Its true- video calls only became a thing during Covid. Before 2020 we confirmed all sits via,messaging or phone call. During Covid when Zoom took off and video calling in general became popular suddenly practically every host wants a video call. My hubby hates them & always stands in the background behind me! We’ve got used to it now but don’t make video calls in any other context except for chatting with the kids/grandkids! With friends I still prefer a regular phone call for a good old chinwag! 
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We’re in France and used THS 10+ years ago when Skype was the main video option if the other pary didn’t have an Apple device to use Facetime. It’s so simple to do video calls now! Resistance to doing one would be a red flag to me.
20 years ago we did home exchanges with families in other countries and we didn’t even do phone calls. It’s a good thing we didn’t speak beforehand with the family we exchanged with in Quebec because when the father, who couldn’t speak English, picked us up at the airport we couldn’t understand a word of his French!
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Agreed. Technology has evolved and so have many people’s expectations and skills. Even school kids learn video skills nowadays.
Personally, over decades, I’ve work with loads of folks remotely, with us spread all over the world. Back in the day, we relied on phone calls — before email, video or such. Happily, we’ve advanced.
Nowadays, video is standard in many settings. Like yesterday, I helped screen a candidate for another team and noted various weaknesses in his video interviewing, so suggested that we pass on him. Wouldn’t want him representing our company with substandard skills.
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I’ve just signed up as a HO and looking for our first sitter. I can see both sides of this but I would say that if you go for a job interview I wouldn’t expect the business to employ the first person they interviewed. However, I would expect that a zoom call or two would be enough to get an idea of the person/HO.
I’ll let you know if I change my mind when I get a sitter 
Gotta say tho’ you all sound lovely and anyone who loves animals has extra points already. 
So you are being yourself on a video call and if you blabber that’s fine, you’re human. I’d rather someone be themselves than someone who is word perfect and doesn’t seem approachable if you know what I mean.
I would prefer a video chat as you get to see each other and get their body language. I feel sometimes things can get taken out of context on a phone call but when you see a persons face you can get their meaning by their expressions. Not that I’ll be sitting there checking body language to check if you’re a psychopath 
also, that works both ways.
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