It’s easy to avoid sharing sensitive info if you send a welcome guide using Word, Google Docs or such. You can send such welcome guides early, minus passwords, etc., and share that info later. Similarly, you can update your WGs even if you use the THS platform.
Some sitters make expectations clear at the outset that they will need the welcome guide well ahead of the sit.
Personally, I will not make travel arrangements without having received a WG. In one case, I withdrew once I discovered via the WG that a host had withheld info earlier about a dog who needed letting out overnight and another who was prone to diarrhea. In another case, I asked a question and helped the host realize that he’d sent me an old version, because they’d moved units in a high-rise apartment building and he’d sent the old address.
4 Likes
I also expect the WG to be sent right away. It’s nice when people who use Word or Google docs send it before confirmation, although I’ve only had that happen a couple times. But I do request it as soon as I accept the sit. I won’t make plans to travel anywhere until I have the address and WG.
3 Likes
Here’s my quandary I like the home and dogs, I like the Home Owner on a video call and when I asked politely for more info she explained shes in France at present. The very strong single review is also confirming that things should go well.
The Home owner has suggested I get in touch with the housekeeper if I need to know anything more. The Home Owners are meeting me at the bus stop as arranged.
When the sit was agreed the Home Owner wanted me to stay on for an extra week. This was because the housekeeper preferred to return on a direct flight. She wanted me to change the dates but I explained that was something only the Home Owner could do as it’s their property. I screen shot the procedure to help the Home Owner who managed to make the necessary alterations herself.
It appears that The Home Owner is uncomfortable with IT. They are not alone there.
I will definitely need quite a lengthy induction if the material isn’t written down somewhere. I may be able to help the Home Owner as from the records they’ve only had one sitter. Maybe they normally use the housekeeper?
No doubt more will be revealed on meeting each other. All may be well but I’d prefer preparation and planning to be clearly in place and few, if any, surprises.
I wouldn’t recommend this to an inexperienced sitter but I have 25 reviews and know what I am about.
1 Like
I don’t have Google Docs or Word and I am not very tech. I do talk to my prospective sitters and hope I am open and honest with them. There are no hidden secrets or chores or problems in my guide, just details of where everything is, when the bins go out etc. The passwords are not given until they arrive and they are on separate instructions like how to set the alarm system which I also discuss before they accept. I am sorry that some people have been badly let down but I am on my 21st sitter and not had one single complaint so I must be doing something right.
Hope things go better in the future.
1 Like
I have had this issue many times. Once it was quite bad. While the HO told me in our zoom meeting that their dog was fine for 4-5 hours alone I discovered in the welcome guide after committing to the sit that actually it was only an hour! And he chewed everything. I immediately called membership and told them I would not be doing the sit. You cannot retroactively change an agreement. There was no way I was going to be able to do that. I then told the HO I would not be able to sit for them. I did not have a problem with membership at all. They totally understood.
1 Like
Actually it is not too late. If you have a budget you can just leave. We are paying members not employees.
1 Like
How about when they refuse to supply the WG on the platform and ask you to just wait and read their print out? Then you get there and it’s five walks a day, dog poops everywhere etc.
1 Like
I have asked HOs to cancel my sitting if they are unable to share their Welcome Guide in a timely manner.
6 Likes
@Itchyfeet Yes, we discuss the WG during the video chat and indicate that we’d like it within two days of confirming. If that doesn’t happen, we’ve sent a gentle reminder and we’ve gotten it that day. So far, that method has worked.
However, if that doesn’t work, we will cancel. Absolutely.
I hope it won’t ever come to that.
1 Like