After more than ten years with TH and aware of the disputes and misunderstandings discussed in the forum so frequently, I decided to do something different this time.
I applied for a sit with a first-time owner, no reviews. She immediately set up a facetime with me today. We hit it off, I asked my factual questions and she was enthusiastic and said she liked me. So then I told her about the conflicts which so often result from someone not saying clearly something they consider essential and obvious.
I used the term mutual exchange and said I am not a cleaner, I will tidy and clean the rooms in your house I actually use. I described the owner I sat for 3 months last year who complained in her review of me that I was not available 24/7 to receive deliveries and who got her cleaner to spy on me.
I told her I’d send her my own list of things I want to know, for her to look at and see how she feels. I encouraged her to interview someone else whose application she liked and reminded her we don’t have a deal until we both press confirm.
Of course none of this guarantees misunderstandings won’t happen, but my words caused her to tell me things about herself that at least revealed she’s not fanatical about dust, understands sitters aren’t servants and is doing this to get high-quality petcare.