Potentially yes - sometimes good enough is good enough.
We find that newbie pet parents seek an extensive process … many video calls, declines->reapplications, lots work. Sometimes a preferred housesitter may have already given up and chosen an alternative listing.
Rather than commenting on specifics of video call questions, we’d encourage you to reflect on whether you’d be happy that one of the applicants would provide appropriate pet care and property oversight during your brief trip. And whether there are any aspects of your needs (e.g. medical matters, property specifics, arrive/depart logistics) that are important to you.
If your sit/pets are straightforward, then it would not concern me if the sitter didn’t ask questions about the pet on the video chat. If there are no questions, why invent random ones? As long as they seem responsible/capable to care/feed the pets all is fine. I do expect my pets will get attention from sitters while they are caring for them. I don’t expect my pets will become the focus of whole lives during that time.
Actually, when I’m sitting, the pets ARE the focus of my life during that time. That seems to me the deal. But do I feel the need to prove that by Asking Questions About Them in the initial chat? No.
No, this doesn’t have to be strange. It is only strange when you think we all have the same communication style . Some more introvert quiet people, might be the best pet- and house sitters you will have. I am more extravert which is for some people a bit annoying, but don’t get distracted by this as I have a very soft spot for the special needs of each individual character of a pet.
It might be interesting to be aware of yourself what you need to feel assured when someone is going to be a pet sitter at your home.
Some people need daily contact and photos/videos of their pets to be sure that their pets are ok. Especially in the beginning of the sit. It helps if you know what you need and can accept that this works best for you, so you can mention that in your profile. You can check this with the people you have contact with like this: I know that it is in the profile, but I want to be sure that you understand what I ask as this is important for me. Is that ok that we go through a little list?
Wishing you lots of great travels and great pet sitters!
I think it’s possible you may be over-thinking things.
The frequent & best advice amongst THS members with regard to choosing sitters & hosts is “go with your gut.”
If something about one or more of these potential sitters didn’t click with you or felt ‘off‘ then don’t confirm them: period, end of story. There’s no need to tie yourself in knots trying to figure out what about them was disqualifying. It doesn’t have to be a specific question they did or didn’t ask; you don’t have to justify it to them or to yourself, or parse it into something that seems logical. It simply didn’t feel right, and that’s OK.
Re-post the sit & wait for an applicant that clicks with you. (Just like looking at new houses, you’ll know immediately when you’ve found the right one.)
4 out of 5 times, the sits that go wrong end up being a situation where someone had a gut feeling but ignored it. (And FWIW — I’ve found it to be exactly the same with interviewing people in professional scenarios, no matter how good their resume or references.)
. Some more introvert quiet people, might be the best pet- and house sitters you will have. I am more extravert which is for some people a bit annoying, but don’t get distracted by this as I have a very soft spot for the special needs of each individual character of a pet.