House sitting is not what it used to be, but that makes sense because year on year it’s growing 9-11% meaning that more and more people are joining. People these days don’t understand the concept of house sitting as much as the originals.
We just have to go through the whole process of educating new house sitters. I mean, lets also face it, most people want to travel, but many people are struggling with the rising cost of living.
I hate to say this but, we just need to teach people basic manners and basic house sitting etiquette. I think that THS and other House sitting platforms would do well having a basic initiation quiz, which explains the whole idea behind house sitting, basic ettiquette, who should strip the bed etc.
Also, as a house sitter myself, I need to be honest, some house owner are also looking at house sitting as a way to get free labor, I think the word FREE in the promotional material might signal to people free labor, free holidays.
This is why I think for sure people should have a quick mandatory guide questionnaire, that takes 10min.
Let’s be honest, 95% of people using this platform never read the terms and conditions and basic etiquette.
Make it mandatory.
Nope a mandatory guide will function as a barrier. I’m not in the slightest interested.
I’m old enough and wise enough to know how to make things work, to make adjustments, to fix things when they go wrong. I have values that I don’t compromise on.
I don’t seek perfection from HOs I sit for and I accept any shortcomings, good enough is all I ask. I’m pretty good at sussing out from profiles and video chats if a sit will work for me, the dogs I’m entrusted with and the home.
Maybe what you are describing might be applicable and perhaps even necessary for the new type of members THS seems to want, but it’s not for me. There are far bigger shortcomings with THS that need to be addressed first.
No company would create unnecessary friction that drives business away like that. Plus, it would annoy the crap out of people who know what they’re doing.
One of the things I screen for looking for both sits and sitters is a shared understanding of the exchange. Especially with newer hosts, I’m kind of introducing myself in a way that communicates that. If they respond for a chat, I’ve probably succeeded. Similarly with sitters, I prefer sitters whatever their age who understand that we’re both travelers eager to explore new places (or for many of my sitters visit a city they already love visiting) and we are both helping each other to make this possible. I’d have no problem with a sitter asking me about things to do nearby or must sees, or anything. I’m happy to help them with that as long as we’ve established that they are willing to do the pet care as specified and to leave my home in more or less the same condition as they found it.
The thing is some of the older people are stuck in ways that are not very fitting of house sitting either. The only bad house sits I have had, out of 20 were 2 retirees, which thought they were bringing more to the table than a house sitter. at one the house was dirty on arrival, and the other did not disclose the dogs aggression and barking until we arrived at her place and she just mentioned it in a “oh he can be snappy in the evening” - He wasn’t snappy, he lunged at me and barked for 3 nights straight.
Yes not everyone is rude, not everyone lacks etiquette and manners, most people are lovely, but if we want change in a community, we should not consider ourselves better than others and embrace a 10 min introduction. Then everyone is on the same page and there is no excuse for bad actors on the platform who are taking advantage of the exchange model.
Perhaps you could sharpen your selection skills so that you don’t have such a high poor sit rate, 1 in 10 isn’t good. What’s your primary motivation for sitting, is it free accommodation?
Funny. I don’t find the note at all condescending. Firstly, I’m always flattered to be invited; it rarely happens *checks deodorant* … But I think that little line about cake was an attempt to move from the formal to the friendly. It would have made me chuckle and rather warm to the HOs..
The other thing is I have several friends who think we are crazy to leave our pet and home to a total stranger. They all have dogs and said they would never do it even though they know we have had wonderful sitters.
I was in a shop paying at the till and began a conversation about pet sitting. The lady admitted she couldn’t contemplate leaving her elderly Lab and thus never went on holiday now. She knew it was irrational but also knew she’d never use a kenneling service.
We continued chatting and I explained the ethos of THS. Then she handed her phone over and asked me to write my details in and email address!
I think it’s the initial anonymity that worries many. I was buying a present for my current Home Owner and the lady realized this could work very well for her. “ Be a friend to make a friend “
Whether she does make the jump remains to be seen, of course. Time will tell. There’s no pressure, but there’s a better chance of a leap of faith.
This exchange has happened several times to me and I know people who hand over a business card at this point!
A stranger is a friend you haven’t yet made.
As experienced housesitters we hope that most THS members - on both sides - are good people with good intentions. But there are exceptions on both sides.
We’ve had video calls with pet parents that have sought to “hire” us - nope - or to choose us - nope - or to initiate some form of employer-employee relationship - or to permit us to have “free accommodation”. All nonsense - it’s a fair trade or no trade. We choose not to volunteer our time to help such people as, from experience, one red flag usually indicates many red flags and a bad experience. We politely decline and walk away.
Similarly, we’ve read on THS Forum and heard from some pet parents about some housesitters that seek a free holiday.
THS Marketing, and resultant member expectations, has been raised previously on THS Forum. Rarely, if ever, in a positive light.
I never said they were terrible, they were just the worst ones I had, They were still exceptional, but they did deserve a mention because they were worse than the rest of my house sits. Which would mean that I had 20, 5 star experiences but the subpar were retirees. Most of my top house sits were still working.
My primary motivation is free accommodation with pets around the world. I love traveling, but pets make it so much better. What is your primary reason for being a pet parent? Free Workers?
I had a direct invite the other day from someone in Somerset for a 5 days sit. I live in Scotland, I asked her are you aware I live in Scotland? She replied Yes, is it too far? you could stay an extra few nights if that made it easier?
TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY.
I replied "and would you be paying for my flight/train fare? "
So yes, some home owners only see it as what’s in it for them, and havent considered the sitter at all.
