Due to start a sit today. HO left yesterday (which was planned). On Monday HO messaged me asking for my eta so that she could plan the location to leave the key. I replied and she simply gave me a thumbs up in response. Her expectations of me are very high; e.g messaging me late evening and chasing me early morning if i haven’t replied. And other comms which has made me feel she believes she is kind of superior or in charge. HO wanted me to visit in advance as there would be no in person handover on the day, i suggested they use one of their other applicants but they were insistent so i travelled 3 hours round trip at my own expense to see them. In communications I’ve had a creeping sense she thinks she is my boss and i am a free servant. Ive been sitting for many years and mainly just do repeat sits for families I’ve grown close to now. I have never experienced a HO thinking they are superior or trying to have the upper hand. It feels really off. Im really regretting not putting my foot down when i suggested they find another applicant as they originally stated they had a number if applicants
Welcome to the Forum @supernats500 - sorry to hear about the situation you’ve found yourself in.
Our members will be along soon with some support, but in the meantime, I updated the title of your post slightly just so they can get a feel about what the topic is.
Have you reached out to Membership Services for any advice?
Jenny
Sorry to hear that @supernats500 - it’s never nice to feel looked down on. Have they had sitters before? Can you push back on comms and delay the replies or explain that this is a mutual exchange and you don’t work for either THS or the host? There’s the chance she’ll be difficult (in which case you can review her accordingly), but she may take note or she could be without a sitter. How long’s the sit as it may be worth taking the pain now when it’s only just started and setting out your own boundaries. “Thanks for the messages. I’ve been house sitting for many years so am highly experienced in both pet care & good comms. In order for this mutual arrangement to work to both our benefit, please let me look after the animals and you enjoy your holiday, everything is in hand here.” or something like that which asserts your position with her. #iwishyouluck
Sorry to read you’re not comfortable doing this sit @supernats500. What attracted you to the listing in the first place where you mainly do repeat sits? How did the video chat go? Did you find the host’s attitude superior during this?
Am I right in thinking you may not have let the host know you had arrived and pet was okay, and that’s why they have messaged you?
I hope with how you are feeling that the sit is not a long one and the pet in your charge will help make the sit bearable.
It may well be absolutely fine. So far, her communications have been a bit demanding - and making you drive three hours was unfair. But maybe she thought that was a normal arrangement? Thing is, all you’re dealing with so far is a high-handed tone. That doesn’t mean anything else will go wrong. And it’s no reason to think you won’t have a great sit.
If she thinks you’re her servant… Well, let her. As long as she stands back once you’ve arrived and lets you enjoy being in her home, with her pets.
I feel for you, but you’re there now, so try to take control the situation, by reducing her needing to contact you, so you can switch off from the uneasy situation.
For example if she wanted daily updates, when you send her your first update, say you’ll send them each day at ?time, and word it so that she benefits, ie “so you can relax, and enjoy your trip”, followed by “please don’t feel the need to respond to anything I send, just relax and unwind”.
Then send the images 30 mins prior to that time, so that you’re over-delivering in her eyes.
Think of other things you can do, that perhaps stop her from contacting you willy-nilly (I’ve never used that term in writing before 
).
I think you are upset with yourself for saying yes instead of having boundaries. Now you are blaming her. She just sounds nervous about you arriving on time or maybe not at all to take care of a beloved family member. Nothing you posted shows outrageous or controlling behavior by her. She wanted you as the sitter and got you. Kudos to her. She wanted you to drive for a meet and greet and you accepted. You could have easily said no. I do believe once she knows you are at her house she will enjoy her vacation and you won’t hear from her as long as you send her daily pictures and a short update.
How long is the sit?
Never agree to this.
I wouldn’t have travelled so far unless the HO paid for the petrol, which I’m guessing she didn’t.
Not much you can do now but try to enjoy the sit as something must have attracted you. You have been given some good advice here by experienced sitters which I suggest you take note of.
Just remember, you are now in the driver’s seat. If the HO becomes excessively bossy and/or demanding, you live close enough to leave the sit. You do not deserve to be abused in any way. Take control in a non-aggressive way. Let them know everything is ok, send updates and don’t respond to anything that is not relevant to the animals or any other issues you agreed to deal with.
Its 2 weeks! 
No she hadnt let me know where the key was. She eventually sent me a message with the location of the key. It wasnt there, she then wanted me to look through the place she said shed left it again. “Just look again”. Finally she checked with the neighbour who had the key. No apology, which is in keeping with her grandiose attitude.
That was your sign to cancel your application or draw some boundaries. I had a homeowner asked me to drive an hour one way to meet her and the pets. When I asked is that really necessary she said all previous sittees agreed to that. I told her I can’t do it, I work remotely and I can’t just take 2 hrs in the middle of the day. We did a video chat, I did the sit and still got a good review.