This is a bit of an AITAH, but I am on a sit and this HO didn’t want to meet ahead of time, they said I could come after they had left at 2pm, totally fine. Then it was 4:30, then 5. I rolled with it and got to the sit after they were gone.
The Welcome Guide was pretty sparse in general an we didn’t agree on a time I would be leaving on the last day ahead of time. I have done quite a few sits and its never been an issue what time I go on the last day.
I reached out and asked an ETA for them so I can make sure I am not leaving too early. I have a 12 hour drive ahead of me an I expressed that. The HO asked me to stay until noon because they weren’t going to be home until 6pm.
That is crazy late, and I am not sure what the guidelines are on this, but that gets me at my next destination at 1am conservatively. I countered with 10am, and I have been left on read. i think I am going to get a neg review over it. Is this unreasonable, or should I be expected to stay as long as they are asking?
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NTA, but this is something you and the HO should have discussed before the sit began. Even better to confirm arrival and departure times before even confirming the sit.
I dont think there are any “guidelines”. There are too many variables for this to be codified by THS.
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This should’ve been agreed on before you mutually agreed on the sit. Especially because you had such a long drive to make, I would’ve thought it important to discuss early.
It was a bad idea for you to assume that you could leave at X time and for the host to assume that you could stay till X time. Seems like you were both at fault — poor comms and lack of planning.
Maybe you can stay overnight and leave the following morning?
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What type of pets are you sitting? Usually with a cat leaving whenever is fine but not always with dogs even if they have a doggie door. Some dogs have serious separation anxiety and can be destructive to the home if left over so many hours.
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This needs to be agreed in advance as there is no standard time to leave. Ultimately this situation was not a suitable match for you, and the responsibility for that lies with both parties.
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@Nomadicjess, this seems needlessly complex. And probably very inconvenient for you. As you are already on the sit then short-term advice likely moot. But suggest that there are learnings for future, as this situation may often be avoidable.
Recommend that you confirm dates/times of Pet Parent arrival/departure, and approx date/time of housesitter arrival/departure upfront in video call. Aside from logistical clarity then this often confirms that the Pet Parent has indeed booked/committed travel plans … no committed plans = decline for us.
Recommend that you take deep breath and appreciate your own time! Housesitting is voluntary and works wonderfully when the “trade” between Pet Parent and housesitter is fair. For context, we recently had a call with a first-time Pet Parent that expected that we arrive (by international flight) early morning at property (before they left) and leave property late evening (after they returned). Was a short sit and we faced a choice of walk away (just too difficult) or have a reasonable conversation - latter approach worked for us as open dialogue yielded a materially more agreeable solution.
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You and the HO should have had this worked out when you first had a video call or phone call. I’m a HO and we always discuss this before a sit is confirmed to avoid the problem you now have. Hope it all works out for you. Good luck.
Unfortunately this is something the two of you should have agreed upon prior to confirming the sit.