Hello! I posted another post yesterday and someone suggested I try to reach out to my community! I’m considering joining due to a few upcoming trips this year. Do you always have luck finding a sitter? It seems there are quite a few portland area posts up right now. I’d love to hear about your success rate in getting sitters, experience, and any tips.
Hi @birdieandgil I’ve moved your second post here so that the conversation stays in one place for you …
I have not had a problem getting sitters, even though I live in a less desirable area than Portland (I’m in Dallas). I have one very easy cat now, so that helps. Late last year when I had 2 cats, one who needed medication, there were fewer applicants, but I still found people.
I have a sitter at my house now and she was one of about 8 applicants, some very suitable.
1 Like
Hi birdieandgil,
I have been a homeowner with TH, on and off due to COVID, for approx 5 years. I have had mostly good experiences with sitters but my last one was awful causing me to be doubtful about renewing my membership. It is a great deal and the benefit of leaving your pups at home rather than at a kennel makes it hard to resist. If you join, I recommend you screen prospective sitters very carefully. I tend to select couples; however, I had a last minute and accepted a youngish single male for my last sit who left a mess and damage. If I continue with TH, I will definitely stick with couples or single females to take care of my boys. (Sorry single guys, but my last sitter ruined it for you!)
Good luck!
1 Like
Sits are really any lengh…weekend, week, month…and longer
I would suggest putting your dates in as soon as you know them as sitters do look for opportunities to fill in while they are traveling, or just need to get a head start on when/where they will be sitting.
1 Like
Please don’t look at all single young males as being like your experience. We have had several who have been wonderful, took great care of our baby, and left our home spotless. One even had dinner ready for us when we got back from our trip.
4 Likes
@long1016 Thanks but I’ll stick to my preference.
As a house sitter, I joined up early this year and have done one sit, with two more confirmed. As long as you weigh up the pros and cons, you should be fine.
I was worried about joining as I need sits that are family friendly but I was surprised there have been quite a few so far. I wasted my time applying to a sit where the owner labelled it as “Family Friendly” and the owner replies with a response saying that the house is much better suited to singles or couples, wasting my valuable time so honesty is the best policy.
We’ve gotten responses similar in the past. I wonder if some people take family-friendly to mean more than one person? Or perhaps are only open to older children/teens? EIther way, it can be frustrating.
Even through the frustrations and limited availability for families, we’ve completed several sits and have a few more lined up for the future.
Hi there!
Yes I think you are right. HO’s might interpret “Family friendly” in various ways.