Providing space for luggage is something that does get raised in the forum.
It’s a challenge that can be related to type of home. At the risk of generalising, European and city centre apartments can be space limited compared to (some) US and Australian homes.
Of course, the broader aim is that the needs of the sitters are considered in advance of their arrival, though no checklist can cover every scenario.
Also to add that @systaran’s suggestion of mentioning an empty drawer is valid.
Exactly! Doesn’t THS keep score on complaints? Or why does it roll out a feature that is so useless, but had so much potential? Once it is in place, it will not be updated or changed, so here we got clutter and missed on getting something useful.
Not sure this helps anything. Maybe new HO. But I think departure and arrival times (even estimated) should be included in the listing. For full time sitters, it helps us get ahead of timing for checking in to hotels and Airbnb’s between sits. I just had a homeowner who only told me at the last minute that they are coming back early in the morning, and most places you can’t check in until after 3pm. And twice now I’ve asked to stay a few hours after they come back and HO have given some excuse. Arrival and departures should be included in the listing, not just the welcome guide. And more and more I am finding that I has to keep asking for the welcome guide because they don’t automatically release it when the sit is confirmed, so I’m always finding out last minute when the HO are coming back. This needs to be a new feature.
This feature of Arrival/Departure times is now in the listing @Ams619 but some hosts choose to tick “To be agreed later” or this may also be the default for hosts who have not updated their listing.
There is nothing to stop you duscussing arrival and departure times in your application or in a video call, or at any other point during pre-sit communication. This is what most experienced sitters did before this was part of the listing.
Sometimes arrival and departure times may not be fixed until later in the process. Even when they are, this can be subject to change. We did a sit where the hosts return flight was changed by the airline to a day later than what they had originally booked. This change took place a few weeks before the sit. Fortunately we were able to accommodate this.
However much “scaffolding” THS puts in place, there is no substitute for good communication between host and sitter.
Every sit may a little different and there may be an uncontrollable situation which can pop-up e.g. the weather.
New features like the pre-sit checklist (and others) aim to support communication between members and not replace it.
Many forum members are experienced housesitters who may not directly benefit from all new features, but data tells us that there are a bunch of members who do… as I mentioned elsewhere, a rising tide lifts all boats.
I can also confirm that text will be added to the pre-sit checklist which will remind owners to disable interior camera’s. I don’t have a confirmed date just yet, but likely to be included over the next few weeks - I’ll share once I know more.
Thanks again to @Snowbird and everyone who has shared their feedback.
Ooh, if the camera text is added, it does restore a little bit of my trust towards THS. It does not solve the camera issue, but it shows interest towards the experience of the sitters.
Similar to the pre-sit checklist, two days before the agreed end date, a sitter will see a notification that the departure date is coming up and a link to the departure checklist.
What will be included?
There’s a few handy reminders to help your sits end brilliantly.
This blog has all the information you need - use the dropdown to skip to the Departure Checklist section.
The checklist includes reminders to ‘leave the house as you found it’ and to take care of the final pet care responsibilities e.g. meals, litter trays etc
We have never ever had a pre-sit checklist sent to us? And we honestly don’t want (& didn’t ask for) a departure checklist either so hopefully that will work as well as it’s predecessor Why can’t THS stop trying to micromanage the sit process and fix the big stuff?! #brokenrecord
Please take note of this @Mark_B - not just us! The “don’t forget an in Date passport and valid visa” is another favourite two days before you head to a long haulinternational sit #fallingondeafears
From 23rd February, pre-sit checklists have been sent to Pet Parents to help them prepare the home for the arrival of the sitter. (sitters will not receive these)
From today, departure checklists are sent to sitters to prepare the home for the return of the Pet Parent. (HO’s will not receive these)
