A few of my colleagues recommended the TH community as an option for sitting. I’ve not participated as a PS yet, but this month I listed myself as an HO for (2) sits, one overnight and one 2-week sit that started today.
In both cases, the PS has been slow to communicate without my reaching out first. For instance today, the PS didn’t confirm their arrival time until I asked them if they had settled in. Is that common?
I have expressed a desire for more communication than not – especially as I get used to the process but also wonder if another HO has advice on how to let go of any expectations and trust that the PS will do right by the community, and love on my cats with care.
This is important to you so don’t hold back on being specific in not only what you expect but you require.
We as individuals have our own manner of being or what we feel is good enough and without specific and clear communication of what you expect you will only get what they think is ok.
Think it through and send a message, a nice message.
For example, I am so glad you have arrived tocare for (pet names). Please msg me, (send photos updates how often etc). Tell them it’s important to you.
It’s ok and best to get this clear straight away.
Save this and use it in future.
Some of us are ultra communicators some are not. Some ask what the preferences are while others don’t. It’s a learning experience for everyone.
@theperfectstorm for the best outcome you need to communicate communicate communicate. Can’t stress this enough. From the initial application to the review. Communicate honestly, factually, respectfully and you will have success.
What is your version of slow communication? Everyone’s is different.
If we turned up and let ourselves in, unless the owners had specifically requested us to message straight away, I would only message an HO once we’d been to the loo, said hello to the pets (which takes a little while, especially with cats, they can be more aloof), got our bearings around the house, and potentially unloaded our car (not unpacked, just unloaded). As it would be a little pointless to message to just say we’d arrived and nothing else, we can’t even say everything is fine as we would have no idea at that point. Rather than once we’d had chance for the pets to know-know us, and we could assure an owner that everything was fine and the pets had taken well to us. So it could be 30 mins-2 hours later with cats, as they work on their own time-schedule.
It depends on what you had discussed beforehand about your expectations.
Don’t let go of your expectations, every sitter is different, so let them know your expectations (just don’t word it as that lol). Just tell them you are new to this and a bit anxious as you’ve never done this before, so could they message you each day or so with a photo or something similar. Then once you start relaxing about the whole process, like the next time around, you may be happier with a pic once every couple of days, but whatever you are happy with at that moment in time is best. We usually ask beforehand how much of an update HO’s would like.
I have never had a sit where I let myself in, so I don’t really know how I would act. Messaging would probably not be the first thing that I did, unless there was immediately something that I wanted to ask about.
@theperfectstorm I rarely accept a sit where I won’t be meeting the owner for a handover. However, the few that I have done have been for cats. I always do a short message when I arrive to reassure them I am there then give another message later when I have settled in and have something to say re cats and home. Did you have a video chat with your sitters before confirming them as that’s the time for both sides to ask questions and discuss expectations? Are they newbies as well so neither of you really knew what is expected? It’s a big learning curve and your next experience will be better. Message them and be honest in how you are feeling as it’s a big thing to leave your home and pets in a stranger’s hands. Plus say how you would appreciate daily updates with photos.
We have done lots of blind handovers. Usually we text the owner as soon as we arrive (which is generally in the afternoon). Then, before bed, we give a short update with a photo of the animal. After that we usually stick to a once a day/once every other day update system. If the HO wants more than that, they will have to reach out to us. We’re happy to respond, but without it being expressly communicated, twice a day updates feels like too much.
I think I’ve only had maybe one or two HOs who have written in their listing “We’d love two updates a day, one during the day and one before bed.” Which was fine, be ause we knew in advance. If you know how much communication you want from a sitter, go ahead and put it in the responsibilities section.
We usually send a message right away. Something like, “We’re here! (Pet) greeted us/hid from us/is curious about us. Will update you later once we’ve settled in.”
Basically just confirming that we are present in their home. I think some HOs are anxious that we will just, never arrive. So that’s an important message in my opinion. Then we are a little more relaxed.
I mostly arrive after the owners have left, so there will be an arrangement for the key. I always send a message to say I am safely inside and have met the pets. Times of arrival and departure are always agreed earlier to suit everyone. If I am booked a long way ahead I always check when they are going and coming back and say we can finalise closer to the sit as a lot of travel plans change. Often time differences mean they don’t see the message until the next day, but I send it anyway. I have done a sit recently where they were in Antarctica, and they knew they would be out of contact for a week. I am on a sit at the moment and I send a photo each day. But the one before only wanted something every 3 days. Make it clear what you want everyone is different.
Thank you @Amparo - I am naturally an overcommunicator, so like the idea of a curated form letter to express my hopes over the next few weeks. Thank you.
@theperfectstorm Don’t let go of your expectations, there are wonderful sitters on the site that do communicate really really well. Be more picky about selecting your sitters would be my advice. You do learn with time. I’m a HO & PS and I’ve learned on both sides over multiple sits. The interview process is really imortant - be sure to do a video chat with the PS and let them know you want regular daily communication from them during the sit. PS - great sitter profile - you will do well!
Hi, ThePerfectStorm!
Be of good cheer - you’ll quickly find this is a great community.
MOST people in the system are thoughtful and considerate.
That said - it’s like any group: a mixed bag.
As HO we had sitters who seemed to think that asking for an update every 3rd day (on a 25 day trip) was a burden. As a Sitter my husband sometimes tells me, “Enough! Let them enjoy their time away!”
There is a Manual that the HO is supposed to share with the Sitter both online and also printed out.
That said, I think a more personal note shared in anticipation of a video chat might be very useful so you don’t forget to mention things that are important to you!
Then in the interview process with a potential sitter, you can see if they are OK with your particular style, requests, needs up front.
Here are some ideas off the top of my head - taken from our experiences. For example: (1) I’d like a check in daily: a quick pic of my beloved Poochie and a line or two is fine. if something really needs communicating quickly, please Messenger or WhatsApp me so I’ll see it right away! *
[Whatever works for you…we had a HO who seemed very nervous until we sent pix of her puppy sleeping on my husband’s tummy: she got the picture - literally!]* (2) You are welcome to help yourself to all the veg & fruit in the fridge, condiments, oils, dressings, coffee, tea. I’m also leaving some eggs, bread, ham, cheese for a quick meal. Please don’t use the things in the freezer, pantry or wine celler [Or whatever you like: some HO make a meal or leave a meal after checking on the Sitter’s dietary restrictions.] (3) I will leave detailed instructions for feeding & walking Poochie. Both are important to Poochie and to me. She has a routine and needs breakfast before 9 a.m. and dinner around 6 p.m. Her food routine will be posted above her food dish! She needs a walk in the morning and one in the evening, each at least 20 minutes long, with her jacket if it’s especially cold, unless it’s pouring rain because she hates walking in the rain!
I hope you’ll enjoy your time in my home and with my Poochie, but please don’t leave her alone for more the 5 hours at a time as she is used to me being around.
[Again: YOUR needs & your pets’ needs should be communicated clearly - there are ALL kinds of sitters with ALL kinds of styles so don’t be afraid to ask for what you want/need! ON THE OTHER HAND: if you work away from home all day long and Poochie is used to being alone for 10 hours a day, expecting the sitter to be with your pet 2X more than you spend with them is not fair to the sitter AND may be disruptive to your pets’ routine.] (4) have someone coming to fix my sprinkler system on the 3rd day you’d be here. If you like, I can give them your contact information to confirm when they are coming, but since all the work will be done outside, it shouldn’t interfere with your plans or privacy.
[Conversely, we had one HO who expected us to be at the house for three days while a stream of workmen came daily. Surprise! Some trades people do not turn up when promised. It meant that in reality 5 of our 7 days we were housebound. Not fair.] (5) On your last morning, please strip the bed and put sheets in the laundry room (I’ll do the actual washing.) No need to make the bed as I leave it unmade until it’s needed.
[OR whatever arrangement you want, such as: Please make the bed with the second set of linens I’ve put out for you.]
JUST consider how you will want to be treated when you try out Sitting and you’ll do well!
Overnight - 1 night sits are difficult. If you look at it from a sitter’s point of view, unless you are newbie trying to gain some good reviews, what is the point of a one night sit? I’m a homeowner in a competitive area, but I wouldn’t bother with a night sit. (I have cats so a neighbor could do a drop in or two.)
As for your two week sit, daily check ins with photos are not excessive. Per other comments these expectations should be in writing and clear before the sit begins.
You can certainly make it clear that you would like a daily update while you are away.
Letting the Owner know that the Sitter has arrived safely seems like common sense to me, but perhaps not to everyone.
I would have left a big, hand-written note on the kitchen counter or the front door, “Please send me a message right away so that I know you have arrived safely and were able to get inside! Thank you!” and provide phone number and be specific if you want a WhatsApp message, text, email, THS message.
I usually say I’m on the bus or train if a flight i send details of flights.if ho is not there to greet me i tell them I have arrived safely in their home doesn’t everyone do that?
On the occasions we arrive after the hosts have left we always send the first message as soon as we can. We are sure the owners will breathe a sigh of relief to know we’ve arrived safely and are in situ! If we are able to get a pic of one of us with the pet on arrival we’ll send that straight away too. Later that day we’ll send a further update before bed just to reassure them we’re settling in and everyone is doing fine- with more pics if we have them. After that we’ll update once a day unless advised otherwise.
As others have said- communicate your needs and requirements- in advance if possible. Or if you haven’t done that and you find your sitters are not spontaneously matching your wishes, then do politely make contact with them. Most sitters will do their best to accomodate any reasonable requests.
We frequently leave before the hosts return. In these cases we do pretty much the same in reverse. We take pics or videos of us with the pets directly before we leave and send these to the host with a final update as we’re driving away.
I try to imagine being in the hosts shoes and act accordingly- I want them to feel reassured at all times.
For sits when I’ve arrived after the HOs have left, I automatically let them know as soon as I arrived and sent a photo of the pet(s). That way, they don’t have to wonder whether my flight was delayed or such. In both cases, they’ve had cats, who’ve been there to greet me. If they hadn’t been, I still would’ve let the HOs know I’d arrived. No one has had to ask me to do that. I imagine if it were my pets and home and figure that I’d want to know.
I’m happy to update folks daily or multiple times a day. It takes little effort on my part, since I telecommute during all of my sits.
Thank you for sharing your checklist, @asag – I have a very detailed Welcome Guide I used with F&F well before the TH community. However, after seeing your notes, I may need to adjust a few of the bullet points.