I have not heard back.
What I mean by “problem” is that if your trading of duties works, why join this? The “problem” may be as simple as scheduling or “you don’t want to ask” so you join a great service that gives you the freedom you need, for free. But, it’s not really free because the HO should think of it as a trade off. They also have a part to play besides offering their home as a sleeping den just like HS have more responsibility than just watching pets. HS have to clean up (unless the HO is hiring a house cleaner afterwards, but even if they did, that would still be only $200), they have to water plants, take out trash, pick up mail, etc. I have to say, all the HO I have engaged with have been kind, respectful and obviously appreciative. If I came across one that was not all of these things, I would fulfill my duties as a HS but they would never get me back. Know your value as a HS and HO, be kind, respectful, HELPFUL to each other.
Perhaps the point is, no matter how good your trading of duties is, you still need outside help (the reason does not matter). If a HO does not value their HS as much as they value the service they themselves provide, there may be a problem with the Hos attitude and it will most like show to the HS and they won’t be getting that HS back. They may even get an unfavorable review. I believe as humans, we should value each other as well as what we bring to the table because if the HO believes that the HS does not bring enough to the table, they should not sign up for this service. The monetary value is secondary. Have you tried to get paid staff these days? It’s almost impossible even when you are paying top dollar. A person to come to your house, feed your cat, scoop kitty litter etc., WILL most likely include in her price, travel time. And they do this because they are going from house to house and lose time and money it takes to travel. Why do you think service people charge a fee before they even get to your home ($85-$125 in my area for any kind of service). Lawyers (my husband is one) also charge a fee for travel but they don’t put it on paper most often. When a Lawyer visits a client in jail, their fee is based on travel time to get there, otherwise they can sit in their office and make the same amount of money. Lawyers pay for gas and parking as well which is reflected in their fees. That is why even when a Lawyer is on an assigned list, they have “in court” fees (which are more) and “out of court fees”. Travel time matters. I travel all over to help people, often spending $100 on gas to get there and then hotels. But I look forward to helping, meeting new people, and not staying home growing old.
AS a HO, you must know that the HS does not have a “FREE” place to stay no more than a HO should have a “Free” Sitter.
Not Exactly! The HS takes on a responsibility of keeping the pets and the house in order, safe and clean. The HS should never be treated like a free service, or as if the HO is doing the HS a huge favor. Thats not true. If the HO did one or two House sits, they would see that pet watching is only part of the responsibility. In a hotel, they have to pay for a room, but they don’t have to do laundry, clean the dishes, take responsibility for the hotel and the owners pets. They pay $150 and be on their way! This is a mutual service. Both have a responsibility to the other. HO should not be afraid to offer food, a car, a tip for a job well done. HS rarely just watch pets. They clean, they collect mail, they water plants, they walk the dogs, they may even grocery shop for the owner. I have a non profit organization and the women we send to homes do all of this and make a minimum of $20 per hour, or about $2000 for a full weekend.
I have noticed this is a new trend with home/pet owners lately. I just saw one sit asking for a €50 cleaning fee from each sitter . I didn’t know I was on AIBNB 
. I absolutely reported them. It is up to the Pet and home owners to do their due diligence and find a sitter that they deem Trustworthy, Tidy and Responsible enough for their sits . This website is starting to feel like the Wild Wild West. I HOPE THS removes these Owners . They’re gonna lose all the good sitters !
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Exactly what I say all the time.
I never say or do that.
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I’m a big no on the money…
I’m a FWT to the parting with my passport or DL to someone. HS’s get verified through the site, they could lose it, it could get damaged, it’s my international ID! Hotels and AirBnB’s and such don’t keep one’s passport so far anywhere I’ve been in the world - some do have to have a copy to register you with the local police or such by law, but not just take it or require a payment instead.
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FWT? DL? Sorry if a non native speaker doesn’t get it.
DL must be driving license.
The other one, no idea
@Pawtastic @andrealovesanimals I’m a native Australian speaker and I had to Google FWT. Fair Wear & Tear or Fxcking Waste of Time are the results I got! I think in @RumpusParable’s post it’s the latter.
I thought it was meant to be WTF gone wrong!
LOL
Do people still remember that?
Psst, I am not @pawsitive 
but Pawtastic
@Pawtastic
Aren’t you a pawsitive person too?
I think we are looking at a generational gap not a difference in culture when it comes to the FWT.
I’m American, the OP appears to be from Serbia. But she’s a generation younger than me.
I’m going with For The Win
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Klar
I wouldn’t have said anything but @Crookie tagged the wrong member
Apologies @Pawtastic I edited my reply
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@RumpusParable can you please tell us what FWT means in your post? We are very curious 