Isn’t the more relevant metric how many sits you haven’t done, perhaps declined because the HO wanted a video call?
It’s your language, not the fact that you want to speak with people. You’re getting pushback cause this forum attracts more housesitters than hosts…which is the opposite of the platform, that has considerably more listings than actual people for it.
Many are in here to spot red flags too, and one of the biggest is hosts treating them like employees. That’s why some hosts get canceled on or fail to find a good match..they never understood the concept to begin with.
I suggest either adding your listing to the topic or copy paste your listing pitch and information into ChatGPT and asking which types of people or risks you might attract, and what to look out for. It’s very beneficial.
Nope! It’s not my aim to work for as many home owners as possible, but rather that I choose to do equal exchanges where I enjoy minding pets, and in return the pet owners get a reliable sitter. So far it is working out great.
Your choice of words is interesting job, work, interview. How do you respond if you’re asked for a video call?
You need to ask the OP and other contributors at the top of this discussion.
They used the words ‘interview’ and ‘job’.
I just joined the discussion.
I am a very experienced sitter. May I point out a large flaw in your reasoning.
If I’m second choice I will not be waiting around to see if first choice drops out. I shrug my shoulders and move on, looking for another sit that matches my dates and expectations.
I, like many other sitters dislike being one of three or four or five being “interviewed” for the same “job”. My response to the listing is long and detailed and I ask the HO to please read my very detailed profile and over hundred reviews before they contact me. I can safely say if they have read everything there is not many unanswered questions. To me, the video call is more an introduction, making sure the personalities are compatible, getting the sitters questions answered about the pets and property. (This would probably not be needed if the listings went into as much detail as the sitters profiles do). 80% of the time I know if the sit is going to be successful by the first two minutes. It’s all about attitude.
Yes, there is always a concern about last minute cancellations. Some of them cannot be helped, illness, family issues. There is no way to plan for this unless you have family that can step in. A helpful tab would be the percentage of sits cancelled by the sitter and home owner but we have asked and the answer has been no.
Best practises, in my opinion, is to stay in touch and check in every few weeks. Just a short note to say travel arrangements have been finalised, what time to arrive and depart, any changes in the pets behaviour. Something that reassures both parties that the sit is going to go ahead.
Interesting approach… but why stop there? Summit all to a joined Q&A, panel debate and let the finalists battle it out in trial shifts. Naturally, you can monitor their every move; they ought to know what’s at stake.
This will really narrow your pool down to those with no other options… not a red flag in sight.
“House sitters, are you ready?” …….
Yes, please ask this so sitters can steer clear of such hosts and their sits. It would provide red flags that help savvy sitters.
Even for my actual career, I interview people all the time and would know better than to say something like that, because it would surely turn off many of the best candidates. Only desperate candidates would respond positively to something like that.
ChatGPT is a know-nothing statistical probability producer.
Thanks to those who gave ideas for getting a keener sense of our applicants. We will try to read reviews more closely and ask questions to try to better suss out motivations and experience/maturity when we “interview” potential sitters. We also like the point about sending notes to declined sitters, which we hadn’t really considered before. So thanks all who made constructive comments.
We live in a highly highly desirable location, we always hit 5-applicant cut offs within often mere hours of posting dates, and this is our first less than stellar experience with the platform so far.
(post edited by the Forum Team to comply with the Community Rules).
I agree having a conversation and both parties asking questions that don’t show up in the profile necessarily. No harm done.
LOL! I just threw this out as an idea not thinking it was a good one and yes asking someone to be backup in case is a waste of everyone’s time. I agree with a previous comment that if I was a pet owner and the shoe was on the other foot, I would make sure I had a couple of emergency backup sitters (friends) at least for a few days and then post my ad again as “last minute”.
Q1: Location 
It says City of London… but is it really though? Lock in your answers now! 
Having been a HO for many years who secured sitters for our very old property (400 years old) and 5 equines- red flags were if they didn’t ask certain questions about either the equines or the property. It meant they didn’t know what the issues might be….examples below.
Equines:
When is the farrier due?
House:
What’s the heating system like?
Now that we’re sitters and retired we ask lots of questions about the house systems (location of fuse box, water cut off, heating etc) and pet behaviours/health.
I don’t think better vetting would have helped here with the last minute sitter you got - did the initial sitter have a valid reason for cancelling?
Keep in mind that any reviews prior to the blind reviews probably don’t hold as much weight, because both sitters and HOs didn’t want a retaliatory negative review. So if you’re only going to consider sitters with 10+ positive reviews, make sure they are within the last 2 years. Unfortunately, emergencies can happen to anyone, but perhaps it’s worth looking back on the interactions with the first sitter to see if there are questions not asked that could be included in the future, or an overall sense of responsibility you’re looking for. These tend to be more between the lines than straight answers.
I’m sorry your cats didn’t get the very best care. I’d be upset as well - but look at the big picture: you were in a last-minute bind, and everyone lived. Hopefully the next sit will go swimmingly and this will all be water under the bridge. And make sure to review the sitter accordingly.
It’s not the video call people are reacting to - it’s the word “interview”. It’s triggering for many sitters, makes the exchange feel transactional.
10 is a lot. Maybe shoot for 6-7? I would say stay in an age range that is experienced. Always do a video or voice call. Ask questions to see if the sitter actually really loves animals or is just looking for accommodation.
I don’t much like the use of the word interview in this context of a mutual exchange .
However TrustedHouseSitters do refer to it as an interview so I overlook it when a new host the uses the word “interview” and give them the benefit of the doubt .
If during our interview/ conversation we get the vibe that the host does not understand the mutual exchange concept of THS then we’ll withdraw our application.
Don’t get sarcastic, Buttercup. People’s homes are the biggest investment of their lives. You’re EXCHANGING benefits. Of course the homeowner should interview you and you’ll be interviewing the home owner at the same time. It’s mutually beneficial. I’m looknig you up right now and will make it a point to never let you in our home.
And I see that your profile is hidden. Really nice. So now you can just come into the forum and drop sarcasm bombs on folks without being honest.