Sitters charging for Christmas sits should not be applying to them through THS. If you sent an invitation to a sitter and they replied with that and were talking about doing the sit outside of THS, then that’s another matter.
The argument sitters have against charging for utilities is that since no money is supposed to change hands, it’s unfair a homeowner can ask for money and a sitter can’t. There is no governing board of sitters and many sitters looking for long term sits might not mind helping out with utilities especially if pet duities were easy. I think accusing sitters who feel differently than you do of being “greedy” and not having “morals” however is over the top. There are some disgruntled sitters who like to find listings they object to and report them. Asking for utilities is not against the terms. You didn’t do anything wrong, but your rant should be toward those individuals who decided to give you a hard time, not all sitters, including those who aren’t applying because they don’t find the contribution fair.
This is a matching site. If sitters are applying to your long term sit which includes their paying utilities, then good on you. If sitters aren’t applying or are applying only to tell you off, then you might reconsider this as the site is also a marketplace and it’s possible not enough sitters are buying what you’re selling.
You might want to consider the cost of in home pet care and security during the holidays and the winter. I’m on a long sit right now and out of curiosity I called some local pet care companies. The lowest quote I got was $9500…. and the sitter will not be hanging out at home all day for you. Nor will they bring in the mail unless the box is directly outside the home due to liability issues. I think you’re on the wrong platform. But you can ask for utilities… see how far you get.
I’m sorry, but this almost reads like a parody in how not to get a sitter.
Welcome to this site! THS started out with an interesting idea or maybe ideal would be closer to the mark. No money exchanges of great homestays in exchange for pet and home care.
Tourists would have some time to explore new areas. Remote workers would have time to work and also explore new areas in their leasure hours maybe accompanied by a cute dog.
It’s win win for people and pets. It can also be social and a wonderful cultural exchange. And it saves both parties money. That doesn’t mean that neither party is spending money. Hosts might spend money on cleaners preparing for a sit. Or they might (as I do) their own cleaning. They might make sure there is enough room in the fridge or that it is totally cleared out for sitters on a long sit. They might welcome the sitter with little gifts – a bottle of wine, some snacks etc because what do we call people who stay at our homes and don’t pay us to do so? GUESTS.
Part of the objection that sitter’s have to paying utilities is that homeowners are supposed to provide homes that are comfortable and habitable. A home in a cold place in winter with no heat is obviously not habitable. So making sitters pay for heat means you are making them pay for habitability.
Turning this into a question of a sitter’s “morals” is obviously going to be a turnoff for anyone. You are looking to find a like-minded match you trust with your home and pets. Sitters are paying members as you are. Some may be permanant nomads using sits to travel the world and avoiding accomodation fees when they can. Others are short term travelers willing to give up some time for caretaking in exchange for accomodation, but they really aren’t interested at the outset in someone asking them for money on a non-money exchange.
I sit and I host. I would immediately rule out and decline a sitter who asked me for money much less one who suggested I was somehow immoral if I wouldn’t pay them. I would likewise avoid any homeowner who asked upfront for utilitities payment. Now just to make clear, I understand the fear of excessive utilities payments, and I think especially on a long term sit, it might be okay to ask for a small refundable deposit to cover excess and to very carefully agree on what excess would look like. Even that will lose you some potential sitters.
This thread is old, and from what I recall, the hosts in this case were real and ended up not requesting utility fees. (Some folks hunted down the listing at one point, so they saw it.)