Firstly, I agree that if you are not comfortable with this and it was not mentioned at application stage you should not do it.
We have often taken owners to and from the airport and they have done the same for us and we have then had use of their car.
Mr Itchyfeet loves driving any car, anywhere.
This has been advantageous in another way. On 2 separate occasions, our flights home were earlier than their flights in so they asked us to drive their car to the airport, park and put the keys in the post. They could then collect their car from their flight. (We made sure they had duplicate keys before we posted
Well said! Iāve probably learned just as much about human behaviour as I have about animal behaviour by doing this!
When I tend to hit issues, if Iām honest there was almost always a sign of some sort early on that things wouldnāt be plain sailing - even if it was only very minor. I glossed over and ignored it and then paid the price! It isnāt always easy though when we donāt exactly have long to make that initial assessment.
Youāre so right though to go on gut instruct initially. If our instincts ever tell us something feels amiss or a bit off shall we say, itās most likely because it is! I hope this situation youāre in resolves itself soon as nobody should ever be expected to do anything theyāre not comfortable with.
I very often offer to do an airport drop off and pickup for owners. It really helps reduce the stress of the experience. Especially if the sitters are loaning a car. But I do try to find ways to do those unexpected little things as a matter of course.
Weāve been asked (not told) if we could take HOs to the airport and pickup and have always been willing to do itā¦as the airport was not a long drive away either. One in our own car & one in their car. Yes, it is outside of the responsibility you have taken on and the HO should mention that in the talk you have before accepting.
I find there are several things that petsitters/homesitters do that may be outside of the defined rules of responsibility; but can be very helpful to the HO when they are out of town. So far, we havenāt minded doing any of them.
Right, being asked is far different than being told. I was told to take on this responsibility and not in her car but mine. Had I been asked nicely Iād certainly be willing. First impressions are everything, especially in this dynamic.
I take HO to the airport more often than notā¦and pick them upā¦almost always in their car, since mine is usually full of my things (I am a full time, nomadic sitter). I donāt mind at all. It gives up a bit more time to get to know each other and I get a chance to explore the area a little more.
Hi @bluet0917, I have also driven HO to the airport when I was allowed use of their car. I have driven HO to a nearby train station and picked them up using my own car.
If you have use of their car, make sure they leave written permission that includes your name, phone number, the year, make, model and color of their car, the license plate number, dates they are allowing you to drive it, the distance and/or vicinity you are permitted to drive it and their name and signature. Without this, a policeman stopping you could think the vehicle was stolen and if there was an accident, the HOās insurance may not cover it since it could appear you were not authorized to drive it. You canāt be too careful.
Iāve only been asked to do this once on a sit where the homeowner was lending me their car so I definitely felt like it was a fair trade off! She made sure I was totally comfortable with it and seeing as her airport is so small (Asheville) and only aout 15 minutes from her place it was no problem at all! I was also flying into that airport so picking up the car in the lot saved me a cab ride as well, win-win!
Had she demanded or surprised me with it without considering my departure schedule or had it been somewhere like Atlanta airport or an hour away I may have declined.
You have every right to say no for any reason, just as you are responsible for your own transportation to get to their house, they should be too!
Unfortunately, the HO hasnāt offered their car for use. I had told them that my car would be fully loaded with my bags with the exception of a couple packs and they responded by saying I can unload my car and take them in my car. It still doesnāt feel good for me and I have declined the ārequest.ā
Thank you all for the input/feedback! Itās been very helpful for me as Iām still relatively new on this platform (though not to pet/house sitting). This is the first time experiencing something like this so Iām appreciative of the suggestions made. I initiated a call with the HO & we clarified things so it has worked out. Experiences like this is helping me be more discerning, direct and trusting of my gut instincts.
@bluet0917 I think you made the right decision. This HO doesnāt seem to understand that you arenāt an employee or servant and they canāt assign you additional tasks. Driving them to the airport is you doing them a favor. They should have asked politely if you would be willing to do that. In some cases I would probably we willing to do so, but it would depend on how far, how busy the area is, the time of day (would it take time out of my workday). I would also have the same issue as you with the fact that when Iām travelling by car, my car is full. The least they could have done is offered to help you unload and reload your car.
There are many instances where I may be willing to drop off at the airport, but if I was told and not asked, I would just say no.
As sitters we have done this several times, both in our vehicle & in the HOās vehicle.
As HO we were asked for the use of our vehicle, and we agreed with the caveat that we be dropped at transit to the airport (15 min drive vs a 45-60 min drive).
I think itās both about your comfort level & the way the request is made.
IF it was part of the description in the listing, or at least brought up in the interview, then I think thatās fair because you would have the option to say you arenāt comfortable doing that.
Especially true if youād be doing it in an unfamiliar place.
IF it was dropped on you last-minute as a must-do, then thatās not right - especially if the assumption is youād use your car to do it.
Essentially the HO is asking you to be a free taxi service.
We always leave our car for our sitters. We donāt expect them to put two giant furry dogs in their own car. As we only have one car, we often have to get them to drop us off so that we can leave them the car to go shopping or take the dogs out as we donāt live near amenities. We have always agreed this in the past and in Spain the car is insured not the driver as long as theyāre over 25. One sitter isnāt so we have added her to our policy
First time the HO asked me to take her to the airport. Not super far, 8 miles but it was in my car, no car money. It just made me feel like staff. It was asked, but the situation made me feel like I needed to for the review with this person. There are no prior reviews, so I thought I was her first sitter, but she said she used the service when she lived in Denver. So she probably uses the service, cancels it, then signs up again when she needs it.
It didnāt cost a lot, or take much time, it was just the entitlement of the request.
It isnāt always easy though when we donāt exactly have long to make that initial assessment.