After reading copious amounts of posts, I wanted to post some definitions from my perspective. Here they are:
Clean - no two people in the world have the same expectation for this word. I could scrub my fingers to the bone and you would find fault. Stop worrying about it. Leave it to your definition of the word. You can’t control it anyway.
Expectations - again, common sense. I never expect to sleep in the master bedroom if there are other rooms. Were they clean? (See above). Was the kitchen to my liking? Should it be? Again, expectations will almost always lead to disappointment.
Proof - take pictures upon arrival! Of everything so that you have proof of your claims.
House cameras and door cameras - If I saw any indoor cameras, I would unplug them immediately but remember smart homes are ALWAYS listening just like your phone. Definite invasion of privacy. Door cameras - not much you can do if they are monitoring that, however, you are there to care for their pets and home but that does not mean you must follow their schedule to the minute and they should not expect you to. Adjust accordingly, after all, you are on vacation too.
Communication - Asking questions before you accept is important but asking questions upon arrival is more important. I never take sits where I arrive after the host has left or leave before they return. Debriefing is crucial and most questions or issues can be discussed before departure and privately - not on public forums which in my opinion are part of the problem.
Again just my perspective. No need to bite my head off if you do not agree.
(edited by Forum team to clarify title)
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@Crittersiting, lots common sense.
We’d encourage THS to expressly require Pet Parents to include ‘no internal cameras’, ‘no recording devices’ (inc. google, apple, amazon devices) and ‘external cameras’ (textbox response) to amenities or some other aspect of listing.
When we find them, we disconnect during duration of housesit. Any Pet Parent may well be innocent or they may not appreciate ‘recording devices’. A tickbox requirement, ideally with definitions, may help ensure transparency.
We also clarify communication. Pet Parent views vary a whole lot. Some seek daily updates. Some seek contact only in emergency. Some want messages or photos. No right answer here but setting expectations upfront seems win-win for both parties.
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I really appreciate this perspective, and I think one of the most important things in house sitting, both for sitters and homeowners, is tolerance. Expectations and reality don’t always align, and no matter how much you communicate beforehand, there will always be things that don’t match up perfectly. That’s just how people are.
Everyone has their own idea of what “clean” means, what “comfortable” feels like, or what a “reasonable request” is. You can ask all the right questions and still walk into a situation that feels different from what you expected. And that goes both ways. Homeowners also have expectations about how sitters will behave, how they’ll interact with the pets, or even just little things like how they’ll use the space. It’s impossible to predict everything.
For me, the key has been knowing my own tolerance level. It’s not just about setting boundaries for others but also being clear on what I can and can’t adapt to. And honestly, even though communication has always been a huge part of my work, THS has taught me a whole new kind of tolerance. It’s one thing to navigate professional expectations, but it’s another to step into someone’s home, into their personal space, and find ways to coexist, often with completely different ways of living. (well, I try to find the ones who are not completely different to my own way of living, tbh)
At the end of the day, the more tolerance and flexibility both sitters and homeowners have, the better the experience will be for everyone.
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