Hi guys,
I currently live in Bristol, UK. I found out a few weeks ago that I have to move out of my current house by the end of April so I’ve decided to become a full time housesitter! So far I have 3 sits confirmed which cover the first month. I only have one review from a previous local sit I did a couple of years ago, so I think it’s harder for me to land sits than it might be if I had more reviews under my belt.
My first experience of trying to get a sit was not a great one. I found one that was two months starting a couple of days after I needed to move out, so it seemed perfect. The HO asked me to visit them on the basis that it was a long sit. Although that meant most of a day travelling there and back I agreed because I was keen to get something sorted. We seemed to have a reasonably good chat and she said she was happy, and I said I was happy. When she dropped me off at the train station, as I got out of the car she said “So do you want to have a think about it?” and I said something like “Ok yeah, I’ll let you know tomorrow”. The next day I text her saying I wanted to go ahead, and she replied (quite quickly) saying she had a friend who wanted to do some of the sit so she might need someone more flexible, didn’t want to mess me around and would understand if I wanted to find something else. Also that her husband (who I didn’t meet) had asked her to hold off on making a decision. I would say she had already messed me around. I guess she slept on it and decided she wasn’t sure about me. So I was pretty disheartened about the whole housesitting idea for a few days after that. Two of the 3 sits I’ve now confirmed, I’ve not even spoken to the HO, they were happy to confirm just on the basis of a few messages, so it’s interesting how much contact different HOs want before confirming (or deciding against) a sitter.
Welcome robinstent! As sitters with THS for eight years now, we’ve encountered many different homeowners. We’ve never met homeowners in person who didn’t proceed with having us as sitters - that is very disappointing for you. We’ve been lucky that most sits we’ve applied on we’ve had very quick responses to and have sat for homeowners that we’ve never even met and have sent us the keys to their home by courier! We personally love homeowners who make decisions based on mutual trust which THS definitely fosters. Best of luck on obtaining future sits!
Welcome @robinstent and well done on confirming your first sits .
Are these for homeowners who are also new to the platform or do they have lots of reviews from previous sitters ?
We have met homeowners in person but only when they were local ( within 30 mins drive ) to our home or a sit we were already on . Even though we now have many reviews, we usually ask to have a video call with owners before agreeing a sit - for our own benefit as much as the homeowner. It’s a good way to chat about the pets and ask any questions not covered in the listing and you can have a video tour of the home too .
We have had fantastic experiences since we joined THS and became full time sitters . We have cared for great pets, met lovely owners and stayed in comfortable homes . It’s a continuous learning process and there are a couple of things we wish we had known when we started out so that we would have been better prepared - these are discussed on these threads
Welcome @robinstent and congratulations on confirming your first sits.
That is certainly disappointing that you went to the trouble of travelling to meet a homeowner and then they messed you around. Perhaps they were new and got cold feet.
You are correct that it gets easier to be accepted for sits once you have some reviews, but rejections do still happen.
You were very generous with your time with the first HO you met, I can only guess how disappointing it must feel that she changed the plans on you.
I’m not sure if you had a call (or a videocall) before travelling to see her. Going forward it may be better to have a quick chat before traveling far to meet someone you might not click with at all.
Personally, I would want to talk with the HO who accepted your application without a call too. On this forum there are quite a few examples of poorly matched Sitters/Ho’s and/or sitters who didn’t realize the full extent of the responsibilities with the pets, possibly because the HO forgot to specify some details on the profile or because their situations has changed. The issues may range from the dates being unclear, an extra pet that has joined the household, a dog that’s now unwell and requires much more attention than described, etc.
A call with well thought out questions on your part will help immensely.
We have made several pre sit visits and another one is lined up for tomorrow BUT these are after a video meeting and both parties agreeing the sit. I wouldn’t want to waste my time with a “interview “ visit.
I’ve done x3 pre confirmation in person meet-ups at a cafe but all local within 30 minutes of where I live, and found them invaluable, 2 confirmed and 1 declined which I was expecting as they were concerned I couldn’t manage 2 dogs (one was small the other a puppy) and on this sit I was planning to do it solo not as a couple. I’m quite small however as I’ve owned horses I’m very good managing strong animals and I walk large dogs, it’s mostly about technique/blocking/positioning and not strength. Anyway I respected their decision.
Thanks for all your replies, some really useful thoughts.
I think the HO I went to visit had only had two people sit for them before who they found on THS and one had done it a few times and become their go-to but wasn’t available. So I guess that puts them in the category of new to the process, so like a few have said possibly explains their nervousness.
I think from now on I won’t visit unless it’s local to where I am at the time, and will arrange a call even if they don’t ask for it.
I think maybe I need to be a bit more in the mindset of I’m choosing them as much as they are choosing me. I have noticed already that I’m being a bit more picky rather than just applying for things because the dates match. I think I was quite nervous to begin with about having nowhere to be, but now I’ve got my first month sorted I’ve noticed some new longer sits have been posted that I would have rather done but clash with the dates I’ve already got. So I’m thinking it pays to hold off a bit in case something that suits me better comes up. I’m surprised how short notice people put up quite long sits. I’ve just seen one that starts next week that’s for two months.