@IHeartAnimals We too occasionally overlap sits and split for a night. We have a similar system to @Colin in how/when we discuss it with the hosts. We only do this if we feel we can manage both sits without compromising either. We always want all hosts to feel they have our 100% commitment even if one of us leaves early to start the next sit. If we are not meeting the hosts at the end of a sit and know that the overlap won’t affect them in the slightest then we may not even mention it at all.
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Hi @meow - we are highly responsible sitters and think that we are mature enough to know ourselves whether one of us is providing anything less than two would be doing, and the answer is no.
With us, getting either of us or both of us is getting the same standard of care for your home and pet.
If you want us to guarantee to be joined at the hip from arrival to departure you would have to stipulate that in your listing and be prepared for us to arrive very late at the start of our sit and to leave very early on the last day in order for us to logistically be able to travel together to our next sit.
We think that the way we organise our time is far better for us and also for both sets of home hosts, giving them both total flexibility on our arrival and departure times.
Win-win-win!!!
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Hi @meow I understand your concern but can echo the comments of @Colin 100%.
As I mentioned in the post above we would not do an overlap unless we are absolutely certain we will not compromise either sit in any way. We too are highly responsible and very experienced sitters. If either sit is complex and really requires us both at all times (rare!) or the distance between sits is too great (as we have only one car) we simply would not do it! We would not want to risk our good reputation. But sometimes simple logistics mean we can actually offer a better service this way.
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Exactly this @Colin
If HO 1 requires that on the day we leave that we stay with their pet until they return
and HO2 needs us to be there early for a handover .
So one of us stays at first sit and one goes ahead to next sit ( if it’s feasible for us to do this )
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Even if the overlap is just a few hours, @meow, we ensure both HO’s know and agree to having one of us leave early / arrive late. We go over our detailed plans for that time with both sets of pet parents before we confirm the second sit, and we give the first-to-confirm pet parent the ability to say no. Using this approach everyone’s comfortable. We’ve never had anyone say no.
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Hello lovely people.
Need bit of advice.
Im going on holiday October to Cornwall (not a sit).
There is a sit in Cornwall I really would love to do. It is also in October. Want to add it to my holiday but there is a 4 day gap where I would be baseless. As I’m 300 miles away, not viable to come home and go back. I drive everywhere too!
Any thoughts/ideas before I think of applying?
Thanks 
Hi @MarieHuggins ,
Something that my husband and I did when we had a 5 day gap was set up an alert in an area that was easy to reach from sit # 1 and sit # 2. Fortunately, within days we did find HO’s who were going away for only five days, so our availability fit in very nicely with their schedule. It helped that the HO’s of the second sit had expressed that we should arrive at their house in the late afternoon.
Otherwise, to keep your costs down, you could rent just a room (not an entire apartment) in someone’s house.
Personally, I will still apply, and then see how things evolve.
One thing to keep in mind is always making sure that each set of ho’s don’t expect you to stay there until the day after (or show up the day before) of the dates posted. Sometimes these details transpire only once you’ve started the conversation with them.
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@MarieHuggins , this is frequently the case. Other sits in the general area will probably come up by then to fill in the unbooked days or at least some of them. And you could also book a hotel or AirBnb stay. Many owners do not post their dates until closer to the time they are leaving so set up a saved search to be notified of when they list.
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What @mars said. And also, you might be able to ask the HO if you can arrive 1-2 days early - some people are amenable to that. That would only leave you with 2 paying nights. But personally, we would look for other sits in the area or just book an Airbnb. You can’t expect all housesits to match up every time - it’s part of the lifestyle. We budget for X number of hotel nights per year/month so that we know there is money should we need to use it - either for gaps or emergencies.
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Thank you so much.
To set up alert, do I put in the dates and save as favourite? Im new and learning 
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Thank you.
I work full time so also fit around work😊
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Ah,too late. reviewing. Lesson learned
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Us too. It’s not for the faint hearted 
Lots of planning involved. And above all flexibility.
Agree with @botvot & @mars
I would just go ahead and apply. Assuming you get the sit just get absolutely clear on your arrival/dep timings and set up a saved search for the gap days- chances are very good there will be a last minute listing that works- its happened for us many times. The shorter listings are often posted nearer the time or even last minute. Good luck & enjoy Cornwall! If there is an odd gap night we usually book a cheap airbnb with kitchen access so at least we can make our meals and keep extra costs down.
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@MarieHuggins oh Never mind! Next time just jump in and apply and sort out the logistics afterwards! We are all forced to act quickly these days with the 5 app pause!
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@MarieHuggins the one thing I learned was to only book hotels/Airbnbs where you can cancel or change for free. Even the most fixed plans sometimes need changing or fine-tuning closer to the time.
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Oh sorry you missed yours too.
No you are right.
All a learning process though.
I think it’s cuts off after 5 applications too, so have to get in there quick.
I wonder if it goes live again if the HO doesn’t choose anyone?
Yes. If they don’t find the right sitters they can manually unpause it and go live again- so you might still be in with a chance!
P s if you ever see a sit with 4 apps already and really want it then send a quick ‘hold the space’ message to grab the 5th spot then you can take your time with your proper application!
Not all Airbnb’s are ridiculously expensive - I live in Essaouira, Morocco and you can find more reasonably priced places here if you look carefully. And it’s a great place to come between sits, especially in winter.
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@MarieHuggins I suggest you favourite (heart) some sits in the area you want as the HO gets an alert when you do this. They may reach out and contact you and you may be lucky enough to score a sit for the dates you want. HOs are often flexible with their travel. I also suggest you put something at the top of your profile about being free for Cornwall sits from x date to x date. When HOs read your profile they will see this.
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