I’m moving in less than a month and have to leave town a few days after I move into my new place for medical reasons. I’ll be out of commission for 1-2 weeks and so bringing my fur baby isn’t really a possibility and I won’t be able to get home until then. With everything going on, there’s no way I’ll be unpacked and settled in before I have to leave. Has anyone navigated this situation before? Any tips for sitters? I don’t even have pictures to show of my new spot, since I won’t be able to move until a few days before I have to leave town. I’m wondering if this has happened to anyone before and if you have any advice? Thanks!
I think it depends a lot on the pet/s in question.
I think a sitter would expect to not have to live amongst chaos, so I would pay for an unpacking service.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a willing sitter ‘unless’ the location is super cool and desirable.
It would probably be easier to find someone that will take care of your pet at their home for the time you’re away. They won’t be used to your new place anyway so minimal upheaval with change of surroundings and it sounds unlikely your home will be ready to host a sitter, especially one that’s unpaid. #homemoves
An issue I see is that your pet/s will be dealing with unfamiliarity of their new home as well as an unfamiliar person looking after them. This could be a difficult sit for both pet and sitter.
Also, it sounds like you will not have time to set up your new home. This is an equal exchange where you are providing free, comfortable and clean accommodation for free pet care, so sitters may feel they’re not getting this.
Perhaps boarding the pet/s may be a better option for this situation.
I agree with what others have already pointed out. The only thing that I can think of is perhaps reaching out to previous sitters. I might do that kind of sit if I knew the pets and the host.
Good luck with your medical issues, moving and everything.
I think your best bet is to drop your pet off with a relative or friend that knows them. As others have said, having a stranger navigate your animal in a new and chaotic environment would not be fair to either.
We did a repeat house shortly after the hosts had moved home . We knew the pets and the hosts and even saw the new home before they had moved in.
The cats kept trying to escape to get back to their previous home and disappeared for a few days . The hosts were laid back about it but it was a stressful experience for the pets and us as sitters . We couldn’t relax on the sit at all .
Great question! With so many hosts struggling to find sitters, it’s worth remembering that this is a mutual exchange and that hosts need to offer a good sit if they want sitters to apply.
If you’re moving into a new home shortly before the sit, will you realistically have enough time to make it clean, comfortable and fully functional for your sitter?
For example, will the guest bedroom be ready with a comfortable bed, fresh bed linen, curtains hung , empty closet space and no unpacked moving boxes? Will the kitchen have working appliances installed and all the basics ( cutlery plates cooking utensils) unpacked and organised? Will the Wi-Fi, TV/streaming and washing machine be ready to use?
And what about the bathroom, lounge and garden?
Of course, nobody expects you to unpack every box immediately after moving. But could the remaining boxes be stored out of sight somewhere the sitter won’t be using?
Ultimately, ask yourself: Will this home be set up and comfortable enough that a sitter would actually want to apply for the sit?
With sitters having plenty of choice, creating a welcoming, comfortable and functional home can make all the difference when it comes to attracting applications.
Thanks for asking the question before you posted your listing. Many good things has already been said. And the location of your house does matter. Centre of Paris would probably never be a problem 
At the same time: you probably have photos of your new home and make photos of the surroundings: coffee places, a park, as example.
What you also can do is sharing what the situation is and that you understand that it is challenging and are open for suggestions to make it a smoother situation. Maybe buy extra sheets and tell that the bed is not made, but everything is clean and I have on the bed all new sheets but you have to make the bed yourself or something like that. Or maybe hire someone to clean when you are not able to do this yourself. Or maybe say: cleaning is not possible, is it ok to give a voucher for a good local restaurant or something like that.
If it’s possible to get the main furniture, then kitchen and guest room, unpacked before you leave, then maybe possible. Possibly leave the rest of the boxes in storage.
But really your pet will be unsettled anyway. I would find a good boarding kennel/pet hotel in a case like this.
Thanks, everyone! This is helpful. Unfortunately, a boarding spot won’t be an option either. That said, I think I have a better sense of my options! I appreciate what everyone shared. 