Hi all, I’m on a sit and host just mentioned that her daughter may reach out to me as she needs to “print something” and so might need to drop by.
Hmm. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with someone ‘dropping by’ and aren’t there other ways to print something (stores etc)? This seems to go against THS rules (?) and she did not ask if I’m comfortable with this.
Am I being too uptight about this? Thanks for advice.
Not something that would bother me at all but it’s up to you to say yes or no I suppose. It may just be easier for her to print from a computer or environment that she is accustomed to using and has the printer set up and it might be quicker? You can always say no you don’t feel comfortable about it but is it really something to feel uncomfortable about? My homeowners son in law had to drop by a few days back to pick up a cot and some baby things but he rang and asked first and we set up a mutually convenient time to do it so it was no big deal for me. Totally your choice I think.
That would not bother me either. I was on a sit and the HOs were alerted that there was a leak on there property. They had me check all over different hose connections, under the deck for pool leaks. I couldn’t find anything. They called their daughter in law since she new the property well better than I. And to our luch she found a hose connection way up on the hill by a fence that had water coming from it. She came with her 2 little boys and i sat and talked to them and we had fun. It really gave me a spirit boost i had someone to talk to during my time there.
Sure, that was a property issue that needed tending to.
I’m a private person and don’t love unexpected company, and I guess it’s all in the way it’s said— if HO had said, ‘is it ok?’ Or ‘do you mind?’ that would sit better with me. Her assumption made me feel put upon.
In any case, it’s fine. There have been other things about the sit that won’t have me returning, so one more thing isn’t a big deal, lol.
I would not mind at all personally. I do think it is quite a leap of faith for someone to entrust their house and pets, and even if the homeowner has maybe arranged a quick check from someone, I am comfortable with it. I know the THS rules and regs are pretty strict, but we do have discretion in these situations. Of course, if you are sitting on your own, and have reason to be uncomfortable for any safety reasons, that’s another matter, but generally I am happy to accommodate these kinds of requests.
On one sit the mother of my host and a niece arrived unannounced to the property (Granny was helping Granddaughter find a toy horse). They thought the host had let me know, turns out he did but I hadn’t checked my emails that day. Anyway it was actually lovely, Granny and I had a cup of tea while the niece (granddaughter) rummaged around upstairs in the kids room for said toy.
Things happen. I like to see life through the analogy of Rock and Water. Sometimes you must stand firm and other times just go with the flow and stop being so rigid. To drop in and do some printing is no big deal really, I’d go with the flow. But if she said she was staying a couple nights, I’d stand firm and say no thanks.
Two instances I was fine with:
• Recently rescued year-old pup was having separation anxiety. Hosts’ grown daughter arranged to stop by to look for clothing that smelled like them, which we could allow the dog to cuddle with (and presumably destroy in the process). The dog also was thrilled to see her, play a bit and get the toy and treats she brought. We chatted for a stretch, perfectly friendly. The hosts and she had been thoughtful about asking me whether it was OK and coordinating time at my convenience. She rang the doorbell, even though she presumably had a key.
• My hosts told me at the outset that their grown son would be stopping by mid-sit to mow. He needed access through the house to get to the garage, where the equipment was. We coordinated timing. He mowed and we chatted briefly in perfectly friendly fashion and he left. He rang the doorbell, even though he presumably had a key.
Assuming the sit is going well, I would not see something wrong in it. And so it wouldn’t be a problem for me.
But I am one of four siblings and it was kind of normal that we dropped by at our familyhome to get or do something what we not yet could do easy in our little appartment when we just moved out.
So maybe it is different, because I am more used to it.
That’s the problem with asking others for advice: they provide responses based on perspectives that are different from yours. Only you can say whether it’s suitable/ comfortable for you, and you have every right to. To answer your question, are you being too uptight? No. You’re not. That’s how you feel, and it’s valid.
I have had sits where family members have asked to drop by to see the animals when they were in the area (often for several hours), as well as one where a neighbour/ friend dropped by unexpectedly on a couple of occasions to see how it was going. I wasn’t delighted by this, but have been accommodating to keep the peace. You will have to determine what is most comfortable for you, because the HO doesn’t appear to be considering that. For example, you could arrange a time when you’ll be out grocery shopping if you’d like to give the daughter some space and don’t want to be making small talk.
Sure, again those are visits to deal with things pertaining to sit/animal. Perfectly fine.
Anyway, apparently I’m in the minority here so I’ll just deal. I don’t feel unsafe, I just prefer not to have someone come by if not absolutely necessary, but not sure I feel comfortable telling that to HO.
In that case, maybe you can nudge them to coordinate time at your convenience or while you’ll be out.
You could say something like, BTW, with (name of daughter) stopping by to print, let’s coordinate for when I’m out (or at X time, which would work well for me).
If you frame it that way, it tends to avoid negotiation or them deciding time arbitrarily.
Thanks, yes, that’s helpful and makes sense!
Can you connect to their printer? Then you can print it and leave it for her? I’m also pretty private so I wouldn’t love it but I’d do it because in the grand scheme of things it’s not THAT huge a deal. But I would definitely negotiate a time that works for your schedule so she’s not just dropping by whenever.
Maybe respond with something along the lines of “as I’m sure you’re aware, having any 3rd party, including family, on the property during a sit is a violation of the TOS. I’m happy to make a one-time exception for this print job but please have your daughter contact me to coordinate a time that will work.”
Why don’t you say something along the lines of “It’s not actually allowed for third parties to visit during a sit under THS Ts & CS but, if your daughter can give me a day and time in advance of when she needs to drop by to do her printing then I can see if I can accommodate her. Or it may be easier if she just asks a friend or print shop as you are away. Please let me know which you prefer.” Then the power balance is restored in your favour @jcat33 #equalsinthis
Great minds think alike @CreatureCuddler 
#bloominentitlement
@Jcat33 I find it astonishing that she intends to interrupt your sit simply to “print something” which could, in this day and age, be printed from anywhere - unless the location is isolated, and/or whatever she needs to print is somewhat urgent and only retrievable in the home you are sitting. 
Yes, that would annoy me.
If she had asked nicely, I probably would not have minded, as long as the time was flexible and convenient.
I suspect it could be an “inspection” though, and that the print job was a pretext.
ohhh I didn’t think of that
I’d actually argue it’s harder to print things these days because there used to be internet cafes and the like all over where you could get things printed but with cheap home printers a lot of those are gone. And with more things going digital, even home printers are going the way of the dodo. I find it annoying and occasionally flat out difficult to print things when I need to these days. I had to print out a parking pass a few weeks ago and my friends I was visiting didn’t have a printer nor did they know anyone who does (and they work in tech). I had to go to 3 shops and finally beg a hotel to get the pass printed. And the whole time I was cursing Zurich for not joining the 21st century and requiring me to put a paper in my window vs just scanning my plate to see if I was registered.
That said, it’s still not particularly appropriate to interrupt the sit.
I do this at the library.
And in Copenhagen, there was job center that a friend happened to know about. And when travelling, the hotel.