Hi Colin!
I’d add something to this. Ticking that public transportation is not available isn’t the same as sitter needs a car in my opinion. There can be a location without public transportation yet a car wouldn’t be necessary. If there are grocery stores and restaurants within walking distance, but no public transportation, someone without a car could still accept the sit and arrange for transportation to and from the sit.
Dan
5 Likes
I am basically at the sit, except for dog walks or groceries. I would say that I am pretty much 24/7 with the animals. Only the odd hour or so going for groceries. Not that there hasn’t been a time where I have gone to the beach, or met a friend for lunch. But I would say 3 sits out of 20. Otherwise, I am pretty much there except for short shopping trips.
1 Like
Owners in a “huge metro area” should always describe where they live in their listing.
There is a specific section titled “Home and Location.”
This should be self-explanatory, but I often see listings in big cities in which the Owner fails to mention the neighborhood where they live.
Sometimes I “apply” just to ask about location, letting the Owner know that I would actually like to apply if they are near X location.
1 Like
I see a lot in big city listings too that don’t provide the neighborhood. If I’m looking at sits in Chicago, it’s an enormous city and there are neighborhoods I would not stay in. Some places that are in the city can still be an hour from downtown if you are using public transit (or sometimes even by car, due to traffic). If the hosts in large cities don’t provide the neighborhood, I just scroll on. It seems pretty obvious to me that the sitter would need to know at least the general part of town the home is in before applying.
2 Likes
I don’t understand why THS don’t want the Sitters to have access to this information, it would make things so much easier.
2 Likes
I honestly wish that the THS system would use signal to set the location just like ride share services do.
It’s very frustrating to see a sit in “X” place, and find out they are actually an hour away and a car is necessary.
If I can add one more thing: homeowners, PLEASE review your listing before reposting. Nothing more frustrating than seeing a “ Looking for someone to spend Christmas with fluffy” …for a listing with June dates. Make sure it reflects the right info like time of year, the right number of pets (if you’ve got three dogs in your profile set up but your listing only mentions one or two, that’s needlessly confusing for a sitter, and potentially prevents you from finding people).
Here’s two examples.
3 Likes
I applied for a sit in Manhattan. But they were actually across the river in NJ. You can take a bus but if driving, the toll on the bridge is high, so going back and forth is not attractive. Why do you put Manhattan, when you are in NJ?
2 Likes
Snap…in Palm Springs of all places 
I have messaged a few owners directly when this happens. With mixed responses.
Sometimes it is much older people who are not computer savvy and a younger family member created the original listing but they don’t know how to change it.
Still no excuse though. Some older people are also very savvy.
1 Like
I agree there. Some owners are very flexible but then there are others such as one i read recently. It was right at the end of their responsibility section stating that the puppy had ro be taken outside every hour. To prevent accidents, as going through the toilet training stage. You also could not take it anywhere, as had not had all its injections yet. And they mentioned all the nice things to do in their area. When???
5 Likes
Yes I totally get that not everyone is savvy, and often people don’t even think about their listing and what it says.
But that’s why I’m posting the reminder. Just as these homeowners wouldn’t want sitters sending a form letter that isn’t relevant to the listing, and shows they haven’t even reread their own application, we homeowners owe sitters the same courtesy.
Two minutes, top, to update your listing when you post new dates. Kind of the least we can do!
1 Like
Este post parece escrito para mí. Acabo de tener una muy mala experiencia con una persona que ofrece su casa con bastantes lugares cercanos para visitar y playa pero luego pretende que el cuidador esté todo el tiempo con las mascotas. Aclaro que nunca dejó solos a los animales más de 4 a 5 hora como mucho. Lo que se ofrece como una ventaja, es un engaño
Y luego recibo una reseña pésima justamente por esos detalles: falta de información y exigencias no expresadas, además de un trato no adecuado.
Este lugar es cercano a Sitges, España
Tal vez sirva de advertencia 
Translated using Google Translate - Forum Team
This post seems like it was written for me. I just had a very bad experience with someone who offers their home with plenty of nearby places to visit and the beach, but then expects the pet sitter to be with the pets all the time. I should clarify that they never left the animals alone for more than four to five hours at most. What is offered as a benefit is a scam.
And then I get a terrible review precisely because of those details: lack of information and unspoken demands, in addition to inadequate treatment.
This place is near Sitges, Spain.
Maybe it serves as a warning
Exacto, ver está opción me hubiese ahorrado problema cuidando unos gatitos con una persona que pretendía que no los deje solos nunca
No lo hubiese tomado porque mi intención es conocer lugares sin descuidar las mascotas, que son prioridd
Forum team: translated by Google Translate
Exactly, considering this option would have saved me the trouble of caring for kittens with a person who wanted me to never leave them alone.
I wouldn’t have taken it because my intention is to explore places without neglecting the pets, who are a priority.
1 Like
@SilviaGui You post is rather contradictory! First you say the owner wants you to be with their pets all the time and then you say they never leave their pets more than 4-5 hours at a time.
If its a dog sit then 4-5 hours is a pretty standard amount of time to leave dogs alone. Usually cats can be left much longer.
If the hosts had different expectations of you, the sitter, than of themselves then that is indeed unfair.
These type of details should always be discussed in advance, before confirming a sit, so that everyone is on the same page.
If you want more time for exploring then maybe choose cat sits, or other animals that need less attention.
3 Likes
4-5 hours is quite standard and certainly enough time to go do some exploring. I’d say that it’s unreasonable to expect to be away from dogs for longer than that (it’s even illegal to leave them alone longer than that, in some countries).
Perhaps good to clarify your expectations up front, but as both a sitter and a homeowner, I think 4-5 hours is very reasonable.
1 Like
Dije que nunca fue claro el tiempo que debía permanecer con ellos (gatitos) y que lo fui descubriendo a medida que pasaba el tiempo. Al principio tenía total libertas(según ella) y luego no quería que los deje solos. En fin, la comunicación deficiente es un problema serio.
Gracias por responder
Translated using Google Translate- Forum Team.
I said it was never clear how long I was supposed to stay with them (kittens) and that I figured it out as time went on. At first, she had complete freedom (according to her), and then she didn’t want me to leave them alone. Anyway, poor communication is a serious problem.
Thanks for responding.