I find it’s easier to win the animals over than the Home Owners, at times.. it’s a big ask for us to trust strangers too. I totally get it. When it really is achieved, and mutual, that is when it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. Pets, Home Owners and Sitter a vital triangle of Trust.
“Be a friend to make a friend”. This maxim is what it is all about in my opinion.
Of course we start off professionally and remain so at all times, but if friendship and repeat sits are offered? Yes I’m up for that too!
So how do you get trusted? Any tips from experience about what is the best approach?
I shared an experience of how a French Bulldog in my care, fell into a canal and I had to rescue him. I told the Home Owners who were holidaying in France at the time, using THS for the very first time!
How did they react?
What did I expect would be their reaction?
Should I have kept it quiet and never told them?
I was determined to tell them. It hadn’t been my fault, in my view. The Home Owners had recommended I’d take the two dogs on the circular walk along the canal route. The moment the dog fell in I was carrying the other dog across the canal. I hadn’t been negligent. It wasn’t appropriate to have both dogs on the double lead which I’d been using up to the canal crossing procedure.
I waited for the WhatsApp reply….
“Mark, thank you for telling us. Dylan has no awareness of dangers, being two he’s like a toddler charging into trouble! Next year, before we book our annual holiday, can you give us your availability dates, please? “
Alls well that ends well. I’d pulled the dog to safety as quickly as I could. I hadn’t panicked.
The next day I took him on the same walk to check he was ok about water! He crossed carefully and drank from a shallow point along the route. He had learned from this experience. We all had.
On my first sit - my VERY FIRST - the cat was chasing a moth and knocked over a large, apparently vintage and irreplaceable lamp which shattered into a million pieces. I had a complete meltdown, "My first sit, I’m going to get a terrible review, this is terrible…" etc.
But all I could do was tell the truth. I explained the situation, offered to pay for the item (without harping on the fact that it was the cat that did it, not me) - and the homeowners basically shrugged and gave me a glowing review. Honesty is the best policy.
I start by putting myself in the place of hosts and trying to address all typical questions or concerns in my profile, applications and other communications. That way, they don’t even need to ask about such. Like I applied for a sit yesterday and have heard back from the host:
“Thank you so much for the thoughtful and detailed message 
We feel like you have a good energy and could be a perfect fit for us.”
Some of the other things I do:
• Share all contact info early, so we don’t need to rely on THS’s iffy technology.
• Be consistently transparent and straightforward. Like if there’s something I can’t or won’t do, be direct. I don’t hike with dogs or mow, for instance. (I purposely avoid high-energy breeds when choosing listings anyway, because I’m a couch potato. Plus, I telecommute.)
• My profile also is upfront: I share what I need and value as a sitter, including high-speed internet, fridge and freezer space, a clean home, etc. I also mention that I want to partner with hosts who’ve nailed down their travel plans. And in a friendly way, I mention THS dealbreakers, such as aggressive pets, lack of disclosure about pets’ health conditions, no third parties staying in the home, no internal cameras.
• In my applications, I reference video chatting, so we can see whether there’s a mutual fit. I specifically mention mutual fit, to avoid hosts who think choosing goes one way.
• If I don’t see a potential fit during or after a video chat, I let hosts know directly, wish them well and move on. Even in a case where a host and I canceled (because months after we’d confirmed, she told me her grown son had unexpectedly moved home and would overlap my sit), I declined in a friendly way and she voluntarily offered to share costs on changing my travel arrangements and she later (unsolicited by me) recommended me to sit for a friend, who also is a THS host.
• If I would fly in for a sit, I mention in my application that I usually arrive a day ahead, to avoid travel delays affecting the sit and so we can do a strong handoff. And if that doesn’t work for the host, let’s please discuss.
• During video chatting, I set expectations that I will want the welcome guide well ahead of the sit, so I can raise questions or concerns. And I read the WG as soon as I receive it, so I can save us all time and trouble if something is off. Like one host didn’t mention till their WG that one dog needed to be let out overnight and another was prone to diarrhea, so I was able to withdraw immediately, leaving them months to find another sitter. I was direct, yet friendly, so no hard feelings.
• While we plan a sit, I ask them to send me in writing their travel departure and arrival info, so I can make my plans based on theirs. If I’m booking airfare, I show them tentatively the flight I’m considering. That gives them the opportunity to correct my times if I’ve goofed. Then once I’ve booked, I let them know. So we’re coordinated and it helps me avoid them changing plans on me without good reason. Note: Over 24 successful sits, I’ve never been surprised by a host’s departure or return. Even in the case of two legit emergencies, the hosts and I communicated clearly about adjusted return times.
• During handoffs, I mention if something similar or relevant has come up on previous sits. That tends to give hosts confidence based on my experience. I also redirect them if there’s certain handoff info I don’t need. Like I don’t need guidance on how to use a washing machine, dishwasher or such. And I don’t drink coffee nor use hosts’ TVs, so it saves time to skip instructions.
• Ask to see emergency shutoffs for water and gas, and where fuseboxes and wifi gear are. That way, I can troubleshoot in case of emergency, even if I can’t reach the hosts. It gives hosts peace of mind to know that an experienced homeowner is sitting for them.
• Send updates consistently, as previously discussed with the hosts. I usually do them at least once a day, every morning my time. And I note that I don’t need a reply unless I’m specifically asking about something. That way, no unnecessary pressure on the hosts.
• If anything looks off to me about a pet while hosts are away, I ask right away. Like what looks like a limp, a wound, a cough, etc. Is it normal? I won’t know unless I ask. If something unusual happens, I also ask myself, can the host do anything about it or need to know? Or would it be better to wait till their return, so no need to worry or wonder? Like sometimes sitters post about things that they needlessly made hosts worry about.
Maggie, it would be GREAT if THS would adopt your ideas as a checklist that must be completed before a sit is officially confirmed! Especially the start and end times. We just did a sit where we were a day off because the HO returned around 12:01 am on the end date.
This is so sensible and thorough! No surprise it’s your post, Maggie8k! That’s a wonderful contribution and particularly for any newbies.. sorting the important trees from the woodland maze that applications can often appear to be.
I do hope this gets incorporated by management, as has already been so rightly suggested by Whirld-Traveller, as a check list.
Good pracitice makes perfect sits and fits!
What everyone wants to achieve, consistently,
Best fit for all: pets, Home Owners and Sitter.
We once had an incident with a pet.
We kept schtum!
Maybe that decision can be reached if you decide it was
Minor
Not worth worrying an over anxious Home Owner when you’ve resolved the problem yourself.
Ultimately you have to live with whatever choices you make. As a general rule I do believe honesty is the best policy.
Just as I expect Home Owners to be up front about everything with me.