5.1.14. complete a pre sit Handover and a post sit Handover;
We’ve done very many sits where we’ve left before the PPs arrive home, on condition that they message upon their return, to confirm that all’s well.
We’ve also happily completed sits where we’ve not met the PPs in person at all, but have retrieved a key to the property from a keysafe (again, with communications via WhatsApp to confirm our arrival etc).
Since the nuts and bolts of a sit are agreed between sitters and PPs (within THS parameters), it’s not clear why THS would introduce this, or think it necessary to every sit.
We’ll continue doing what works for us. For example, there’s little point in hanging around to do a return handover when the cat’s gone out for the day.
I very much doubt that THS or an owner could hold a sitter accountable should he/she not comply with some of the terms and conditions. Like you, I have often left a sit before the owners return, out of necessity or because the owners preferred that. Other Ts & Cs I take with a pinch of salt are paying for veterinary fees (I ensure the owners either have an account or can pay the vet upon their return) and paying for repairs, which I think is new, likewise.
I have on a couple of occasions arrived to an empty house and not met the owners. And I frequently leave a sit a few uors before an owner arrives home. Earlier in the year I completed a few sits back to back and had I not left prior to owners returning I would not have reached the next sit in time for a handover. It makes sense to leave prior to owners arrivg back, especially if a long drive afterwards. I would not want to be driving a long distance late at bight when dark. Frequently I also think owners like to arrive back and have the house to themsleves, whilst unpacking and getting sorted. I have sometimes stayed over an extra night but this is not always possible, especially oif another sit to go to. I am sure things will continue as usual, with sitters and owners making arrangements that work best for them.
All of it is based on common sense and the needs of specific pets and homes. THS wouldn’t write an exhaustive list or description, because that’s not possible. They write vaguely about “complete,” because they’re hoping to press for good-faith efforts, but THS actually is powerless to enforce such, since they basically can only boot people off the platform, but are loathe to do that.
As a sitter, when I leave, if I’m handing off without the hosts present, I send them notes on when pets were last fed and walked, whether I washed and reset the linens, when plants were last watered, where the keys are, where the car is parked (if say on the street), that sort of thing. I also send them a photo or two of the pets right before I leave.
I see it now. The capital H must mean that it is in the glossary. And there it says:
Handover means communicating the essential details of an arranged Sit face-to-face and handing over the keys to start/finish the Sit, clearly setting out your expectations
May 2018 was the big change in terms compared to previous years. Most of the current “big” terms started in that one. However the term handover then meant:
Handover Communicating the essential details of an arranged sit and handing over keys to start/finish the Sit, setting out your expectations
Now it has morphed a little to include the term face-to-face and clearly.
Just like the claim that sitters are supposed to pay for a homeowner’s vet or house repair bills. Mandatory in-person handovers? Phooey!
This is a volunteer gig. We are sitters and HOs. As sitters, we will not pay a pet’s vet bill, nor will we pay service providers who come to the home. As HOs we would NEVER expect sitters to do so.
As far as handovers? We will continue to do what’s best for us, the volunteers that make this platform possible. That means handovers are done in the manner that we agree upon with our sitters, or (when we are the sitters), the HOs we are sitting for.
Right. Even if imaginarily THS started requiring in-person handovers, many folks simply would ignore and do as they see fit, as decided between host and sitter. And THS in reality could keep adding requirements, but has no teeth in enforcing. It’s already clearly shown that some people can do egregious things and THS does nothing.
@pietkuip found it in the definition of a Handover in the glossary. As he explained, the word is bold with a capital H which means it has an entry in the glossary.
It’s in the Glossary. Current Glossary (not sure when it changed from the May 2018 term):
Handover means communicating the essential details of an arranged Sit face-to-face and handing over the keys to start/finish the Sit, clearly setting out your expectations
It’s part of the Terms and Conditions:
”Please use the Glossary to understand the meaning of some of the terms used in bold in these Terms of Service. Other terms are defined throughout these Terms of Service.”
BTW, I always discuss with potential hosts during video chats that I’ll wait for their travel departure and return times in writing. Then I shop flights and send them tentative info, so we can coordinate arrival and departure for me. I do that to limit chance of confusion or errors.
I mention this, because it also covers me if there’s any gap between when the hosts leave and I arrive, as well as if there’s a gap between when I leave and they return. Everything is in writing time wise, and I make sure they have a backup if they don’t arrive as expected, so the pets aren’t left in limbo.
I suggest considering doing some version of that for yourself if you’re worried about handoffs. At least that’s worked for me even during early days, when I started sitting.
Like I mentioned, THS can write whatever conditions they want to. Key question is: How will they enforce?
Say worst case, they boot us off the platform. So what? There are other ways to sit, if you want to continue.
For example, I for one won’t ever pay for repairs to a host’s home if I didn’t do the damage. I don’t care what THS says. I bet lots of sitters wouldn’t either.
