I’m US-based and excited for my first international housesit in December. I had a lovely video call with the London HOs and messaged with them a couple of times in the days following, confirming my flights and more. Do you think it’s necessary to have more frequent communication because it’s international (I’m thinking that a cancellation would be far worse than if I was stateside)? I appreciate any suggestions you may have. Thanks.
I don’t think so. How far out is the sit? Are they first time HOs? If it’s months away and/or they’re first timers, occasional messages might help keep them comfortable. But I don’t generally think it’s necessary.
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You don’t necessarily need more frequent contact. It sounds like you’ve communicated the most important details. I sit international frequently and because of possible flight delays for whatever reason, I always make sure I arrive at least a day before, stay in a hotel at my expense to avoid any issues. It helps with jet lag too, especially if you have pups who need their scheduled walks.
I do communicate with the owners that I have departed for their sit and let them know when I’ve arrived safely. They always appreciate hearing this and have said it gives them peace of mind.
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I’ve done five U.K. sits as an American, including one repeat. I didn’t treat the lead-ups any differently from my domestic sits.
A pair of London hosts were reasonably anxious, because it was going to be their longest trip away since their cat had nearly died of colitis a year earlier. That meant discussing specifics during our video chat and sending me a video welcome guide.
We also did a live handoff and I gave them lots of updates, including weighing his food, tracking his pee and poo production for signs of any illness and keeping him cool.
For that sit, I happily stayed at a hotel at my own expense and slept like a coma patient before heading to their place for a welcome lunch and them showing me the drill. I stayed till one of them returned and we had a nice catchup on their cat and travels before I headed off. They gave me a rave review and invited me back, though timing hasn’t worked out.
I always arrive a day ahead for international sits, in case of travel delays.
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Do you already have the Welcome Guide?
Have you read it and clarified any questions?
I would probably touch base about a month before the Sit, just to confirm that you are doing well and looking forward to travel to London.
I would repeat this about 10 days before the Sit, and try to tie up any loose ends during this communication, to avoid any last minute need for communication.
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I don’t think it is necessary with more frequent communication, but I do think it is wise to adress their travel plans/ flights as well as yours, and to talk with them about the Welcome Guide, have you not yet received it.
If they haven’t firm travel plans, at least if flights are involved, that could be a risk-factor for the sit and/ or the sit-dates.
A WG is important to receive well ahead. Mainly to prepare for the sit, but also because it could lead to questions you need the answer to (sometimes things can also be disclosed that might affect the sit, even if you should go through with the sit).
I usually send a message 1-2 weeks before - «sit is coming up and I look forward to meet you»-kind of thing - and the messages on key points, depending on travel. I’ m now leaving for your home, I’ve arrived in «country», and it seems I’ll arrive between X and Y, if host has left per agreement before I arrive, I send a message that I arrived and have met the pets (with photo for documentation).
Has the sit been confirmed on the website? Did the HOs respond to your messages which confirmed your flights etc? Do you have the welcome guide with full address and telephone contact details? If all this is affirmative, then I’d not contact them again until a couple of weeks before commencement of the sit, just to request confirmation that plans are unchanged.
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That is the important thing for them. Then they don’t need to worry about whether you will show up.
No, what you have already done sounds perfect.
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Notifying them you booked your flights was good and that is probably one of the most important things to communicate. I am sure it felt good for them to know you have that squared away.
Other than travel stuff, for the most part I don’t think there is anything different about these sits that would require more communication than a domestic sit. If it made you feel better, you could consider checking in at some point next month to make sure everything is still on schedule, let them know you are still good to go.
There are times when I have booked international sits without knowing where I would be just prior to arriving at their home and I always let hosts know this in my initial application message in case they preferred a sitter who had firm plans and was going to book their flights straight away after confirming. So far this has never seemed to be an issue.
In this case, I would touch base with the host as my travel plans firmed up, as well as when I actually bought my flight tickets.
For example, I booked a sit in Turkey for early January a few weeks ago. I am currently in the US with bookings till mid-November. At the time I wasn’t sure what we would end up doing–either stay in the US until we left for Turkey or head to Europe at some point before flights go up for holiday travel.
In the last week, we have booked two sits in Scotland and London–with the first one starting a couple of days after our last US sit ends-- that take us through to 4 days before we planned on arriving in Turkey. So I sent a message informing her about the UK sits and that we would be flying in from London.
I didn’t book the flights yet since I am waiting to see if we find another London sit for those few days we are still free. And if something doesn’t pop up in the next couple of months, I will purchase tickets for a few days earlier than we originally planned to arrive and pay for accommodation.
Good luck on your first international sit…I am sure that is very exciting!
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Are you messaging them via WhatsApp or Messenger? Best not to communicate via THS website.
Hope it all goes well
Why? Once I get there, it will be WhatsApp but for now, I’m comfortable on the platform.
Thanks, I’ve booked two days extra on the front and back so that should work out.
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Requesting the Welcome Guide now!
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Yes for almost all of the above except the WG. Getting that now! Thank you.
The platform is slow and clunky and sometimes loses messages for days on end. Hence why what’s app is better. You can always double up and send both on both @DianaO #internationalsittertips
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Definitely don’t rely on the platform for communication. Too many lost/delayed messages, too easy to miss them, too clunky to use regularly. Definitely best to go off platform to communicate easier. That said, if issues pop up I’d post them in both places to keep a good record and take screenshots of any off platform messages.
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Yup, it’s safer to have an alternative form(s) of communications. And to take screen shots of the welcome guide if it’s on the platform, because you might not be able to access it when needed if there’s a technical hang up.
We’ve had too many people on the forum losing contact with their home owner or sitter because they just relied on the THS platform. Up to you!
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I have the feeling that some hosts aren’t much on THS after the sit is confirmed. So at least be sure you have other forms of communication available (e-mail, phone, WhatsApp, whatever is your preference).
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