Just returned from a long trip and seriously disappointed in my Housesitter based on their previous reviews and their assurances! My question to HO and sitters is how to deal with a situation 6000 miles away when you don’t want to piss off the Housesitter since you still need to rely on them yet you know things are not going as agreed?
Specifics: I have used TH for 7ish years & overall have had good success with only a couple serious disapointments like this one. I met this housesitter well beforehand to explain nuances and resposibilities—all were accepted as no problem. Basically pet care & water plants, put out garbage etc. I also leave detailed instructions to guide pet, garden & house care. Housesitter knew I was nervous about leaving the animals for the longest housesit thus far and that I wanted updates and pictures every few days. Well, I had to ask for them every which way I knew how and the response given was everything is fine! I nearly had to beg for pictures and asked for specifics which rarely came. I could go on, but suffice it to say houseplants were extremely dry (can’t bear to see my what my garden looks like yet). I know garden was not watered for a week plus, garbage not taken out etc. and reason given was “work was very busy”!
Thank goodness my vigilant neighbor put out my garbage —essential for gardener and she. stepped in to water garden at times. My neighbor’s assessment is Housesitter was lazy.
The bottom line is my pets were alive and looked well when I returned which is of course the most important aspect to me but honestly not getting updates caused me distress for 2-3 weeks.