Not easy to find a proper sitter for the specific situation

[service]

I must admit that I have a specific home situation that doesn’t make it easy for me to find a sitter.

The idea of this service is excellent in theory but not always practically possible, I read here many stories where sitters and owners have connected and are mutually happy with their experiences.

But many others are disappointed, unhappy, upset or deceived because things did not go as promised or planned, all different situations are possible and not always easy to match between sitters and owners.

But those kinds of surprising outcomes can not be guessed or known before digging in and paying a yearly subscription, which is my case.

I still think that some site regulations would need to be made clear before then easier or inapplicable while other important ones should be stricter.

No one likes to go through difficulties or face last minute changes without a backup plan.

More importantly people should be as transparent as possible and get to know each other before stepping further, but one of the conditions here is that owners should have left their place when the sitters arrive, which I don’t agree with even if conversations were made prior to the sitting period.

Even if I was introduced virtually to a sitter, my dogs will not be willing to face or listen to a stranger before they get to spend with him a certain period of time and so be all confident that all will go fine both ways.

So, for my situation, I am not able to accept any sitter who is just traveling for fun and coming a long way to sit my dogs, chances are it won’t go well and I would better be preventive than sorry.

I did receive few applications for my dates but most sitters don’t read all the details on my profile and I had to sadly decline.

I would consider sitters who are not far from my place to give ourselves the chance to know each other and introduce the dogs in a proper way, take a real time to sit and know each other. But I think this is not the main goal of the service, it is more aimed to travelers.

It is always hard and too late to repair any damages or misunderstandings.

I hope for all to have a happy experience in the end!

[Maeve]

Welcome to the Community Forum @service ,

I trust you’ll receive some interesting and helpful replies on this, your first post.

[BonnyinBrighton]

I’m not sure why you’ve got the ‘impression’ that there’s a hard and fast rule regarding the handover process. Some hosts ask that sitters stay the night before (a rare few ask for more than one night). Many sitters agree to an overnight handover (it’s rare but a few sitters are willing to do more). Some sitters being more local will meet up with hosts prior to a sit (we’ve done this when travelling in Australia). Some hosts/sitters don’t seem to want to have any kind of f2f handover…we experienced this from one Host who actively avoided meeting us in person (we sat their 3 dogs!). So as you can see there’s a very wide range of experiences possible.

[KC1102]

Hello

The most important thing to address in your post is that hosts are in no way required to leave their home before the sitter arrives–to prohibit them from having any sort of in person interaction would be quite an odd rule.

The stipulation about other parties in the home refers to people like roommates.

Now if you are also talking about meeting people before confirming them, that is really not commonplace, though you may have some sitters willing to do so if they are very close by. In most cases, this would probably be a sitter who is newer to the site and willing to go that ‘extra mile’ to secure a sit and build up reviews.

And if you may also be referring to a scenario where post confirmation, you want the sitter to stop by the house at some point, again, not typical but if you book a locally based sitter, or one who will end up in that area at some point prior to your sit,they may be willing.

Yes it is true that many people are looking to use THS for travel, but you have lots of people who do sits more locally. How many locally based sitters would be available probably largely depends on the area in which you live. And there are also sitters who do this full-time or sit for extended periods, and while they may not be local to a particular area, they may traveling through your area and available.

For example, I am from NJ but have been sitting in California since January, and have done a number of sits in areas that are not particularly touristic but suited my needs very well in various respects. So even though I am not a resident of the state, hosts are essentially getting a ‘local’ sitter.

There are no guarantees here of course like you noted. I do believe that while things can go sideways on some sits, the majority end up being a positive experience for both sides.

And it is true that some sits may not be as good of a fit for this platform, but overall, there is a diverse group of people on here all looking for different things. For example, not everyone is looking to stay in strictly touristic or exotic destinations, not every sitter minds taking care of a lot of animals or properties that require more care.

It’s understandable that people have varying levels of comfort with this sort of exchange, and varying levels of risk tolerance overall, so for those whose levels are particularly low for whatever reason, it may just not be for them.

[bakindoki]

I agree with others in that you seem to be making a lot of assumptions about what a sit looks like when the reality is, similar to life, everyone’s looks different.

We require a full day’s overlap so that our dog gets to know sitters while we are there and sitters have a full day orientation. This often means sitters arrive two nights before we leave to ensure we have a solid overlap and also to accommodate a buffer for potential travel delays on their end.

Lots of other people would rather not see the sitters at all. No right or wrong way to do things so long as all parties agree.

[GotYourBack]

@service

one of the conditions here is that owners should have left their place when the sitters arrive, which I don’t agree with even if conversations were made prior to the sitting period.

@service, this is simply not true.

@service

More importantly people should be as transparent as possible and get to know each other before stepping further

Agreed. Pet parents and housesitters can schedule multiple video calls. They can agree a communication protocol between sit confirmation and sit date. They can ask any reasonable question of each other. Honesty and transparency are paramount, just as surprises as bad.

@service

I am not able to accept any sitter who is just traveling for fun and coming a long way to sit my dogs

Totally acceptable perspective. In a listing, pet parent can stipulate requirements (e.g. housesitter must live in same country or even within a given distance from pet parent or even must visit property prior to housesit). For clarity, this may significantly or substantially narrow the pool of eligible applicants but that’s your choice. Remember that housesitters are volunteers.

Some of your concerns reflect a misunderstanding of THS protocols. It is unclear from other comments whether concerns are yours or your pets. THS is not suited for everyone. If you think a paid local professional, or even local family/friends, may provide better pet care then that’s totally ok.

[Cuttlefish]

I don’t really understand what you’re asking in your post. The platform works exceptionally well when it’s a truly mutual exchange. That means you can absolutely ask for pre meets and committed sitters and home lovers but, you also need to think about why those people want to come to your home & care for your pets for free. What’s the benefit to them as there needs to be one? Lots of sitters work from home, many are retired, some want a break from long term travel to chill and just nest with pets. All these scenarios could work for you potentially. You can’t write off all THS sitters simply because you haven’t met a match yet, much like online dating. The best way to get useful feedback on if what you’re asking for is realistic, is to attach your listing to your profile and see what sitters think. #bestoflucktoyou

[Cat-ophile]

So my question is, what if your dogs don’t connect well with the sitter you’ve chosen? Is that one of your concerns? Are you looking to have potential sitters come by to see if they mesh with the dogs? If that’s the case, you’ll definitely need to focus on local applicants. Also, you may want to pay their travel costs given it would be like an interview.

If your house and/or location aren’t highly desirable, it may be difficult to find someone if my assumptions are correct.

A local pet sitting service may be your best bet. Better for someone local to establish a relationship with your dogs.

Best of luck.

[MTBer]

Maybe link your listing profile and the forum can help improve your chances at finding the right sitter. Are you interested in help, ideas, feedback? What is it about your animals or home or expectations that make this challenging? Let us try to help.

[HappyDeb]

You’ve got great advice on here but also, we sit as a couple and in our experience, owners are usually there when we arrive (but not always… cats owners mainly, as cats can be more aloof or go AWAL). Sometimes we’ve arrived a day before the owners have left if they’ve wanted, and on occasion if we’re sitting locally we’ve popped in beforehand too.

Sometimes owners have asked us to extra simple tasks on top of the norm, that we don’t see as a problem, because they asked and never requested, but I know some on here would have objected too, but lots happily help if they are able. We’re all different, and quite often we throw THS’s rules out of the window, because we have a stronger connection and a willingness to help those we sit for, as they do us, than we do with THS as a company.

You’ve received a few applicants and they just weren’t the right match for you, but I would say to give it a while longer, because you only need to find one sitter that is a perfect match for you, and it is not likely to be over who gushes about your pets the most (because we all love pets), but the one you feel more connected too, aligned too, and those that understand your situation and your pets situation best.

[Colin]

@service - That is the most confusing post I have seen in a while - where are you getting your information from? I am wondering if you are confusing THS with another platform?

The pet care/ accommodation exchange model doesn’t suit everyone.

I think you will be more comfortable hiring a local sitter and paying for their service.

[Silversitters]

@service

@service

one of the conditions here is that owners should have left their place when the sitters arrive, which I don’t agree with

Handovers are recommended and encouraged by THS

What is a sit handover?

There is also a blog with handover tips - I can’t post the link

@Jenny can you post a link to that - when I tried it reverts to sitter checklist not the blog about handover tips …

[Jenny]

Morning @Silversitters

Is it this one? How To Prepare For A Housesitter

[Silversitters]

@Jenny

it the blog

“What is a sit handover? Tips for sitters

Hayley Ward

20 September 2022

[Jenny]

Here’s a link to it

[Newpetlover]

@HappyDeb

Sometimes owners have asked us to extra simple tasks on top of the norm, that we don’t see as a problem, because they asked and never requested, but I know some on here would have objected too, but lots happily help if they are able. We’re all different, and quite often we throw THS’s rules out of the window, because we have a stronger connection and a willingness to help those we sit for, as they do us, than we do with THS as a company.

Although it’s true that sometimes, some people don’t follow THS T&Cs to the letter, the examples that you cite wouldn’t necessarily imply “throwing THS’s rules out of the window”. Hosts are required to clearly list the responsibilities of their sit and clearly include them in the WG and at handover but there’s nothing in THS rules against two parties agreeing on unexpected extra tasks. The key is the agreement. The rules are there mostly to protect one party from being forced into something they don’t agree by the other party. Like having guests without the hosts consent or accepting extra tasks or animals not listed, etc.

As others have mentioned, there’s plenty of room for everyone’s match but, of course, it’s essential to bear in mind that it has to be an equal exchange.

[Silversitters]

@Jenny

That takes you to the sitter checklist

I had the same problem trying to copy and share the link .. it takes you to a different article

[Jenny]

Here’s the article, copied and pasted

What is a sit handover? Tips for sitters

Hayley Ward

20 September 20226 min read

In this article

SittersAdvice for sitters

So, you’ve agreed to house sit an ADORABLE new fluffy friend in the heart of your dream location - kudos to you for getting your adventure started! While you’re probably on the edge of your seat to get cracking, it’s important to prepare for your sit handover - the perfect chance to get to know the home owners, your responsibilities, and all the quirks of their pets and house. While we encourage you to ask for a welcome guide, nothing beats a sit-down chat before they jet off. So, what does a sit handover look like? Let’s find out…

What is a sit handover?

A rather niche phrase, we’ll admit! A sit handover is the time between you and the pet parent in their home before they jet off. It’s an important opportunity for you to learn all about your responsibilities while they’re away, what their furry family member needs, and to iron out any queries you might have. If you’re a well-seasoned sitter, you’ll know that each house and pet parent is different, so it’s important to stay thorough on the sit handover front! Let’s dive (snouts first) into our top tips, so that your sit handover is smoother than a Dachshund’s locks…

Tips for your sit handover

1. Meet online first

Okay, this is before your sit handover, but it’s the ideal time for you to get to know one another before you meet in person! Organize a video call - seeing one another’s faces helps to build trust, no end! It also gives you the chance to ask questions about the pets, their behavior, and what your responsibilities will be during your sit. Building a good relationship with the home owners is super important - leaving somebody new in their home can be a little daunting! So, chatting before you meet in person is a great way to build up that vital trust, and to organize your sit handover.

2. Agree on a time frame for the handover

While some pet parents might like you to stay the night before they jet off, others will be happy with a couple of hours! Ask what their preference is, making sure you’ve got time to cover all bases (see below for what these are). And when it comes to the pets, it can really help to settle any separation anxiety if you’re around for a while before their pet parents say their goodbyes. Why? Well seeing the two (or four!) of you getting along in your new fluffy friend’s home will help them to understand you’re not a threat! Granted, the animal kingdom is full of variety, and some pets won’t give two hoots who’s taking care of them (sassy, streetwise kitties, we’re looking at you). On the flip side though, you might be caring for a pooch who’s simply obsessed with their pet parents, so giving them time to get used to your presence (and smells) before their pet parents leave is a great approach. You could even enjoy a little walkies together, so that the home owners can show you Fido’s favorite spots for a wander.

3. Learn about your housekeeping responsibilities

While getting to know your new fluffy friend is a seriously distracting endeavor, remember to ask about your housekeeping duties! Some homeowners might have housekeepers who take care of the daily upkeep of their home, but others won’t. So, even if you’re a well-seasoned pet sitter, each pet parent will differ, and will have varying expectations of you during your sit. Here’s what you should find out about…

• Trash. What day does the trash get collected? What can be recycled? Do they have a food waste bin? Where should you put the bins to make sure they get collected?
• Laundry. Is it your responsibility to wash the bed linen before you leave? Do you need to wash the dog bed? Where’s the laundry detergent? Is there a spare bed in case Fido has an accident?
• Mail. Where would they like you to store their new mail while they’re away?
• Plants. Which plants need watering and when? Do they need any specific feed?
• Birds. How often do they feed the birds?

4. Get the grand tour

Walking the lengths of your new stay with the homeowners taking the lead is the perfect chance to get them to show you where the WiFi box is (and what to do if it cuts out), along with water valves, electricity boxes, and the like. Taking a tour is sure to jog the pet parents’ memories, should there be any house quirks you need to know about before they jet off.

5. What are their rules on guests?

While some pet parents will have a laid back approach to guests, others will be completely against it. Whatever their decision, stick to their rules - they’re under no obligation to let you invite others into their home (no matter how much your friends love pets!).

6. Learn about alarm systems

The last thing you want is to set off the house alarm system, and have no idea how to deactivate it!

7. Emergency contacts

Hopefully you’ll have a super smooth pet sitting experience, but it’s important you have a list of emergency contacts if you can’t get hold of the pet parents while they’re away. Start by asking for a third party contact (maybe a neighbor or family member), then get a little more specific. Should there be a power outage or a leak, find out the number for their supply company. And if something needs to be fixed, you might need to welcome a tradesperson into the home. Find out the contact for their chosen electrician, plumber (and maybe even a mechanic). And if the fluffy friend you’re taking care of falls ill or has an accident, it’s important you know who their go-to vet is.

8. Spare keys

While we really hope you’re able to keep hold of the house keys, life sometimes happens and you misplace them. So, find out if a neighbor on the street, a family member or close friend has a spare set so that you can get back in. If you do lose a set of keys, get in contact with the homeowners to find out the next steps they’d like you to take.

9. Any house quirks you should know about?

Not all houses were made equal, and some have some seriously odd quirks! Whether it’s the weird motion you need to do to open the cupboards (Man vs. Bee, we’re looking at you), the special twist needed to get the shower going, or the force needed to get the back door shut, every home has its oddities. Get the pet parents to reveal all to make sure you’re in the know, and not having to call them up because you can’t get the water running!

10. Their pets A-Z

The most important one! Spend some time finding out all there is to know about their furry family members. Anyone who’s spent time around pets will know that each has their own little personality, quirks and traits. Here’s a few questions you can ask to get to know your new fluffy friend and best take care of them…

• What’s the walkies and feeding schedule?
• Do they have a fixed bed time?
• Are they allowed in all areas of the house?
• What triggers/scares them?
• What helps to relax them?
• Do they need any specific medication?
• Is there enough pet food in the house to cover the time you’re sitting?
• What’s their favorite toy/game?
• What cues do they best respond to?
• Any tips on walkies?
• How long do you expect them to be out for (if you’re sitting a kitty!)?
• What are they like with other people and pets?

11. Agree on a communication plan

While some pet parents will love nothing more than daily updates on their favorite furry family member, others would rather only hear from you in an emergency. Ask the question, allow boundaries to be set and stick to them - simple!

12. Make an end-of-sit plan

Find out whether they’d like you to be around when they get back - some may love a cuppa and a catch up, whereas others would prefer to get back to a quiet, tidy home. On that note - make sure you leave the home as you left it and replace any food.

House sitting abroad soon?

Exciting times ahead for you, then! House sitting is one of the best ways to see the world - with a fluffy friend by your side, of course. To help you plan ahead, here’s what you need to prepare for your international house sit.

[Debbie]

@service

I must admit that I have a specific home situation that doesn’t make it easy for me to find a sitter.

You have received lots of good general advice already, especially around your apparent misunderstanding of the THS Terms.

However it might be helpful if you could elaborate further on your opening sentence quoted above. Forum members don’t know what this specific home situation is, so we can’t offer any advice on how you could have more success attracting suitable sitters. It may even be that your specific home situation contravenes THS Terms? If you tell us more or link your listing, you will get more targeted advice.

[service]

I read about the handover, that is when both parties are sure to be able to handle the pets’ home situation, you certainly understand that someone traveling from another country has arranged and planned that you as an owner will be hosting them for their planned period; then if this handover doesn’t go well because they never met the pets before, how would things go? You just send them back home or be responsible for covering their stay somewhere ele, or cancel all this plan without regrets?

Those are not simple and easy ways to consider and we should be aware and responsible in that matter. I put myself as a sitter and would not want to go through this.

If all goes well then we did not even need to open this discussion.

Anyway, I can’t reply to everyone who wrote here, but I would like to thank you all for your input, yes there can always be turnarounds and solutions, and I already wrote in my profile that I prefer someone not far to visit and get to know my dogs before taking any decisions, it is aimed to create a comfortable atmosphere before engaging in the sitting.

For me this is important, maybe not for you and I respect that.

Still stitters don’t read well when they apply from another country.

Have a good day, thank you again for your precious advices!