Pretty much all “this should be forbidden”-things are not really universally disliked enough to be forbidden. Cameras indoors are, giving medication to pets is not. And neither is local sitting. It would be impossible to curb: sitter do not need to prove their home address (even host dont have to) and can change it as often as they like. (So if you want a sit in a certain place, and owners want a local, change your location, and if they dont ask, dont correct… naughty but possible).
I hear that the competition is fustrating, and yes THS does not make it smoother with the 5 application limit, bad notification system, lousy search etc. So it would be nice if hosts would not limit who they consider. But in the end even if they dont say it, it will affect them, and just waste everyone’s time. And cause more frustration as either they give the reason and you wish you knew it beforehand, or they dont give the reason and you are left to wonder and question yourself.
@Mandyk01 We do a mixture of distant and local sits. One sit we have done 3 times is in our own town, just 15-20 minutes from our home. The area we live in is built up and urban, they live in one of the nicest suburbs with views of the surrounding hills and you can walk into open countryside in a matter of minutes. This is a mutually beneficial exchange for both us and the host.
Why should I be prevented from doing this sit because you don’t want to sit locally?
There are many different types pf sitters and hosts on THS. Everyone’s reason for sitting and preferred types of sits are different. If you are invited to a sit that doesn’t appeal, you can decline.
I agree that if hosts are looking for a specific type of sitter, it is useful if they say this in their listing, but not everyone will. People will be people. While it is frustrating to not be chosen because the host wants a local / digital nomad / solo sitter / retired person or whatever other criteria their ideal sitter fits, there are always other sits to apply for.
With experience, you begin to understand that rejections are rarely personal and just move on.
THS benefits a wide variety of sitters AND homeowners, not specifically travelers. I can totally understand that HOs prefer local sitters because it reduces the risk of travel delays impacting the sit. I learned about this site because my neighbor’s sitter couldn’t make their sit on time (their flight was cancelled), so I took care of her pets, or otherwise they wouldn’t be able to make their flight, and it would have messed up their trip.
I love sitting within driving distance because I really enjoy a change of scenery now and then… especially the ones luxurious perks (pools/spas/gorgeous gardens). There is no way I could afford to pay for air bnbs for these getaways. The cherry on top is that I love dogs and cats but can’t have any in my apartment, and look for sits with cuddly pets. As far as I’m concerned its like the perfect free vacation…yes, there is pet care, but a lot of them are super easy - like cats who just need feeding and brushing, or doggies who get let out in the yard a few times a day. Because I live alone, I love the bonus of having the companionship of a pup or two!