How do I make it clear that I don’t want a sitter who is going to invite guests? My last 4 sitters have wanted to invite guests over. I tell them no, and they still ask me in person. Awkward! When I asked my current sitter if she was wanting to have a guest, she said she would only have her boyfriend over for dinner. He is currently at the house right now! He came late last night and is sleeping over. I have a security camera on my front porch (she knows this).
How do I attract those house sitters who love to travel and love pets and don’t have hidden agendas. Isn’t that what this is all about?
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Just be clear and do not bend the rules, if it is important to you. As a sitter, this may or may not affect my desire to do the sit. Each sit is different. Sometimes I am going to visit family and want daytime guests. I have one short sit I am taking my granddaughter with us. Other sits there will be no outside guests whatsoever. The common thread in all of these is, I mentioned my desires in the application and, if it got that far, discussed it with the HO. There is no right or wrong way, just communication. I would not want to have visitors the HO was not comfortable having. HO says no, I say thank you and everyone continues to find there match, for each individual sit.
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I am sorry to hear that…I am sure it is frustrating for them to put you on the spot like that even after you have said no. They shouldn’t be doing that but at the same time, you still have the option to say no even if it may feel highly uncomfortable.
Are you choosing sitters that are more local, therefore increasing the likelihood they know people in the area? If so, you might lean towards sitters who don’t live in the area. There is still the possibility they know people but less likely. Based on the title of your post, have all these sitters been younger and single? Maybe you would feel better having older sitters or couples.
It is probably a good idea to state you have adopted a’ no visitors policy’ in your listing so people know this upfront–if I were you I would probably word it in such a way that this preference is based on past negative experiences and is not negotiable. And it would be important to reiterate this prior to confirmation as unfortunately not all sitters read the listings in their entirety.
Most sitters probably would not care about a ‘no guest’ policy–often times people end up in places where they don’t know anyone so this is a non-issue. And for people who would be hoping to have someone over, it’s not a match and they can move on.
If she is not honoring the agreement, this would be grounds to open up a member dispute against her–contact to support should be worded this way-- once the sit ends; whether or not you bring it up to her directly is up to you, but unfortunately there is the risk that if she suspects she may get reviewed negatively that will impact how she reviews you. This shouldn’t be the case but unfortunately that is the reality.
Terms state that the sitter must get permission for guests and you did not give express permission for him to stay the night, only to come for a few hours for a meal.
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In your listing/profile: NO GUESTS!
In your Welcome Guide: NO GUESTS!
During your phone/video chat: NO GUESTS!
In person: NO GUESTS!
Be proactive with the message and so they would not need to ask.
Consider getting a couple to sit rather than a solo person.
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As a single pet sitter, I have completed a dozen or so sits.
All have been for two weeks or less, & I have never felt the need to request the HO if I might have guest(s).
However, I am now on my first longer sit for a period of 4 weeks.
In hindsight, I wish that I had thought to ask about the possibility of a day time guest, particularly as I have a couple of relatives within a 16 mile radius of where I am staying.
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Welcome to forum @Portlandmom !
So sorry this has been your experience. I find it unusual, my impression is that experienced sitters don’t do this. I’ve had people with me, always mentioned in application and approved by host. If they hadn’t before confirmation, I would not bring it up.
For long sits, like over a month, I do think it would be a good idea for a host to think through whether they would allow some social interaction for the sitter, especially if the location is somewhat difficult to have guests in otherwise (like no places like hotels etc. to stay, no cafès to meet etc. should the sitter want to or need to see family/ friends. It can be a little bit unfair to have a sitter in house-arrest in some locations. While other places/ sits the sitter could leave the property to spend some time with their loved ones.
For a week or two like I have done, I’ve had no issues being solo, and many sitters never have guests even for longer ones. While other sitters use THS specifically to be able to have a base for visiting family and friends.
At the end of the day, you decide what you want. It will probably impact your pool of sitters. I also wonder why this happens so often, and whether the sitters the listing attracts is more inexperienced sitters? Younger sitters? Local sitters? I know that adult sitters often have quite specific criterias for which sits to apply for. Maybe the listing could be tweaked to attract another type of sitters?
If you would like input on your listing, you can link your listing to your forum profile for some input:
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Yes, seems odd for a sit to be repeatedly attracting such sitters.
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@Portlandmom State clearly in both your listing and welcome guide that inviting third parties into your home without prior agreement will result in immediate termination of the stay. It constitutes a breach of the third-party rule, which applies equally to both parties. If you’re uncomfortable being that direct, you can frame it as a practical security and insurance requirement - nothing personal.
If this issue has come up repeatedly, it may be worth revisiting your listing and the way you engage with potential guests early on.
A well-balanced listing should clearly and equally communicate what you’re offering guests as a host and what you expect in return. If the emphasis is solely on pet care, you may unintentionally attract guests who overlook the broader responsibilities of the exchange - including respect for your home and boundaries.
The currency is mutual hospitality and responsibility.
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Honestly, I don’t get it. Why is it so hard for people to clearly communicate their boundaries?
I’d message her and say that she knows you have a camera at the entrance and that it’s against the agreement and the rules to have someone in the house. You can say it nicely if you want – I probably wouldn’t.
And I’d definitely inform THS.
How do people even end up in situations like this, where they’re so dependent on sitters (or homeowners) that they just let themselves be walked all over?
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The sitters are not local. For whatever reason, they aren’t staying with the people they are coming in town to see. I assume it’s because the people they are coming to see don’t have room for them.
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Thanks for the idea about the no guest policy. I’m not sure where to put that in my listing. It would be nice to have a specific place for it. It would be good for pet sitters also.
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Yes. Thanks!
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This happens with experienced sitters.
My first 4 sitters were everything I hoped they would be. Just amazing! But lately, sitters want to have guests. I feel like if you want guests, get an Airbnb.
Thanks for the tip about posting my listing!
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Agreed. And it’s better to avoid situations like these in the first place, with clarity in their listings, etc.
Generally, some sitters and hosts tend to hand-wring or hesitate or get stuck with issues that seem straightforward to many of us.
Often, the same folks struggle with the same issues repeatedly. If there’s a pattern, it’s usually helpful to look at the common element(s) — the same host or sitter and how they’re approaching things from the outset.
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In the home section of the welcome guide - there is a section for House Rules .
So I suggest that you also add this to the “Home and location “ section of your listing too and be sure to re-emphasise in your conversation BEFORE confirming the sit .
How long can your pets be left alone for ? I ask because a sit where pets cannot be left alone for long is more likely to attract sitters who request visitors .
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I would suggest just saying it in the listing. Then some sitters who would like guests just don’t apply. The Welcome Guide is unfortunately often shared very late. One wouldn’t risk sitters pulling out at that point due to things that could easily be avoided.
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I have always assumed that it was against THS policy to have guests come to the home. Am I wrong about that? As a sitter, I would never have someone come into the house.
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Here is the policy
“A sitter must not allow any third parties to attend the sit or enter a pet parent’s property without their consent prior to arranging the sit. If they are happy for a sitter to arrange for a friend or family to visit them for any part of their sit, then that is absolutely fine provided the pet parent gives their consent for the sitter to make those arrangements. ”
https://support.trustedhousesitters.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360001881117-Third-party-policy
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You speculate that the “people [your sitters] are coming to see” may not have room to put them up. I think there may be a hint to the nature of your problem right there. If I’ve read you aright, your sitters are at your house not because they want to look after your animals, but because it was in a convenient spot for them to visit friends/family.. Respectfully, I’d suggest that you’re possibly picking the wrong types of people… I dunno..
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Thank you.
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