Starting today, I have a new habit of doing screen prints of any listings I apply for and rechecking them periodically. I received email from a host to inform me that they would no longer be able to include the car for my 30 day sit confirmed months ago because of mechanical issues. That might not be a deal killer in itself but when I looked at the listing I see that they added the information that one of the dogs is incontinent and needs to wear a diaper. That is the deal killer. I’m quite surprised that they did not have that information in the original listing and it did not come up when we spoke and I asked about behavior problems. I will assume it was an oversight. I have dealt with dogs in diapers before but only when I knew this going in and certainly not for 30 days. Too bad because it was a dream location for me but I have enough experience now to know that I would regret taking this sit so asked her to kindly cancel, which she did.
Thanks for the tip/advice, @jcvbva. I appreciate that you’re giving the host the benefit of the doubt.
As for tracking changes to listings … if it were me … I’d look into ways of saving the text vs only screen prints. There are a lot of tools for comparing changes between two documents, making it easier and faster to understand any differences.
- Many sitters wouldn’t accept a sit with an incontinent dog.
- Even had the HOs honestly overlooked that element, that’s something they should’ve raised with you when they added it to their listing.
To me, you’re being generous. It seems like sketchy behavior to add it and not discuss with you, especially since you’d asked about behavioral issues — as if they were trying to cover themselves in case you ended up protesting when you found out when you showed up.
Given the above, I’d also wonder whether they ever meant to include the car. Or whether they had second thoughts about that.
I wouldn’t proceed with the sit, either.
Great tip @jcvbva we will also be doing this from now on
That’s a really nice tip. Thank you
Great tip. But I assume THS can look back at a listing if there ever became a disagreement between sitter and HO. When I was a Superhost with Airbnb I know they could,
@jcvbva great tip - this will also cover the scenario- when an additional pet has been added to the listing which was not there when the sit was agreed.
It would be helpful if a sister with a confirmed sit automatically got an alert that a listing has been amended so that they could check for this kind of thing . Had you not noticed the new medical information about the dog, you could have arrived at the sit none the wiser, by which time it would likely be too late for you to cancel .
We are currently on a three week sit where the listing including that the dogs go to daycare M-F 8-5. Our first Monday here, I got a message midday that they no longer do that and that I need to go pick up the dogs. The HO says that it was an oversight that she had notified me about five months ago when we interviewed her but had accidentally put on her welcome guide. These are two large dogs in a very small apartment so we are doing 5-6 walks per day to make up for the lack of activity and I’m not getting my work done. So looking forward to this one ending.
How frustrating! I assume the owner decided that since you were going to be there, no need to send the dogs to daycare. Still, that’s not what you signed up for!
That’s so out of order @Banyanitis1 - I feel your pain as another digital nomad, that’s a lot to ask! 
@Banyanitis1 , would you feel comfortable telling her that her Welcome Guide (or the information she gave you when you agreed to the sit) stated the dogs would be at daycare and that this was your understanding. If you had known that would not be the case you would not have been able to accept the sit as all time now required for potty breaks throughout the day is making if very difficult for you to do your job.
Ask her if she could resume day care while you are there. Or at least have a dog walker come some of the time. If she refuses, make sure you include all of this info in your feedback/review but I hope she agrees.
@Banyanitis1 I feel for you. That’s a huge change in the terms and conditions previously presented/discussed.
Hope it goes quickly for you. Sending hugs.
An example I had (nowhere near as bad as for you) was HO said there was a regular dog walker. I work from home so that was helpful, as the doggie liked and needed several walks a day. And then upon arrival, HO said they had cancelled him for while I was there.
Similar experiences where they cancel cleaners after arrival, when it’s previously stated in the profile that cleaner will be attending ….
Minor examples really, but showing that a few HOs are stating favourable sit conditions, (which they actually confirm at the video call stage because I do ask), which are then removed only after sitter arrives.
Hasn’t happened for a while, as am getting to the repeat sits stage now, with mostly known and lovely HOs. But I will gently call out any future HOs who pull that one in the future after arrival. I think sitters need to do so… politely and gently.