Seasoned sitters please contribute to starting a tips for sitters thread. We are still novice sitters but we’ve learned some things along the way and I’m sure others have lessons to share. These items may not apply to every sit but just some items to consider.
Always photograph everything when you arrive. You’ll want to make the home appear identical to when you arrived. This includes the bathroom and the shower/tub area. This also helps in case you get accused of damaging something.
2)Avoid whatsapp or alternative communication routes. Be suspicious when hosts insists you communicate off the THS platform. If you use those apps keep all your thread conversations in the event of a conflict.
3)Summarize any verbal conversation with a follow up written message. Undocumented verbal communication is a recipe for confict.
4)Send updates to the Host every day. Unless the Host says “in writing” that it’s not necessary. A host verbally saying “we will be offline for several days” or “only from time to time” should not negate your need to send updates often.
Be suspicious when the listing lacks photos or has old photos. If there’s 3 photos of the dwelling and 20 photos of the pet it’s a bad sign.
The host is not your friend, and you should not try to be theirs. Keep it like a business transaction.
If a host is overly friendly, they may be hiding something…the pet may bite you or others, the pet may poop inside often, the pet may be an “escape artist”, the pet may chew your suitcase or your shoes.
Verify the amenities when you can as the THS host side tools don’t allow for specificity. For example:… A pour over coffee strainer qualifies as a “coffee pot”. AC in one room is considered the same as whole house AC. The “bikes” may not be functional, or they may only be childrens bikes. “High-speed wifi” is a meaningless term that everyone uses, but actually speeds can vary by 10x-50x.
9)Most (not all) hosts don’t view sitters as an equal peer. Most (not all) feel they are doing you a favor. Or at the very least they feel you’re getting the better end of the arrangement. If you pander to them and stroke their ego you’re more likely to get a better response and ultimately a more favorable review.
We use WhatsApp for all of our sits . If host doesn’t suggest it we do . As relying only on THS platform or App there can be delays in receiving messages which can contribute to communication problems.
We have become friends with most of the hosts. Some have invited us to stay with them even when not needing a sitter , some keep in touch ( via WhatsApp) sharing news and photos about shared interests . Several have invited us to pop in for a coffee when we are in the area .
It’s a mutual exchange, if sitters “pander to hosts “ they will likely get taken advantage of . Sitters need to set and respect their own boundaries…there are far too many posts on the forum about sitters who went above and beyond accommodating unreasonable demands from the host only to receive bad reviews …
Avoiding conflict doesn’t necessarily = a good sit or a mutual exchange if it’s done at the expense of respecting your own boundaries . Both Sitters and hosts need to be honest and respectful about their own requirements and expectations, if either party doesn’t feel that it’s a good match withdraw before confirming a sit .
Completely agree with everything @Silversitters has said, as another experienced sitter with 20+ 5* reviews on THS and other platforms.
I use WhatsApp for all my sits. It would be much less intuitive to share pictures/videos of animals and create group chats with home owners using only the THS platform.
I have become friends with numerous hosts, invited round to their homes for a coffee outside of sits and receive updates of animals I’ve looked after before. It’s a wonderful dynamic. I have enough business relationships at work. I also think a friendly and compassionate dynamic is far more conducive to sorting out any niggles on a sit.
I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to approach a sit with suspicion. I am not suspicious of hosts unless I am given a viable reason to be and I don’t tar people with the same brush, i.e. if you’ve previously had a poor experience, that doesn’t suggest the next sit/ hosts will mirror this. Take each one as they come and enjoy the process.
I use discernment in reading the host’s profile and how we get on during the video call. I don’t like to think of sitters and homeowners as ‘us’ and ‘them’. We’re in it together. That said, if I am treated with anything other than respect, I move on. Same applies in life. Unfortunately, there are people who treat others with a lack of empathy and compassion, using them as tools to bolster their own ego. If a host is defensive, combative, negative or otherwise unpleasant to deal with, it’s fair to assume the sit will reflect this. In my experience, such people are in the minority. Don’t allow them to ruin what could otherwise be an incredible experience!
It is the item I disagree strongest with. Whatsapp is much more reliable than the THS messaging system. It also makes it possible to connect by an old-fashioned phone number when the internet is not available.
Many of the hosts I consider friends. I dislike it when the interaction is too businesslike.
As for avoiding conflicts: select friendly, easygoing people, avoid hosts with anxieties etc.
Whilst you make some good points, and I’m guessing that you may be speaking from a ‘once bitten, twice shy’ point of view, this doesn’t sound like the sort of dynamic that is likely to result in a good sit experience to me.
I’ve always gone in with more of a ‘these people are my friends until they prove otherwise’ sort of approach, and whilst the experiences I’ve had have never been perfect, I’ve always managed to muddle through, and consider myself to be winning if things are going right 90% of the time. And the other 10% usually makes for good stories after the event!
That said, I’ve probably filtered out a lot of sits just from something in the listing that didn’t sit well, or the tone of communication, or more recently, following a video call where things just felt ‘off’ for no particular reason. My best advice to anyone would be to trust your gut instinct, and only go for sits that feel like they will be a good fit from the outset.
I wouldn’t want to sit if I had to treat all hosts with suspicion. Sure, I look for red flags during the matching process, but that’s to screen out bad hosts and to find ones I can partner with in good faith, in friendly ways. So far so good.
If I ended up with a bad host despite due diligence, I’d then deal with them as needed. No need to jump the gun and treat all hosts suspiciously, IMO.
These tips come across very strongly @Sheila yet you say you are a relatively novice sitter so I am assuming you are basing them on your limited experience you have had so far. Do be careful when making generalisations like “most (not all) hosts” as you do not know personally the thousands and thousands of hosts or sitters on the platform.
I concur with the comments made by other experienced sitters that using WhatsApp (or similar) is a much more reliable method of communication, especially for sending photos and updates, than the THS inbox.
The friendships that have grown out of my 9 years of sitting have been precious. To view sits as business transactions just doesn’t seem the right attitude to have with this mutual exchange offered by THS. Perhaps vetting the sits you apply for and asking many more questions before confirming sits would enable you to enjoy them more.
We all have different experiences so it is good you have started this thread.
I disagree with almost all points. We are also 20+ 5⭐️ sitters. I like my pet parents from the start (that’s the base why I decide to go for it) and are still in touch with 95%.
It’s not a business, so I don’t treat it that way.
I’m currently on sit number 52, so I guess I’m fairly experienced. I agree with some of your points such as avoiding listings without sufficient photos - I just scroll past those. However, WhatsApp is my preferred form of communication since I’m often doing sits where the HO and I are in different countries or continents. The THS messaging system is unreliable and just generally clunky. I switch to WhatsApp or just standard text messaging as quickly as possible. I have made friends with some hosts and I like friendly people. Being friendly doesn’t make them suspicious (I’m from the American Midwest - we’re friendly ). The only amenity I ever specifically ask about is WIFI since I need reliable WIFI to work. I don’t typically care about other amenities. In summers, I’ve primarily done sits in the UK and parts of Europe where it’s uncommon to have A/C so that hasn’t come up yet.
My approach is to very carefully select this sits I apply for. I read the listings carefully and look at photos closely. Virtual chats are really important to me and I have declined sits after chats. That’s where I get a sense of who the hosts are and can typically tell if they are viewing this an mutual exchange. The vast majority of my sits have been wonderful. Out of 52, there were 4 that I consider my bad sits. So overall, sitting has been a unique way to experience new places, hang out with adorable pets, and meet some fantastic people in several countries. But we do all need to be careful and selective in choosing out sits.
Your post sounds like a knee-jerk reaction to a bad experience.
My advice to you would be not to let one bad incident affect the way you feel about all your future sits, otherwise you will suck all the enjoyment out of future trustedhousesitter experiences.
Most experienced sitters will disagree with almost every point you have made.
@Sheila as requested here are few of our suggestions to avoid a negative sit experience …
Expect the best, prepare for the worst
Be Optimistic but not naive . Not all sits will be a good match for every sitter and what is a “bad “ sit for one sitter might be another sitter’s dream sit . As sitters we have to know what we want from a sit what we don’t want and then screen listings accordingly .
Before Applying for a sit
DO look carefully at the photos and thoroughly read the responsibilities section and ask questions about any missing information ( how long pets can be get alone for, where they sleep , usual routine , medications etc )
DO NOT apply for sits where the responsibilities seem unreasonable for you .
DO read all the reviews from previous sitters and use the app to see if there is a pattern of missing reviews .
DO read all the reviews that host has left for previous sitters
Before Accepting A Sit Invitation
DO arrange a video conversation with the host, keep it friendly and ask lots of questions in a conversational manner ask them if they will be providing a Welcome Guide
DO NOT ignore red flags ( or your gut instinct telling you something is off ) just because the home looks nice in the photos or the location is one you want to be in or the dates match what you need.
DO confirm the day and time that the host wants a sitter to arrive & leave .
After sit is confirmed
DO insist that you receive a Welcome Guide (WG) promptly . DO read it thoroughly to see that it aligns with the listing and conversations that you’ve already had . If the WG reveals additional responsibilities, pet illnesses or pet behaviours that were previously undisclosed and that would have a negative impact on your stay DO promptly withdraw from the sit .
DO keep in regular communication with the host prior to the sit.
On The Sit
DO what you agreed with the host ( pets routine / frequency of updates etc )
If unsure about anything DO NOT presume the hosts wishes DO ask them.
If you encounter minor issues try to resolve them yourself . If there are major issues communicate with host in a friendly but firm manner and ask them to resolve them .
Always
DO “Expect the best, prepare for the worst" meaning
DO have a contingency plan in place so that you are not “trapped” in a sit if you end up with an unreasonable or demanding host and also so that you are prepared if an emergency arises and a sit is cancelled/ curtailed.
While I certainly agree with and support the aim of avoiding conflict whenever possible, a couple of these tips come across as harsh and cold when considering that there are two (or more) real people and their beloved animal(s) as the link in a personal relationship. Yes, there is a “business” component despite the fact that no money is involved but the crux of everything is -or should be - love, care and concern for the animal(s). For sake of discussion, I’m choosing to leave home care/cleanliness and other tasks out of this response. #3 is particularly concerning IMO. No, the host is not my friend when we meet. But someone who trusts us to live in their home - their most precious posession on many levels - and care for their animal(s) even MORE precious - already establishes a relationship much deeper and more nuanced than simply that of hired help. A long term friendship is neither expected nor required but the possibility of such can organically and understandably be bourne of a sit and there is little downside to this (If it is not your cup of tea, it is easily shed).
While I certainly don’t try to be a friend, I open myself up much more than I would with strangers in other circumstances and , from my experience, hosts may , too.
Personally, I see “friendship” as a plus in that truth (even shortcomings), presence and integrity are more likely to be exhibited.
#4 is of concern along those same lines.
I am not in the habit of immediately being suspicious of hosts who are “overly friendly”. Approaching from a place of suspicion immediately taints the discussion and may prevent a sitter or host from truly hearing what the other has to offer. Any person of any personality can have an animal with behavioural issues or other shortcomings . It is up to us as sitters to ask as many q’s as we can when speaking with hosts in order to get a full picture of the animals entrusted to us. And, I make my decisons based on the responses not upon my judgement of the host’s “friendliness”.
I approach every potential sit with as much respect and openness and as many questions as i can think of…and hope that hosts do the same. Hosts and sitters share responsibility for a precious and beloved creature; and, I like to think that this brings out the best in us.
I whole-heartedly DISAGREE with some of those. You seem to be saying it in a factual way as tips, those are not tips they are just your personal opinion, we all form relationships with HO’s in very different ways.
Friends - I disagree. All of our 30+ sits have been amazing so far. We see many HO’s that we return to as friends, and I know some see us in the same way. We return to sit for them time after time, and occasionally pop in or meet up when we are in the area.
Whatsapp - I disagree - whatsapp is the best way of communicating, once the sit is agreed, because the THS messaging system is too limited/flawed, and can’t be filed appropriately like a normal messaging system is.
Updates - I disagree - We’ve never had a conflict when we have sent them as requested… we’ve never had a conflict with any HO.
Equal Peer - From this forum, I think this could be a location problem, because honestly, we’ve had amazing hosts who were very thankful and very appreciative of us. In 30+ sits, we’ve only had 3 where I didn’t get a natural vibe/connection about, but the location was right, but that said they were still really nice people, we’re just different people and that’s okay.
You only here about the negative ones that go wrong on the forum, you don’t here about all the amazing sits that take place that a lot of us on here have had.
For a novice sitter, you have made some pretty bold declarations about how to approach this process, almost all of which I would disagree with as a sitter with a decade of experience. This isn’t meant as a criticism, but it is clear that you have had at least one pretty bad experience that is likely tainting your view.
I really only agree with one point about not taking sits without lots of photos. Communicating off the app once the sit is booked and during the sit is quite typical and should not be viewed as suspicious. Though if you prefer to do everything through the app, that is something you are free to request.
However, everyone is entitled to view the process and exchange in whatever way they want, handle the selection process any way they want, etc. But if I looked at sitting this way, I probably wouldn’t even do it since this mentality would probably not make it a very enjoyable experience.
The way you are viewing this exchange now, you are setting yourself up for a higher likelihood of more bad experiences, or perhaps not getting chosen for sits that you may really want to do because you may come across as difficult. This sort of ‘us vs them’ mentality with the hosts, feeling like you always need to be on the defensive,etc… doesn’t really get things off on a good foot ‘energetically’ as you apply for sits and talk with hosts.
I think you do have a valid point regarding off site-communication. I too use WhatsApp or other during a sit.
However one should be aware that such communication can be deleted, and I believe some has messages on auto-delete within 24/48 hours and such. This can bring a member - host or sitter - in a difficult situation if the communication there is something that one would later on need to document in a dispute of sorts.
Vital information regarding the sit agreement, start and end-dates, issues, things that are agreed before or during a sit - consider confirming it in a way that secure the information from the other party deleting it. It could be a copy or a confirmation in the THS-channels, an e-mail or similar that you have control over. Could also be screen-shots.
For a perfectly smooth sit that might noe be necessary, but if you see a storm building up, take your precautions. That goes also for descriptions in listing - if something occurs at sit that is vital and wasn’t disclosed ahead of sit. Take screenshots of listing to be able to document that that wasn’t described before the other party deletes or alter it.
If you get involved in a member dispute you can also risk your account being locked so you do not get access to your own account until the dispute is resolved. This will be a major issue if you have another sit coming up and cannot access adress, contact details etc. So actually having different means of communication is important.
There is another thread that shows she has been through it with false allegations after an honest review being given. So I kind of get why one would be preparing for it possibly happening again. Which it could.
reviews
). The only amenity I ever specifically ask about is WIFI since I need reliable WIFI to work. I don’t typically care about other amenities. In summers, I’ve primarily done sits in the UK and parts of Europe where it’s uncommon to have A/C so that hasn’t come up yet.