This is a request rather than a question for owners. If in-person meets - and I’m not talking day of handover or arrive the night before but come by for a visit x days or weeks before to meet the cat/dog and see how the microwave turns on- are deal breakers please note this in your listing so sitters can factor this in before applying. And if you are listing last minute dates or very short trips consider whether it’s really a reasonable expectation for someone to meet in person. And if the in-person meet is actually an “interview” of multiple shortlisted sitters also be up front about that when you ask sitters to meet as it might just make your shortlist a little shorter.
5 Likes
In some cases that may save several minutes of the sitter’s time! 
1 Like
We will be going on a doggy walk a few weeks prior to a sit in August- this is because the HO leaves for the airport at 4am and has asked us to arrive 9am which is reasonable as it’s a family of 5 and we can’t stay over the night before as no room. It’s a local sit just an hour’s drive so meeting the dogs ahead of time feels reasonable too.
2 Likes
I feel like owners should understand that non-locals are most likely not going to be able to meet them in advance and that they’re asking for something not very achievable by many sitters on THS. Besides special circumstances (like @BonnyinBrighton) It’s usually those that don’t quite understand the market of THS sitters - most are travellers coming from far away, and don’t live down the street! Oh well, they should get the message when nobody applies for their sit, or most applicants say that’s not possible for them!
3 Likes
Perhaps it’s an issue for sitters who change their location to where they want to sit next thus making it appear that they could be local? I don’t know of course just speculation. The HO with a 4am start I think only uses local sitters as they can’t accommodate an overnight… and has lots of great reviews. The 4am thing only got mentioned during the video chat- so we discussed practicality of meeting up beforehand so that we were familiar to the dogs when we arrive. I’m also planning on leaving two of our old sweaty sweaters with the HO for the dogs to smell the day before.
I think even for local sitter it’s a bit much to ask to either drive for an hour or do a 4hr return trip via public transport across town but if it’s stated at the start or the conditions are made clear (ie we haven’t actually decided on you and just want to chat with all our candidates in person) and someone is willing to do that or feels the benefit of doing that (eg they are new to this and a bit nervous) so be it.
I think it depends why the local has applied for the sit, in our case the HO is very near to where we’ve lived before we downsized and moved and we have quite a few friends in that area so we will meet friends, pop in to see the HO maybe do a doggy walk then dinner at a pub and then home. We won’t be only seeing the HO that day.
I think if nothing else this discussion proves there is no normal or standard way to do things, every combination of HO/sitter is a unique match or mismatch…. and is why the video chat is so important.
1 Like
I think, if within a reasonable distance, it can be a good idea.
Well before the sit starts ideally, in case the sit doesn’t feel right for either party then the HO can look elsewhere.
Once applied for a short cat sit in London, the HO wanted to meet beforehand, this would have been a 300 mile round journey for a one hour meeting. We declined. I think only local sitters would do this.
1 Like
We had a similar experience @Chrissie .
A cat owner actually sent us a personal invitation. I applied. She replied: when are we coming up next so we could meet up beforehand?
This would be a 400 mile round trip just for a one bedroom short cat sit.
Didn’t happen
2 Likes
There is a microwave that I use once a year that gets me every time. It just works differently to every other one I have ever used.
2 Likes
Had this. Travelled 3 hours and only did it because the cat was blind and they said they wanted to make sure we were happy with everythign and that we had been shown everything and cat was happy. Then it turns out to be just another step in the in teh process and they would “let us know”. Got home and cancelled application immediately. Turns out they gave it to someone from another continent who could only turn up on the day they left so the whole thing was just some ridiculous power-trip for them.
3 Likes
Oh dear. To avoid any of these situations, we clearly state on our profile “we always and only use video calls to confirm and arrange a sit.” This way, a HO knows in-person meetups are not possible for us.
We also don’t accept (anymore) staying for more than 1 night before the owner’s departure. 1 night is plenty enough time to meet them & have a hand-over. We’ve learnt that any more time than that is simply unproductive, and we’re just sitting around waiting for the sit to begin… plus we work online & really don’t have time to sit and chat all day 
We might also stay the night that the owners return if they arrive late at night, or if it really helps us out with 1 night between sits, but our rule is 1 night either end and that’s it.
Knowing what you’re willing to do and setting clear boundaries is key to avoiding unwanted scenarios, I guess.
5 Likes
I recently put in an application and the pet parent wanted me to stop by to meet the dogs. It was an hour away and although I could have gone, I declined. I see where the pet parent was coming from as they want the best person. My time is valuable and it’s one thing if it’s close by and the sit has already been confirmed and there’s no other way to do a personal handover. But this was just part of the application process. I ended up withdrawing even though my kids really wanted to petsit for that breed.
1 Like
I’m in Europe. Have never had an HO expect yet that I show up in person pre-sit. The vast majority understand that it’s not very reasonable. Occasionally an HO only wants local sitters that they can indeed meet in advance, although perhaps they don’t realize how they limit their pool of sitters and might even get no one with such requests.
1 Like
A couple of times I have met people before hand but only if it’s convenient. The first was where my family live and I was going back for Christmas and the sit was February for 5 weeks. It was the first time having a sitter and she was worried about going for so long. The 2nd was fairly recently 30 miles away, also new to TH. The cat has some thyroid medication which it didn’t like and she wanted to sure I could administer it with a syringe to the mouth. I suggested a cream that is rubbed into the ears alternatively morning and evening which she hadn’t heard of but I had used before. So she spoke to the vet and the cat was much happier, though it is more expensive. I have looked after it 3 times with no problems.
2 Likes
It is often me that suggests a meeting, if it’s reasonably close. It’s easier for me then to see if it’s the right fit. If possible, I like to meet the pets and owners at their home, so I can see what that’s like too. Obviously that won’t work if it’s too far away.
I have never been disappointed by a sit if I had visited the owners and pets before agreeing to do it. So it can be worth it. The thing is, it needs to be something you want to do, and not something that’s forced on you (like so much else involved with what we do here)!
2 Likes
Each time I’ve had a local-ish sit I’ve been glad of a visit beforehand. The first time the HO was leaving for their trip in the early hours so she was able to see the dog took to me and could show where to find things.
The next one has meant there won’t be a rushed handover, and I got to meet the lovely animals.
I have a sit coming up where I met the HO on WhatsApp and because it’s about 7 hours drive from home I’ve not visited yet but instead I arranged an AirBnb fairly close to the sit & will visit them the evening before to avoid a rushed handover.
2 Likes
Clearly this works for some and not for others. But I don’t this a PP should make this a mandatory requirement or part of an interview process. Isn’t this site called “Trusted …” for a reason!
Sorry, just putting my thoughts across
I always ask our sitters if they’d like to come the day before if it suits and they aren’t on a sit. It works really well.
Yes, I think most owners simply ask the sitter to come 1 night early or a few hours prior to their departure for an in-person handover, and it usually works out very well for both parties.
There have also been times when we haven’t been able to meet the HO in person because of travel times, but we have simply referred to their welcome guide or notes, and it’s been no problem, so I don’t see why coming in advance would be necessary (at least not for us anyway). The first sit we ever did, we never even met the HO in person, and it was a sit abroad in Portugal for a month. We simply let ourselves in and referred to some notes and WhatsApp videos he had left, and everything worked well and was totally fine - we had a great time!
3 Likes