Need opinion from other sitters: Would you go with your gut and cancel this sit?

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
1

I have 10 completed sits, all with 5 star reviews and lots of nice comments from the hosts. I’m very careful about which sits I apply for and so far my intuition has served me well. However, I have a sit scheduled a few months from now that I’m starting to see red flags on. I just wanted to get some feedback from other sitters to see if your spidey senses go up, and if you would back out.

So, first of all, when I applied for the dates in question, the homeowner was new to the platform with no reviews. They have since had a different sitter complete a stay over a month ago, and neither left a review for the other (the review window is obviously closed now). So that is red flag number one.

The other thing is, I received their welome guide recently and the tone of it was a little less than welcoming. It could purely be that they were rushing when they wrote it, but it could also be that they’re nit-picking and a little gruff, which is what is worrying me.

I am always meticulous with cleaning up after my sits, and my h/o’s have made comments on my reviews to reflect that, so I’m not worried about my tidyness. But, for example, the welcome guide states “Please absolutely no eating or drinking anything but water on the upstairs white couch.”

Some other things that gave me pause are: " Please do not have guests and absolutely no parties or loud music…Please be sure to wipe (dogs) paws when he comes in if he is wet or dirty…Please squeeze off shower doors after using…We have someone clean every other Friday, but please be sure to clean up after yourself…You are welcome to use the gym equipment at your own risk….we have both T.V. use an apple controller and we have netflix, hulu, max, etc. Please do not purchase any items."

Almost everything in their welcome guide felt like them stating what NOT to do. In fact, the only thing they said the sitter was “welcome” to (besides the gym AT YOUR OWN RISK (weird to say that), is use their beach towels and board games.

Obviously nothing is a guarantee, but I’m just looking to see the vibe other more experienced sitters are getting from this. I wish there was a way for me to contact the sitter who recently completed a sit and didn’t leave a review! Of course, I know I can’t, but it would be helpful.

Thanks in advance guys!

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2

I see those all as reasonable requests likely from lessons learned the hard way. Is this a US sit? If so that is probably the reason for the ‘at your own risk’ thing - though that would not be likely to save them if you hurt yourself and sue.

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3

We’ve got 30+ 5*'s, never backed out of a sit, and always trust our intuition… but we’d back out of that one.

The one and only thing I’d be interested in figuring out, is whether that Welcome Guide was wrote before or after you applied. Because as she’s new, if it was written before you applied then I get that it’s hard to imagine a sitter as anything other than complete strangers, but if it were written afterwards, I’d run a mile.

4

I think it is easy to misconstrue tone in written communication, especially when it comes to something that outlines instructions of various kinds. And when it comes to the sitter/host dynamic, I think former can sometimes read into things and see issues when they are not there–it seems to trigger various general sensitivities and insecurities from what I have observed.

In my experience, welcome guides will contain plenty of information on what not to do–not using certain products on the kitchen counters and things of that nature.

I have had many sits with similar information worded in similar ways–using exercise equipment at my own risk, wiping down the dogs, cleaning the shower door, stating what the cleaner will and won’t do,etc…-- and they were always lovely people, and the sits went just fine.

Like @CreatureCuddler said, perhaps past experience–possibly with the prior sitters–made them feel it was important to very clearly state these various requests.

So based on my personal experience, this wouldn’t be a red flag for me.

But who knows…the feelings you are having may be perfectly valid, and you are picking up on a particular vibe accurately. Ultimately hosts and sitters are complete strangers to each other.

As for the lack of reviews on either side, again, could mean something or absolutely nothing.

I imagine the initial vibe you got when you spoke with the host was good or you would not have accepted the sit? Or did you not have any communication prior to accepting?

Ultimately you have to do what is best for you, but if you do decide to cancel, you should do it as soon as possible so they have time to find a new person.

Good luck!

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5

Yes, it’s in the US, and, funny enough, both homeowners are attorney’s.

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6

Both being attorneys could also contribute to the tone you’re feeling in the writing. I can write very “officially” at times and I’m certain it comes across as harsh. For me this would not be a red flag but you should always go with your gut.

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7

My meeting with the host was via a Facetime call, but it was a little rushed. She was supposed to call me around 4 pm, and I was waiting and waiting, finally by 6pm she texted saying she was sorry she’s so late, did I want to do the call another time or do it now quickly (as she only had a few minutes). I chose to do it then, and she seemed friendly enough, just a little rushed. She’s a busy lady with a career and kids so it could just be as simple as that.

I think the lack of reviews for the completed sit is what’s worrying me the most. Because the sitter she used always left reviews for all her previous sits.

8

I’m almost positive the Welcome Guide was written AFTER I applied, because I received it about 2 weeks after she accepted me, and about a week after her other sit (the one that neither left reviews on) ended.

9

Now, that is a red flag for me.

And that’s another.

I’m not sure about the tone but adding everything up and the fact that you don’t feel comfortable… Only you can make that call.

Whatever you do, good luck. And keep the forum posted.

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10

I get what you’re saying about written communication completely, although none of the 10 other sits I’ve completed had so many “Do not ----” in their Welcome Guide. I can think of one that mentioned cleaning up after yourself, but the guide was also full of other statements reflecting their hospitality. This one, not so much.

If there wasn’t that recent sit with no reviews I’d be less worried.

11

Everything you mentioned in totality doesn’t sound promising to me. Go with your gut.

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12

Thank you! :grinning:

13

I would schedule another video call. During the call you can address any questions/concerns that have come up on either side, and you can say straight out that you noticed that neither side wrote a review, and you’re wondering if there were problems. You can also then stress how important it is to review each other afterwards.

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14

That’s what I was going to suggest but when I read about the delay in the first call and the hurried chat, I thought this may not be so helpful. But it may also work.

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15

I was thinking of asking her about it as well. I will probably do that before cancelling. The sit I’m scheduled for is still months away so I have time to think about it. Thanks for the feedback!

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16

I would straight-up ask the HO why no reviews were left. Aside from the “unwelcome” guide, the lack of reviews would be a bigger red flag than anything. You also need to ask the HO if there are any cameras. They sound very uptight and you might be setting yourself up for a bad review or no review which is basically the same thing. If they are defensive and weird about asking or give you an answer you don’t like I would back out. Always trust your instinct.

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17

Wait— you are saying that you basically had a 4 pm appointment to talk to her, and she failed to show for the 4 pm call, and she did not even contact you until 6 pm to apologize for her failure?

That alone, and then the absence of reviews for the past sit…

Run, run away, run away fast.

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18

Not exactly…I just looked back at our messages to be certain; we were messaging each other about times that would be good for a Facetime call. I said “Anytime after 1pm is fine, just text me a few minutes prior so I can find a quiet spot”. She said that sounded great, but then I didn’t hear anything from her until 6:30 PM, she said she was so sorry she didn’t get a chance to do the call yet, could I do it now for 5 minutes, if not can we do it tomorrow?

So yeah, it wasn’t exactly a 1pm “appointment” for the call, but kind of vague, which is on me since I said anytime after 1.

19

It all sounds a little bit red flag, but maybe it would be worth somehow scheduling a more relaxed call, naybe under the ruse
of going over the Welome Guide, and sneaking in a question on how she found the experience as a first time HO.

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20

It could be that they had a not so good experience so they are stating the boundaries on the welcome guide. Like no purchases maybe because someone was buying stuff on the account potentially. I don’t think it’s bad in my opinion

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