Just keep in mind that sitters apply to many listings and you might lose a good candidate if you wait too long.
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wrote something but feel it belongs elsewhere canāt delete.
Being slow to respond is counterproductive. Good and experienced sitters will likely withdraw their applications if an HO doesnāt respond within a day or 2 and then followup with some urgency. If youāre lucky enough to have 1 good applicant with good references who interviews well, you wonāt need a second applicant. If a sitter does not tick all those boxes, be patient.
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There can be issues with border crossings should one admit volunteering as a house/pet sitter is the purpose of travel. It is illegal without a work visa. Many homeowners are aware of this possible snag which can lead to sitter deportation starting Day 1.
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You know, I respond immediately because you could lose that possible perfect sitter. Who knows, respond and video chat. You might find you donāt have to look elsewhere. Iām just grateful, relieved, thankful, amazed that a sitter would like to stay in our home as a base for a week or 2 and FOR FREE!
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Iām a HO in the UK. We donāt mind whether youāve a car or not, but do state on our profile that a car is probably necessary due to there being few opportunities for public transport in our village. That wouldnāt be an issue if itās just for a week or so, but itād be a bit boring for a sitter to stay and only be able to go to a couple of places a day and have to be back on the last bus at 2pm. Thereās nothing worse than going somewhere and feeling trapped. I will always collect anyone from the station and return them there at the finish.
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They donāt stay in your home for free unless there are no animals or plants requiring care. A THS stays in your home on the condition that tasks are carried out.
But itās for free! Thatās the point.
Depending on your sit you might or might not get 3-4 great applicants. So figure out what your criteria is. Are you looking for someone with 5-star site reviews? Are you looking for someone with previous breed experience? Multisit homes? Medicaitons?
If there is a sitter who potentially tics your particular boxes, itās best to try to start a dialogue with them as soon as possible as they are probably applying for multiple sits. You can start with questions in an email and see if they respond. You can move to a chat. If the person works for you, you are better off confirming that person rather than waiting for more applicants.
If the individual isnāt going to work for you and you can figure that out based on your criteria, you are a better off declining the person rather than ātaking a chanceā on someone you donāt think is going to take good care of your pets.
@Elsa1 You might also be āgrateful, relieved, thankful, amazedā that a sitter will provide pet care and home security for you FOR FREE!
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Iām not sure how to take this response as Iām sure thatās very near verbatim what Iād said. Itās coming across as being aggressive. This post is approx 3 months old and Iām sure I donāt need to have aggressive remarks on a forum when in no way was I rude or aggressive.
No, it wasnāt meant to be rude @Elsa1 but just recognising that what we each offer is free to the other party, not just one way.
If I understood correctly @Cheri and @temba, that is literally just what @Elsa1 said:
She, the HO, was grateful etc., that the she would have someone looking after her pets for free. Meaning: that someone is willing to look after the house and pets without her (Elsa1) paying anything for that.
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@Cheri and @temba
I think youāve misinterpreted the post by @Elsa1 . It seems to me that sheās a pet parent expressing appreciation that sheās receiving pet care, not that sheās stating sitters receive āfree accommodationā (something which always rankles us sitters).
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I didnāt read your comments before posting, @CatsAndDog but thatās exactly how I read it, too.
@Elsa1 sounds like a great HO and it seems her posts have been misunderstood.
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Apologies @Elsa1 if I have misunderstood what you meant.
Ah, I now see that you are saying that the sitter works for free. Yes, the only cost you incur is your membership fee. You may have earned enough free membership months by enlisting sitters to join THS, that you no longer pay dues.