In my sitter profile, I mention that I appreciate fridge and freezer space. My hosts usually see that and oblige. My most recent hosts for instance even said they’d made room, because I’d mentioned it. That included clearing a freezer drawer for me, which was plenty.
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I need to mention the freezer space! I think, as we aren’t paying for accommodation, we will be dining out all day is what some wealthy Home Owners assume!
I arrived at one place salad drawer was full of drink cans, two other plastic removable drawers filled with more drink! Freezer packed tightly too! And I’m here for three weeks? Welcome! Photo to show I’m not exaggerating!
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I am so blown away by all the responses. I would have never thought of freezer space. Who knew??? I will make sure that plus fridge is set up. I appreciate all the suggestions. Yall have given me some great ideas. Its gotten my mind going…a basket with a thank you card in advance, fun snacks, maybe even a healthy snack, chocolate, maybe a bottle of wine. So many great ideas. Certainly, some flowers in a vase!
Thanks again to you all!
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The drink cans don’t need to be in there. I empty out what doesn’t need to be in there and store them somewhere else. Remembering to put them back is the trick though. If the freezer is full i search for another one and transfer food. If no other it means no ice cream (I lived in a yacht for five years with no freezer so ice cream is a staple in our diet now) and more frequent shopping trips.
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Love flowers. Very thoughtful. And I hope the sitter replaces them for you as a lovely welcome back. They are cheap at the moment and the colours are so bright and joyful
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It’s not expected but I love getting a little something to make me feel appreciated. It can be as simple as a thank you note. It’s also thoughtful to leave a bit of milk and something to eat, even just a few slices of bread for toast, so I don’t immediately have to rush off to the shops. Better for the pet too if I can stay with them after arrival.
I’ve also been left flowers, wine, cakes, a homemade candle, chocolates, lunch, and in one instance a week’s worth of food. All much appreciated.
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We don’t usually leave the sitter anything, just a clean house and dinner the first night when we overlap. But the sitters who are coming in a few days are driving from northern Germany down to us in SW France which will take them 2 days. Sunday is the birthday of one of them. You have to book ahead for Easter Sunday lunch around here so we are reserving a table for them in a nearby restaurant with English-speaking owners (because they don’t speak French) and paying for their meal.
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That’s so thoughtful! Starting off on the right foot in my opinion.
I think they will come back!
Travelling a long way is a consideration. Someone wants me to do a sit for nothing not even a review, and leave four days before my registered sit with a friend. It’s 6 hours by car from my home so I’ll either have to travel there and back home or rough it in a sleeping bag in the van.. for 4 days and no shower!
not very tempted lol
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Thanks @Dkrumblis!
When we reach a good mood on the video call, we politely ask the PP why they’ve chosen us, doing our best to be on the same page. If necessary, we will point out that we’re not going to be on vacations but rather trying to feel at home and in good furry company. We try to avoid conversations related to expensive restaurants, all-inclusive excursions, and the luxury of some places.
Some sitters consider that a functional shower and kitchen (including fridge space, freezer is a nice plus of course), as well as a comfortable bed (in two cases, we slept on sofas that even children in pajamas party wouldn’t enjoy), are the simple things we need to be happy and welcomed.
Pet-friendly places are nice suggestions, some hosts don’t even consider that we would enjoy it, even long walks… as it would be considered as an extra service or so (?).
Any kind of nice gesture is more than well received, but the real thing is to feel ourselves welcomed and that the PP step on our shoes for at least 5 minutes it’s the best gift. In all cases where this has happened, we would take care of those PP’s pets again. At the same time, are the ones we feel strongly about leaving a gift, appropriate for the person in question.
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Out of curiosity, based on your experiences are HO’s more likely to leave gifts in the states, Europe, or is it fairly equal?
I wonder if there are cultural differences which impact this.
@ElsieDownie By the way, great point about freezer space, its something that I wouldn’t have thought of.
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I have done a couple of sits in the States and they didn’t leave gifts, but left me plenty of freezer space, wardrobe space, rides to/from the airport and I felt very welcome. I mainly do Europe and I find that home owners with houses in the countryside where you need your own car, or houses with more than 2 pets, leave the most generous gifts. I am on a sit now where I was left freshly baked bread, eggs, chocolate and two bottles of wine. All to mind just 1 quiet dog. It is my second time here and I would come back in a flash. They also left me freezer space (so many don’t). I don’t repeat sit for home owners who leave nothing. I don’t see why I would as it costs me a lot in fuel and tolls to get here. I still give them great reviews and I have enjoyed the experiences.
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One big difference is in the US the refrigerator and freezer are far bigger and they store much more on the top shelf.
Tips ….. no difference
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Hi Dkrumblis, It is always very much appfreciated if something is left, even if just a bottle of wine and some chocolates. Sits have varied considerfably frfom onbe ownerf asking me what foods I liked and stocking the firdge with more than enough for me to eat during my stay to an empty fridge. One owner owned a health club and I had a voucher for a free meal and drink in the restaurant there, as well as free use of everything at the club. I would go for a late morning swim and then have a nice meal afterwards. Another gave me a voucher for a very nice cream tea. Others have taken me out for meals on numerous occasions. I have also had lots of nice cookies and cakes left for me. some have boughtg me gifts and jewellery. A few have avtually said help myself to any wine, although I am not a big drinker so would only have abeen a small glass each evening. It is really nice to be appreciated, as now and again you do feel like the unpaid slave, espially when a large house with huge grounds, where they have full time gardenrs and a cleaner three times a week, all getting paid and all you get is an empty fridge and freezer and not even offered a drink when you arrive hot and tired, and then asked to wait around taking in deliveries etc. One I woulod not go back to. BNut yes I have had repeast booking with the generous ones who do buy you a meal out and also leave you things.
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That’s lovely and thoughtful that you found a restaurant with English speaking owners.
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Didn’t have to go looking, it’s at the bottom of our hill and in the 30 years we’ve lived here it has had 6 British owners.
Anyone in the UK a fan of Julia Chapman’s The Dales Detectives series? She and her husband ran the place for several years and she wrote her very first novel there.
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I’ve learned a lot from the sitters on this Forum. We make sure to clean out our refrigerator, freezer and make pantry space for sitters. We have not taken long vacations, 7-14 days normally, but we have a 22 day trip planned for later this year. I can’t imagine a sitter going out to eat all the time because I didn’t provide space for them.
I’ve also add little niceties to make our sitters feel special and welcome.
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I am happy to have read this post because it hadn’t occurred to me to leave a tip before.
The things I already do: I ask for dietary restrictions and leave staples: Coffee, tea, creamer, butter, carton of eggs, bacon and cinnamon rolls. I usually leave something on the cake plate. And then I leave a bowl of fresh fruit and a basket of snacks - a mix of local goods and then chocolates, crackers, popcorn, etc. I also leave a six pack of beer, wine, lots of sodas, sparkling waters and fresh squeezed juice.
I also clean out the fridge and freezer. (Lucky to have an extra fridge outside so this helps). But I always leave a ton of space in both the fridge and freezer as well as the pantry.
I also leave hangers and room in the closet as well as empty out a few dresser drawers.
But I like the idea of leaving a gift card or two for local spots and honestly, often times the staples and snacks I leave behind aren’t consumed, so I may start with a few little snacks and leave a gift card for the grocery store too.
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Everyone has different tastes and diets, so it’s nearly impossible to get the right items unless they’re asked. That’s why a gift card for a local grocery store can be great, if you choose to be generous. Again, that’s a choice, not an obligation.
Personally, I exercise the same cleanliness, tidiness and such with homes, no matter whether hosts give me anything. Those are my own standards. And pets get the best care, because even if (for instance) their humans were jerks, it’s not the pets’ fault.
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So agree I do it for the pets first and foremost. Also my reviews aren’t too scathing as who will care for the pets next time? I try to sort issues amicably over WhatsApp. Quite often it is thoughtlessness more than deliberate carelessness. I’m not perfect either! I try to learn from each sit and share any tips I think could help make their next sitter happier.
It’s teamwork after all.
That freezer is disgusting and badly needs defrosting.
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