I just applied for a listing where the HO stated they wanted a consistent person for their multiple 1-2 night stays. When I asked if they meant having someone who wasn’t a traveler, they said yes, they wanted a person who was essentially a local.
I withdrew and suggested they look into paid services instead, but it really did irk me a bit.
Get it @pitcherplant - not the site to advertise on IMHO. Go on a local house sitting site instead 
I understand being irked. But I think a lot of people – pet parents and sitters join the site without really understanding it. Hence, sitters who apply and ask for money, and petparents who treat sitters like “the help” etc. I don’t know what more THS could do to avoid this happening, and frankly, I think the company is happy to cast a wide net as most people for whom it won’t work won’t wind up asking for and getting a refund.
But I think a lot of people – pet parents and sitters join the site without really understanding it.
I think you’re absolutely right about this, and I’ve done more than my fair share of trying to course correct. I think most people who don’t get sitters will pay the fee and not renew, but honestly even if you only get a sitter one time in a year, it’s still a net savings.
As a sitter, I can perfectly understand why some homeowners would like a local person that they can count on to return again. One of our very first sits was for a local couple and over the course of seven years, we were their only sitter with THS. It worked out really well for all of us as we became great friends and the dog loved us.
I have previously suggested that THS could create a separate category for regular local sitters - there are valid reasons why a sitter might want to do regular local unpaid sits.
For example someone living in student/ shared accommodation/ with parents who doesn’t have their own pets and enjoys some extra space on their own and also enjoys looking after pets.
I have encountered this as well, except there was no notice in HO profile. It would save the sitters and homeowners a lot of time if they simply stated that they wanted someone local upfront. And really do agree, as another poster mentioned, that this should be in the search criteria so we could easily eliminate these sits from our searches.
It might make sense for host and sitter — if that were declared upfront on the listing, which I’ve seen some hosts do.
Personally, I’ve considered it, but for short sits near me (even if I wanted a change of scenery), I’d just rent a hotel room or such, because I wouldn’t save enough money to make it worth taking care of a pet and cleaning.
For such to be worthwhile to me, the sit would have to be for at least a week.
I think this is a great idea! I could absolutely see a use for this.
It’s confusing to me. THS says to start local, but if a HO wants an unpaid, local, it seems pretty inconsiderate unless there are special circumstances. This was just a normal house in the suburbs of a moderately appealing city, it didn’t tick any of the boxes for wanting to sit regularly, as far as I could see.
I see the rationale, but why not have a roster of “regular” people, whether paid or not? If you want the same person every time, I find it pretty disingenuous.
I sit locally and internationally and sometimes those 1-2 night sits are a lifesaver and sometimes they aren’t feasible at all. When I have a really good relationship with an HO I will go to extra lengths to help even of its a drop by and feed arrangement if I’m staying or working nearby but there needs to be a history of good will for that eg also involve longer desirable sits, welcoming host, flexibility and kindness.
While I wouldn’t do 1-2 nite stays as they are not ideal for me, I’m a local-ish sitter on TH and have definitely had HOs hope that I can come back as a 1st option for their pets, so I can see this being somewhat normal. They find a TH person who they like, who is somewhat local, they probably have them as their 1st option.
But I agree and always tell folks to have a local paid-sitter lined up or who they have approved incase TH doesn’t align date-wise.
I can think of 3 HOs who are all under 1 hour from me, who travel frequently and who let me know or request me first as their sitter now. It’s great for me b/c I"m a digital nomad and repeat sits are easier IMO.
This is a great example of why there needn’t be a “one size fits all” approach. I can see many cases where locally based sitters like a change from their home situation, for example if they live with relatives and could use a break in a real home where you can cook, and not pay for a hotel or Airbnb. I’m glad that has worked well for you! I have been a repeat sitter for a few homeowners with cats within a few hours away. I can’t travel super far due to health issues preventing me from flying, and if I can get a lovely change of scenery without many hours on the road all the better! I am one of the minority looking for peaceful, off the beaten path sits. I am more into quiet and nature than cities. Plus I am “still Coviding,” so I don’t dine or do anything else indoors. The home environment is super important to me. I pass over any luxury McMansion-type house sits as that depresses me — as well as older homes “modernized” with cookie cutter kitchens and all gray walls, which I find terribly depressing. So if I find a sit an hour or three away that’s funky with bright colors and especially if it’s near a body of water or in the woods, it may be very appealing to me. The other advantage is because I’m fairly close if not exactly local there’s a better chance of doing repeat sits if it goes well.
Define local?
During the summer we are looking for sits around 100 miles from our home base. We would jump at the chance of more repeat sits. Two days at a time is not spectacular but I’d do it for a repeat.
Reasons for being close to home.
You’re so lucky Elsie that you can rent your home out for short term rentals. We live in Canada and moved from a house to a condo and most condos in Canada are not allowed to do short term rentals. If I was on my own, I definitely would love to live as a “nomad” going from sit to sit but my hubby definitely wouldn’t enjoy.
Welcome @SRG! Your post makes me think of some other comments on the forum where members have mentioned that they start inital chats with questions / “deal breakers”… this seems like it would good be a good issue to get to up front in the initial chat.
Keep those posts coming!
I don’t know, I didn’t take it up with her!
I would define “local” as someone who lives in the same city/town or less than 30 mins away. Someone who lives a ten minute train ride away would be local, someone who’d have to drive an hour wouldn’t be.
For what it’s worth, I have done local sits and had local sitters. I understand and can see mutual benefits in many cases. I’ve actually written other nearby combined members to offer my services as a sitter, and would have no issue if they wanted to return the favor.
But for multiple one-day trips not that far apart, and wanting the same person every time? Unless they have schedules that magically sync up – a professor who teaches on-site once a week, say – I fail to see who this would appeal to.
I consider “local” to be in the same metro area. Like if someone lives where people commute in or across for jobs, with many folks are spread out that way. That could mean 100 miles or so.
If the definition of “local” is say 10 minutes away or such, I don’t see the appeal unless someone wants to get away from a roommate or lives somewhere significantly less nice, housing wise, for instance.
But was that for 1-2 night stays?
The closest sit that I have done was in Copenhagen, three hours by train.
In summer, I might consider a sit at the coast, which is about 150 km east or west or south. For example if something turned up on the island Öland.
Really locally, the only thing I could imagine be interested of would be the castle that is within easy cycling distance. I know that the count and the countess have dogs 