Hi everyone, good morning! We would like to have your opinion about HO’s who don’t accepted us, in their terms because we were nomads (at least this time they did not judged us because we haven’t more than 30 years, but it seems that our 15+ 5 stars reviews doesn’t matter much ).
I believe this platform is specifically amazing for nomads because it allow us to still have the company of a pet around us, it’s really not a second job because we have their company and would act the same way with our own pets.
But somehow, HOs thinks since we are nomads, something would be different, and to be honest we don’t even know what it could be. So here we’re, have anyone had this ““trouble”” before? or, if you are a Homeowner, what are your thoughts too on that.
Hello
I’m sorry to hear you had that experience. My husband and I have been traveling full time since 2011, and housesitting since 2014. We have never encountered anyone who expressed any concern with our lifestyle. In fact, most people find it fascinating and love asking us about it.
While I haven’t tracked our stats on how many sits we have gotten vs how many we have applied this whole ten years, I have been keeping track of that since early 2021, and in the dozens of sits we have applied to since then, there have only been two we weren’t offered, and in both cases, I know it had nothing to do with our lifestyle. The first one didn’t even read our message. The other traveled frequently for work and one of the other applicants was looking to be in that area regularly, so she wanted to give it a go with someone who could potentially be a repeat sitter. So naturally she was the better choice.
And even before this time, it did appear that we got the majority of sits we applied for, and if there ever was an instance where someone didn’t pick us because of our lifestyle, we wouldn’t know.
So based on my experience, I imagine the majority of people don’t have an issue with this, and you shouldn’t get too discouraged.
Everyone has their preferences and needs to do what makes them comfortable, whether it is going with a sitter who owns a home, is of a certain age,etc. . In some cases, this may mean passing up on really good sitters but that is just how it goes, and hopefully the person they pick ends up meeting their expectations. Just brush it off and keep an eye out for other opportunities…there are plenty here!
I’ve seen comments from hosts on the forum who discriminate against nomads and it’s because they assume that the nomads are less responsible, are homeless not out of choice. They don’t realize or believe that some nomads actually choose that lifestyle and have more choices and resources than some other folks and they can be just as responsible or better.
They basically lump all nomads together, because of course there can be irresponsible nomads as well.
Some hosts also worry about the potential of squatting.
Personally, I’m not a nomad, but have hired and managed some before and know they chose the lifestyle freely, not because they couldn’t have a permanent home if they’d wanted to and not because they’re irresponsible drifters and/or looking to squat some paranoid person’s home.
The ones we employed actually made more than many people in general and were able to amass considerable resources, since they were able to live cheaply. We paid them well and, unlike with many folks, rent or mortgage didn’t consume their earnings.
And of course, various nomads can own their own businesses, be retired or have enough resources that they don’t need to work. Some have rented out their homes or have other rental properties.
BTW, some hosts might simply be jealous of nomads. And I suspect in at least one case where I’ve observed a host’s pattern of comments, they want people they can treat like employees. They probably sense that nomads wouldn’t necessarily put up with that — nomads tend to be independent thinkers.
I am not putting up with everything either. And when a sit would intolerable, I could just choose to take the train back home, a bit earlier than what I had intended. It is more difficult for nomads, especially now with that no-overlap rule which ties sitters up.
And to the OP: don’t worry about it. HOs can have any weird criteria they want, but then there are always other sits.
Combined member – so not a nomad. There are tens of thousands of HOs on the site. People have all kinds of ideas about who they want in their home as a sitter. They may also have unjust concerns about stuff like squatting or make assumptions that “nomads” are untrustworthy by nature (a prejudice). But really you can’t take it personally. I remember reading a thread not too long ago in which the host was disappointed that the sitter was as old as she was (even though profiles list age) and also she was short. I’m old and short! It wasn’t about me, but I’m sure there are homeowners that both rule me in and rule me out on account of age which IMO should not be listed on a profile page in the first place. Fortunately, housing status is not listed as a filter, so you have a chance to apply and present yourself well and see what happens.
I think gathering great reviews on the site is important for sitters. But I think sitters shouldn’t overestimate how important the number of great reviews is. I don’t rule out nomads, but when I make a choice it’s based on some many factors, and I’ve found that the number of reviews doesn’t necessarily correlate to the how well a sitter cared for my pets and home.
If someone is actually sending you a response saying, “We prefer sitters who aren’t nomadic,” then clearly that person is NOT someone you’d want to sit for. I’m not going to try to prove how spry I am to a homeowner who wouldn’t believe that I could take the dog on a hour briskly paced walk because of my age.
All you can do is try to have a profile that showcases your experience, ability to be responsible, and love of pets, and then to send application emails that make it clear you read the the listing and understand what is important to the homeowner and can connect that to your experience and abilities. You are still not going to get every sit.
I’m sorry to hear about your being judged, but as other’s here have stated there are HO’s who have different preferences for their sitters. It’s very unfortunate that they make these assumptions. More and more people particularly since the pandemic have changed their lifestyles, on top of that the rising cost of housing and inflation have forced many to seek alternative lifestyles. I’m a semi-retired part time nomad and fortunately haven’t been judged, but maybe it’s because I’m retired. It really comes down to finding good matches that satisfy both the sitters and HO’s.
I go with the attitude, their home their choice and move on. If people want to ignore a huge proportion of sitters for whatever reason they are cutting down their potential of finding a sitter. I weigh up the pros and cons of each listing I read and I always assume pet parents do the same with all the applications they receive. But then I try to believe in a. Fair world which I know is sometimes not the case.
They’re probably doing you a favour. Move on and good luck.
Hi @Luna2000
Unfortunately some HO’s don’t get the whole nomad lifestyle and from some posts on here believe nomads are going to squat in their home post sit and not leave. Obviously nomads like travelling so probably the last thing they want to do.
Just move on. Ho’s pick sitters based on a whole host of personal preferences. I’ve been turned down for sits due to being male…not much I can do about that!
There was a thread on here a while back where an HO stated they only took sitters with 5-6 reviews as sitters they encountered with 20+ were too entitled, in their opinion. There’s also been someone (I can’t remember if it was the same HO) who noted that they don’t choose full time sitters as they don’t get the lifestyle and it doesn’t align with their values.
I’m not officially a nomad (I wish!) but I’m pretty sure I’ve missed out on sits because I’ve been at this for too long and don’t fit someone’s vision of what they want a sitter to be. Of course, I can’t know that for sure because those HOs also don’t provide a reason, or any message, when they pass on an application but let’s just call it a hunch. Meanwhile, lots of other HOs are impressed by experience and choose sitters for that reason irrespective of whether that is a sign of a particular lifestyle choice or maybe because of it.
Some people will always be confused, jealous, paranoid etc by a way of life they don’t understand or haven’t been able to experience but for everyone of those people there will be others looking for exactly that kind of sitters. It’s frustrating but don’t dwell on people’s sometimes random criteria, you are unlikely to change their mind if that’s what they want and probably wouldn’t have been a good fit anyway.
I am guessing you are younger than us! It will be in the understanding of the word ‘nomad’. We’re in our 50’s and 60’s and whilst we totally understand what you mean by nomad, nomadic worker, digital nomad, but a lot of others our age may not.
The word nomad changed it’s meaning slightly in the 1990’s so if anyone was around before that then it may have a slightly different meaning to them. IT/tech savvy people may understand but others may not.
The word nomad used to simply mean someone who lived off the land without a regular income and travelled around, so the lack of income will concern some people, if that’s what they believe the meaning to still be.
So personally I would say you ‘work remotely’, rather than use the word nomad at all. So that there’s no confusion for anyone and it should increase your chances of being accepted, instead of thinking you are not self-sufficient money-wise.
Hi Deb. I don’t have a prejudice about inviting nomadic sitters, but there is a difference between someone who normally works from home and will be working part or full time during a sit and someone who is a nomad – whether that person is working remotely, retired, living off a trust fund, or is in fact an international assasin using housesitting as a cover. (Sorry, I am ono a sit now and just visited the Spy Museum.)
People may have a different sense of what it means to be “nomadic” and how it works in this new digital age when many people aren’t tied to an office. But the majority of people working remotely might not live near work, but they do mostly live in one place. I don’t pry too much into a sitter’s situation, but if I felt they were being purposely cagey about something, I would probably view it as a red flag. I think transparency is important on both sides even if it means the sit may not be a good fit.
Both of you are right @HappyDeb amd @Marion - you can be a nomad “a full time traveller” or you can be a “digital nomad” where you work online as you travel. It’s an official term for a remote worker and am constantly having to explain it to people over 50 (I’m one and I’m 52). It came after covid. If you’re a full time traveller, then some HOs will have concerns about you not moving on from their sit even if an unfair assessment (you might well be richer than them ) If you’re working remotely then that sort of nomad thrives on moving on. Whichever it is @Luna2000 you don’t want to sit for those people if they don’t appreciate your lifestyle. @B1anca makes great points about all the idiosyncratic choices of HOs on what they prefer in sitters #ittakesallsortsinthislife PS We were called “bohemian” this week by HOs who wanted us to sit in their very swanky villa on the Mediterranean, and it was said with total envy as in you lucky wotsits to live like you do. (We got the sit BTW )
I’ve seen posts on the forum by the HO implying “nomadic people” only wanted a free place to stay in the coolest destination so they can spend most of their days surfing, hiking, skiing, taking island hopping boat tours etc instead of doing the work required to properly take care of their pets. Nomadic people are often seen as noncommittal (in the eyes on some people)since they roam around from country to country. Their sense of adventure somehow deems them not trustworthy (in the eyes on some people)to sit still long enough to care for their pets. Sad but true. When I decided to leave it all to travel full time - without a home base it was because I had spent over two decades working 60+ hours a week as an Accountant. After my daughter graduated from college last year I didn’t have to work so hard anymore and could finally enjoy my life and own my time. I took the accounting skills I gained from working in corporate America and started my own Accounting firm setting my own billable hours. I haven’t looked back since. Now I roam freely in peace and without stress - a life I never thought I’d live to see.
You’ve made some really good points. What I’ve observed is there are plenty of people who are actually quite rigid in terms of what they consider ‘normal’ and acceptable! Anything that deviates in any way from that can often be viewed with suspicion.
I know someone (she’s not a pet-sitter) who makes a highly lucrative living working for herself doing something that I’ll freely admit that at one time, I wouldn’t have considered to even be a ‘real’ or proper job. She’s a life-coach.
She was doing this long before Covid came along travelling the world doing Zoom sessions with clients. She lives life at entirely her own pace, sets her own schedule, works when she wants to, from wherever she wants and earns very handsomely. She has what many could only dream of in terms of financial, time and location freedom. People may look down on her for being a digital nomad, but she is certainly the one having the last laugh!!!
The digital age affords people far more opportunities now to work and be on the road but I think some people’s mindsets are actually still stuck in a previous era to be honest.
@HappyDeb such an interesting insight thank you! I’m on a sit currently where the homeowners seem to distinguish between different types of nomads in the way that you’ve just mentioned. They were talking about a bad sit with someone who they thought was a nomad, knowing full well that we work remotely and are currently doing back to back sits. It really didn’t seem like they put us in the same category and maybe it was as you describe. I feel more relaxed knowing this!
@Junipers Yes exactly, you obviously have something in your profile about working remotely that reassured them that you weren’t self sufficient money-wise, that’s the concern with the word nomad.
Well said 
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