On a few occasions, when we’ve had a video chat or telephone call with a HO, it’s become very clear that they believe our application is an offer to sit, and they seem quite affronted if we subsequently withdraw our application.
We do try to educate people - usually newbies to the site - when they make this assumption, but maybe this is something THS should make clear to new customers?
We had a chat today with a HO and he started telling us where the knives and forks are kept and how to lock the doors! He clearly didn’t realise we had actually to confirm acceptance of the sit!
Yes, I’ve experienced this. I had one woman be very upset when I declined. A number of red flags came up in our chat, so I chose to decline. She responded implying that I was reneging on the sit.
I think this is also the reason why many HOs say the sitter is ‘cancelling’ when they withdraw an application. Many seem to think the application is an offer to sit and they just pick someone from the applicants. I agree that this is something THS should make clearer to HOs.
I don’t know that I’ve applied to any newbie homeowners so I haven’t had that experience. But it works both ways. I am also a homeowner and I have had people apply for the sit with no THS experience who seem truly surprised that other people are applying and the sit is likely to go to a person who has specific expertise and site reviews!
We’ve experienced this too and usually its a welcoming sign that they have already chosen us and are going to confirm the sit- i.e the chat is just a formality.
However we have also been misled by such comments. Once, early on, we were invited to visit pre-sit (and also pre-confirmation- never again!!) This was a 200km round trip in Australia which included a visit to another already confirmed sit. We spent an hour there-having coffee and a nice friendly chat, a tour of the house, being shown all the ropes, pet routines and ‘our’ room etc. We quite naturally assumed it was a done deal. So as we were leaving we suggested confirming officially. Then they said ‘Oh we’ve got another couple coming over as well- we’ll let you know later’!! We were honestly shocked and taken aback. The energy between us all changed instantly. As soon as were around the corner we withdrew our application. This lack of transparency honestly made us angry. They effectively stole our time. Fortunately the other sit visit meant the trip was not completely wasted..
Since then we have never done a pre sit visit unless the sit is already confirmed AND if we are nearby on another sit and it is convenient for us AND if it is really necessary e.g we won’t meet for handover on the day and the HO really wants/needs to meet us.
You live and learn!
I haven’t had anyone get really upset, but I have declined several times during or after the video calls. They do seem surprised and I can tell they believed it was a done deal on my end and they just had to pick me. Nope.
FWIW, in both my sitter profile and applications, I include wording that mentions exploring whether there’s a potential mutual match between the hosts and me. I started including that early on, to avoid hosts with a skewed perception that they just get to pick me or not. That was to ward off a one-way dynamic, but maybe it works as a two-fer and also helps educate newbie hosts.
Also, to actually help educate newbies, I mention in my sitter profile as a friendly heads up that THS doesn’t allow aggressive dogs, third-parties staying at the home, etc.
That’s probably helped some potential hosts reject me, which was my intent — I don’t want risky sits. It’s also helped with a recent sit, where the then-potential host replied to ask a clarifying question, because they wanted me to sit, but weren’t sure of X about their dog. That worked well, because the sit has turned out to be great — maybe a repeat in the future. But the key thing was, I could make an informed choice, because my profile wording prompted the host to ask about X. Our communications were strong from the outset, which is part of my expectations for any hosts I’d be willing to sit for.
In my profile, I also mention that I want to partner with folks who’ve nailed down their travel plans and I value fridge and freezer space. Good hosts pay attention. Like my current ones even mentioned that they’d cleared out room, because they’d read that I wanted freezer space.
Yes, we have had this and we much prefer this scenario to the ones who says at the end of the call , we’re interviewing some other sitters this week and will get back to you when we’ve decided !!
@Silversitters I really dislike that too! To be told at the end if the call that they have others to speak to!! Grrrr.. It always feels deflating. It happened to us recently for an upcoming sit. The woman said- at the end- “we have another csll this afternoon so will get back to you straight after (but I already know who i want)” implying us! We didn’t really like it but let it go as they were nice people. Half an hour later they wrote back ‘Congratulations- you got the sit!’ …like it was a prize! We didn’t really like that either! But somehow we decided to accept anyway as it looks like a lovely sit. A month in the S of France in a Villa with pool & 1 cat! And the reviews both ways are great. Lets see!
I consider the application the first step just like with a job, then the interview, then a final decision by both parties. This is like saying if you apply for a job you will take it regardless of the working conditions.!
When I make an application it is an offer to sit. I only apply if I am interested in doing the sit. More than happy for the homeowners to rightly assume that I am interested. I would not apply otherwise. But when I first jpoined TH’s there was not an option to turn a sit down. The very first sit I applied for I recieved an immediate reply that I was confirmed. No other messages had been sent prior to this. I was then sent the address and other details. It was only later that an option to decline a sit offered, was introduced. by Trusted Housesitters.
I think it’s typical to apply when interested in doing a sit, but the video chat and such are aimed at vetting that out mutually. Otherwise, you’d apply to sit and there’d be no further communications, just a confirmation button clicked by the host and you’re both committed. To me, that’s unnecessarily risky, but apparently some folks are OK with that. And I doubt THS randomly implemented the option to decline. There probably were enough sits gone wrong that they started the practice.
@visit glad that isn’t still the case. I would not be a member if I was required to take a sit just based on the listing. I screen listings carefully and scroll past many, so I only apply to sits I am very interested in. However, sometimes things are revealed during a chat that are dealbreakers. I would never commit to spending my time and money to do a sit without first talking with the hosts and determining that it’s the right fit and that I won’t get any surprises on arrival.
I am wondering if that is the case with a recent call I had. They want to me to visit and the dog to get used to me. I will be in the area in the near future, but no offer to sit. I am not convinced the sit works actually now. But I am wondering if I am their choice, they are just waiting? For me to me the dog. They want me to meet the dog a couple of times, even discussed dates.
I agree with you @Visit that if I have taken the time to apply for a sit that I am interested in, it is an offer. If I am seeking a little more information on a listing then I say at the beginning of my communication that it is an expression of interest and a formal application may follow depending on the responses to my questions.
!
We were honestly shocked and taken aback. The energy between us all changed instantly. As soon as were around the corner we withdrew our application. This lack of transparency honestly made us angry. They effectively stole our time. Fortunately the other sit visit meant the trip was not completely wasted..
