A little rant about Facetime - As a sitter that doesn’t have an Apple phone or computer, it frustrates me that so many HOs ask to meet by Facetime. This starts the meet and greet process on an awkward note, because we, the non-Apple users, have to ask to meet some other way or ask them to send a link and hopes it actually works.
Keep in mind, Facetime links can only be created on an Apple device. Considering only 29% of cell phones globally are Apple, it doesn’t make a lot of sense that this is such a go-to video meet and greet option. It’s probably because I’ve been applying for sits in the U.S. which has a much higher Apple user population. However, Zoom is extremely common or Skype and accessible via Apple, Android, and iOS devices.
I know this is a minor quibble, but it’s frustrating to run into this on at least 80% of the sits we’ve applied to.
We don’t use apple either, always use WhatsApp.
Have literally never had a HO ask me to facetime but I wouldn’t really care and would just say no. But in my applications I always offer to do a call via WhatsApp, hangouts, or zoom, depending on what works best for them.
Yep, we state Zoom or Skype. Do not do FaceTime or WhatsApp.
Using Skype and Zoom has been easy and accepted. Never a problem, whether our role is the homeowners or as prospective sitters.
I wouldn’t worry about it starting things off awkwardly, that’s never been the case for me. If they suggest Facetime, I just say I don’t have an Apple phone, can we use WhatsApp instead? That has always worked well.
Advantage of Whatsapp (or Skype) is that either party can later ring a voice call if that should be necessary.
A Zoom chat does not give you that.
It doesn’t bother me that people default to Facetime even though i don’t have an Apple device either. I just say that I can’t do Facetime but am happy to use Zoom, WhatsApp. MS Teams or Skype. I’ve never felt awkward saying this.
That’s interesting - in 4 years of sitting, we’ve never used Facetime for a video call, always WhatsApp. Never had an owner suggest any other platform, just - here’s my number, please add me on WhatsApp 
Makes me realize I use “FaceTime” as a catch-all phrase rather than video chat. In reality, I prefer WhatsApp. Granted I was born and raised in Silicon Valley and have a deep-rooted Apple attachment, but maybe other people just say FaceTime as a general term for video chat too? I doubt anyone would insist on FaceTime so try not to feel awkward, just propose an alternative.
We have had many requests to Facetime which I refuse.
I suggest to them an old fashioned phone call which many owners are happy with.
I don’t want video calls but exchange Whatsapp numbers for messages and photos
Yes, I had one HO admit that is what she calls any video chat 
Yeah, I’ve put that in my applications as well and the response is still often Facetime. I just suggest an alternative, but I wish people wouldn’t assume everyone has Facetime
Glad to hear it!
Maybe it’s just my sits, Zoom has been the alternative that worked. Several HOs weren’t comfortable with WhatsApp and others were.
I mention this in my applications:
I’m on WhatsApp, Signal and a bunch of other platforms / apps, easily reachable and responsive. <<
I actually can FaceTime, but I proactively let hosts know that I’m flexible.
We’ve only ever been asked to WhatsApp video call & once use google meet. We’re in the UK. Not sure if preferences vary in other countries.
I don’t care. As a sitter I’m flexible and just say I’m happy to communicate in any way the home owner is comfortable with. If that’s facetime I just tellthem they have to initiate it because I’m an android user.
As long as you have something that works, that’s great. Zoom is the best for longer calls, I find. My arm starts to hurt using WhatsApp!
We say ‘video chat’ in our profile, so we can be flexible around the HO, but we’ve whatsapp’d ALMOST every time when someone asked to videochat, I can only think of one time we’ve zoomed THS-wize. I’m pretty sure we have never facetimed.
We love whatsapp, it’s the way we’ll be sending photo’s and messages anyway, so it’s a great way to keep to one type of messaging.
In 6 years of sitting we have only ever used WhatsApp for video calls. Never been asked to Facetime & if so I’d just say I don’t have an Apple phone. Occasionally people suggest Zoom, which I have only used once to join a citizenship ceremony, so not very familiar with it. We always suggest WhatsApp Video which everyone has agreed to. WhatsApp is also our preferred way of communicating during the sit and the advantage of WhatsApp is you have the phone number to make a real call if needed.
@anon6309382 we avoid ‘arm ache’ by using a phone stand to hold the phone whilst video calling! A simple solution!