergent on top of the washing machine.
nowt so queer as folk as they say @Itchyfeet
Was it a shared laundry @Itchyfeet ??