We also don’t stick around after the homeowners return, even if we’ve developed a great relationship, and we’ve stayed in touch with all of them to this day.
I just feel that when people come home, they want to rest, unpack, do laundry, and shower their pets with love. We don’t need to be in the way during that time.
We often get invited afterwards – for dinner, a weekend visit, or even to stay at their Airbnb for a holiday. We usually say yes, but we never push for it. I really don’t want to be a bother to anyone.
Yes, I agree that I want to know the sit from the actual day they leave and arrive back. If I prefer longer then it should be up to me as the sitter. The sit I am on required me to come early and leave late since it is so rural the houseowners must drive me to transport. However I didn’t find this out until after accepting. There should be a section for them called “Getting There and Moving On” which they are obligated to fill out with exact times and instrucitons as a paid sitter would expect. I fear this loose arrangement on TH encourages abuse of the sitter. Right now my schedule is in the hands of the homeowners. No info on time back and my next sitter wants exact info on my arrival. Stressful.
Hi, I’m a homeowner. With all our sits we’ve left super early in the am to catch a flight. Therefore, we always confirm ask for the sit to begin evening before. Typically, offer dinner or come after dinner (whatever works) in order to show them our dog and the house. We make it clear when we are arriving home. We’ve been asked if they can leave early (up front) and we ask that they stay until we are on the plane. We had one sitter that asked if they could stay at our house until they confirm their next sit (we did not agree to this sit. She said that many home owners allow this). If a sitters flight was cancelled I would certainly offer my home vs having them stay in a hotel. Whatever we agree upon during our call I always send an email to confirm our converstation.
We have found this to becoming more ‘normal’ in terms of HO asking for us to arrival the night before to go over routine, enjoy a simple dinner and then they will leave early the next morning. Yes, we aren’t the biggest fans of it…but it always turns out to be a enjoyable time and we are happy that we got to meet the HO. I struggle sleeping in the house with virtual ‘strangers’ too…but my husband sleeps like a baby! Lol. It is a nice feeling though when we wake up to an empty house and ready to start our sit after knowing everything there is to know.
We like it for a few reasons:
HO typically go in more detail about location of things in the home (Extra TP, Vacuum cleaner, all about food/pet responsbilities, etc)
HO typically feel like they can get to know us better and it seems to correalate with a better rapport during the sit updates/communication
HO are typically most generous when it comes to food/drink (sharing what is in the home)
HO typically seem more appreciative of our services and what we will provide them throughout the sit and it just makes for a calmer atmosphere.
We don’t however stay until the HO gets back home (ONLY unless the pet cannot be alone and we have to accommodate that). There have been times where it was requested…but we default with “We know what is it like coming back from travels and that you just want to unwind and be with your pets.” And then will leave within a reasonable time frame of their departure back home. Don’t ever feel like you have to! This is not a service to spend time with the HO…and most HO should understand that.
I have “padded” dates in order to meet the sitter (and they can meet my pup) a day before the sit starts. I tell them this on the video call and arrange for them to stay in a lovely boutique hotel (next to the beach and a few blocks from ny house) the day before the sit starts ( I pay for their hotel room and take them out to dinner). If I am arriving home on a late flight, I offer to pay for a nice hotel and/or they can stay in our house for the night. I feel that this is fair and totally worth the price of a nice hotel. I appreciate a good sitter and won’t take advantage of them. I am also a sitter when I’m not traveling and understand that it can be uncomfortable to spend the night with a HO before they leave.