What are some good questions to ask a potential sitter
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This has been asked numerous times before. Use the spyglass at the top of the page to research your question.
Some questions will be general in nature but others will be specific to your particular circumstances. Ask the questions that are important to you, your home and your pets.
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Hi @Roxy 
After 14 years and 155+ sits, these are the kinds of questions we’ve found really useful when homeowners are getting to know us:
Experience & Fit
• What draws you to this particular sit or location?
• Have you cared for similar pets or routines before?
• How do you usually settle pets when owners first leave?
Practicalities
• Are you comfortable with any special needs (e.g. medication, nervous pets, garden care)?
• What does a typical day look like for you during a sit?
• Are there any dates or timing details we should confirm early (arrival, handover, return)?
Communication & Reliability
• How do you like to stay in touch during a sit?
• What’s your approach if something unexpected comes up?
• Are you happy to have a quick video chat before confirming the sit?
At the end of the day, it’s all about what feels right for you and your pets. 
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Welcome @Roxy
The video call should be a relaxed conversation , both of you are working out if this sit/sitter will be a good match.
I suggest that before the video call you read the sitter’s application , profile and previous reviews thoroughly . Make a note of any questions that come to mind after reading these .
You could also start by asking them if they have any questions for you and take it from there.
Have your home prepared and offer a video tour during the call . Sitters like to see where they will be staying and your openness to give them a tour could swing it in your favour so that they choose your sit ( if you decide to offer it to them ). Include your pets in the call - they after all are the main attraction .
It’s important to discuss the logistics of the arrival and departure times - do you want an in person handover , will they be travelling a long distance, will they need a lift from the airport ?
Ask them , if you are offered the sit , how quickly can you confirm the sit / book your flights ? So that they don’t keep you waiting whilst considering other sit possibilities.
Please report back to the forum how the call goes .
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Welcome to THS!
As @Twitcher says, your question has been asked a lot before.
Here’s an example:
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@Roxy, welcome to THS Forum. @WeRPAWsome has given some great questions.
Our whole approach to video calls has evolved materially through experience. Initially we had employer-employee mindset and let PP ask us questions in manner of a reactive interview. We found that ineffective as we encountered surprises, on topics that we had not asked about. Ugh. We now proactively approach video calls as peer-peer exploratory conversation on preset topics … situation/travel (where, booked, PP dates, HS dates, etc) and on pets (details, care, exercise, food, medication, typical weekday/weekend day, etc).
We find that PP ask us surprisingly few questions during video call 
. After our proactive conversation steering, most PP have gained comfort that we have experience and diligence … and we have gained info to assess fit, opportunity and appetite to aid our decision to confirm any offered sit 
But some PP have specific needs and should seek related info. Could be pet medication (we’ve had a few of those) or property quirks (location, facilities, community) or travel logistics (specific dates, vehicle). Questions probably vary depending on housesit duration (3 night vs 3 months) and other factors.
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Given our experience with the 2nd sitter we got from THS, the best questions would be a pop quiz of 10 questions specifically referring to topics covered in the Welcome Guide to see if they even read it.
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No go with this one, Sorry. Potential sitters, applying for the sit have no access to the WG. Once the access is granted they are no longer potential but confirmed
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Sitters don’t get to see the WG until after the sit has been confirmed .
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I created a Welcome Guide on Google Docs so it’s easily shared before a confirmed sit.
I’ve had sitters ask for it prior to locking down a sit.
But you’re right, quizzing a potential sitter on the WG isn’t practical.
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A good question to kick things off is to ask how they got into pet sitting in the first place, then it doesn’t feel like a boss/employee type of question, and will instantly give you an insight as to their personality/character to see if it matches the good feeling you had about them when you first read their profile, and then things will naturally flow from there on.
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Surprisingly, potential hosts do not ask me any questions at all, other than practicalities regarding my arrival. (My profile and reviews seem to be doing all the heavy lifting for me and resulting in their trust right off the bat.)
By the same token, I do not have many questions for them either, beyond confirming details regarding the pets’ medicine, sleeping habits, veterinarian information, and property location.
I am very selective about whom I apply to and trust the listing’s accuracy and the host’s transparency. Thus far, there have been no disappointments.
Our video chat is pretty much a social affair. Do we like each other on a personal level? Can we partner with each other? If we can, then we can (together) also sort out any eventual issues that may arise.
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Thank you all for your insightful response to what questions to ask a potential sitter .
They were all very helpful !
Roxy 
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