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
https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/home-owner-curtails-sit-by-coming-back-several-days-early
https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/sitter-has-to-pay-veterinary-expenses-up-front