I’m surprised to see how passionate the OP is about this issue. I always try to leave the house just as I found it (sometimes better but I try to choose sits where that’s not an issue). I would do that anywhere I stay - with friends or family or a sit where we’ve exchanged services. I’m happy to have a place to stay and you’re happy that I’m watching your pets.
I agree, the last couple of days are labor intensive. What are your options? Find a hotel and rest before the next sit? I don’t think so.
Bring it up in the pre-sit call and be specific: “I have another sit immediately after yours. I’ll strip the bed but won’t have time to remake.” That’s an acceptable offer.
When traveling by car, I keep a clean set of queen-size sheets with me for just such times. I put those on (you can make them work for any size bed) two days before, allowing time to wash the others. Then you can wash them at the next place.
I’m struggling to find a way to say what I want to politely.
I’ve done 70+ sits, all 5 stars. The reason they are 5 stars is for going above and beyond.
leaving the HO’s home clean is simply good manners. The same goes for changing the sheets and remaking the bed. Would you want to come home from vacation and have to deal with someone else’s used bed linens? Also you haven’t worked for free. You have received lodging at a place that you chose. It was your choice.
The pet/homeowner definitely reaps the benefit & piece of mind of having their pet and house taken care of for free. However, the sitter does reap the benefit of having nice, clean accommodations for free while traveling to new places as well as furry companionship.
As an owner, I have already paid over $200 to have our home professionally cleaned to be certain everything was spice and span before a sit, plus our own last minute cleaning. I have always ( which is only 3 sits), left a gift basket for the sitter, as well as brought home an extra something for the sitter. I don’t find it unreasonable to return to my home in the same condition I left it.
I try to be completely transparent before and welcome questions & feedback at anytime before, during or after the sit.
Reading the comments in this forum, sometimes make me feel sitters forget the benefits these reciprocal arrangement allow.
@linda234 swings and roundabouts, good hosts+good sitters all is well. When the trade is off balance that’s when the problems start. Should be a win win, sadly not always.
There’s a lot of complaining here. I wonder if you’ve considered that a few hours of cleaning the house, washing sheets, and making the bed is what most people here do for each sit, whether a sitter or a HO. While your HO’s have had someone “sitting for free,” you’ve also had a place to stay for free. It all goes both ways. I’m sure you appreciate arriving to a freshly made bed and a clean house… Well it didn’t happen by itself!
As a HO, I know what it is like to get up, strip the bed, and fit it with clean sheets before an early morning departure, while also managing my own packing and last-minute details. Because of this, I tell my sitters that I would appreciate it if they are able to strip (or wash) the sheets, and make the bed so it is ready if I come home late. I, too, appreciate coming home to a freshly made bed. I also let them know I understand it is not easy and therefore not expected with an early morning departure. I’m trying to imagine a HO complaining because they had to clean the sheets and make the bed for a sitter!
Kindness goes in both directions. That is what THS is all about, and it takes care and effort on both sides, as well as kind and clear communication.
thanks for helping with the wording as I become more experienced. this is perfect. and the suggestion to bring extra set of sheets is a good one too. thanks again
I don’t expect people to do any laundry or make the bed. I will put on fresh sheets the day I leave, and I’ll only ask that the bed is stripped for me to wash when I get home. That’s why you need to have more than one set of sheets–so you have a bed to still sleep in when you get home if for some reason you haven’t gotten to the laundry.
The sitters have done their job by taking care of the animals and keeping the home reasonably tidy. There’s no need to add even more stress than necessary.
some people have washing machines outside and down steep steps and then you have to go up a lot more steps to get to the apt. and then you have to be out by 9.30am. i’ve made the bed before bc i went along with the theory that i should leave the place as i found it. and after doing this for a bit, i found there is a rush to perform quickly to get out in morning. and then i still have to bring my things into the next place or a hotel.
it’s an extra amount of work that is pressurized by time that i find deletes the enegy i need to start off fresh to my new destination. it could just be me. but i see that many others agree with me. and it’s not that i /we disagree with you in principle. most all of us prefer to leave the place as we found it. i know i do. sometimes we have to factor in different variables. i only brought this topic up bc i needed to see what others are saying and i got tremendous feedback that i find incredibly helpful and im very grateful for the excellent suggestions.
I would look at it as if I was staying in a hotel or apartment, it’s good to put all the bedding and towels you have used, in a mutually agreed spot (laundry basket, washing machine, shower, etc). You are indicating what needs to be washed, and the HO can put that on a wash when they return, and remake the bed with whatever bedding they want to.
It’s very simple, that way.
It is far far harder to factor in stripping the beds and getting that bedding washed and dried. Especially the drying part, if they don’t have a dryer, if they expect it to be aired outside, and the weather is unreliable. You simply cannot factor that in to your travel arrangements, as it’s a task that might be beyond your control. I am currently sitting for my daughter, and loaded up her washing machine, it washed the clothes, but the door won’t open. I’ve googled how to do it, spoken to my daughter and managed to use her tip, and wriggle a spoon in the catch. How on earth would you manage that if you were a sitter, and it happened?
Laundry shouldn’t be in the “hard basket”, it should just be agreed to be put in the designed spot, for the HO to deal with when they return. After all, they are coming back to a (hopefully) well kept & well cleaned home, but more importanty, back to very well loved and much loved pets.
