As a sitter, this is my first sit and I am from out of state in the US. I am traveling a day before and staying at an Airbnb. The homeowners I am sitting for offered for me to stay overnight at their location but I didn’t want to feel like I was intruding.
Questions:
Out of state sitters who are flying in, do you stay nearby the night before?
Do you ever stay at the home you are sitting for the night before, if they offer?
If you stay elsewhere the night before, did you meet the owner in person the day/night before and then arrive the next day?
I am very comfortable doing this sit as is the owner, they are new to THS as well. Video and pictures show a very clean new home so I am not concerned at all. Just looking for insight from seasoned THS. TIA
Hi @Libby2019 Great question.
I do a mix of both depending on the situation. I have an open dialog with the HO and always ask, “When do you need me to arrive?”.
I look for flights, tickets whatever and then get back to them and tell them what I was able to find. If it works with their need, easy if not I tell them anyway and ask if that will work for them. Usually they say yes and I come a day (or more if that is their preference for acclimation). Sometimes it happens that they do not have the space (only one bedroom) then I make other arrangements.
If the offer is there, try it. Trust your intuition.
I was going to say if you are comfortable but sometimes when we get a little out of that zone we open doors to some wonderful experiences.
all the best,
Amparo
Hi. @Amparo has said her points very nicely, and I agree with her. As for feeling as if you are an intruder, remember that they’re inviting you - you’re not asking. I make sure to get specifics of when they would like me to arrive. If they’d like you to join them for a meal, they’ll usually tell you that. Otherwise, I’m happy to arrive after mealtime, or join them for a meal out (pre-pandemic). I’ve then done the range of paying for them, or accepting that they wouldn’t hear of it and thanking them when they insist on paying. I try to stay out of their way that evening, when I see a need. I had concerns about conversation, but quickly realized we already had two things in common - travel and pets. Sometimes it’s good to get yourself out of your comfort zone. Enjoy
Hello @Libby2019 and first of all congratulations on getting your first sit. This is a good question and one that you’ll find varies depending on a number of factors including the complexity of pet routines and things you may need to know about the property (is it straightforward or an off-grid remote location for instance).
We personally always prefer an overnight stay and particularly where dogs are involved, as it provides the opportunity to be part of the routine before the owners leave, perhaps go for a walk together, and generally be accepted into the pet’s environment. You’ll get some good and alternative feedback from other members here on which to make your decision, but for the future this is a good topic to include in pre-sit conversations… “how do you like to handle the handover?”.
We’ve developed lots of ways to ensure we don’t become intrusive on a handover… like offering to take the dogs for a walk, or getting settled and agreeing to meetup for the meal (which has always been offered). We show understanding for their packing, and any necessary early nights. That sort of thing. Handovers like this are a great way to form wonderful friendships, we’ve found, and get the sit off to a very good friendly start!
Here’s another thread on a similar topic that you might find interesting to read and contribute to:
Yes those are the common links (pets, travel and often plants).
I have this simple philosophy
Ask not what your HO can do for you,
Ask what you can do for your HO (or pets).
This is a question that actually cannot be answered only in one way. It always depends on the time we (HO) leave.
Just recently we left home early in the morning and therefore we invited our sitter to arrive one day early. I picked her up at the train station at 5 PM and there was plenty of time to show her the house and the pets.
Then we invited her for a meal in an Italian restaurant around the corner and had a really nice chat.
Completely different will be our next give over to our sitters in December. This time we will leave in the evening so for them spending the night here isn’t necessary, because they already are in Europe and it’s easy for them to arrive around 3 PM.
We are going to leave around 6 or 7 PM and, because that’s also the time all the shops close here, we might make a reservation in the Italian restaurant for them and give them a voucher. If I were at home the days prior to their arrival, I would prepare a meal, but I don’t know my schedule yet, and it’s possible that I will come back from a long haul flight the morning of our departure day, I definitely won’t have any time for this…I even need to squeeze in a PCR Covid-19 test, which we need for the country we travel to.
So, you see, not two scenarios are the same. Just talk about it and everything is fine.
Nine times out of ten we have our sitters come in the night before. It allows for the opportunity to meet, have our pet feel more comfortable before we leave and it give the sitter the opportunity to settle in and relax.
The only time we don’t do that is if the sitter has been to our home before and knows the layout, or if they are fairly local and can arrive a couple hours before our departure.
For most of my sits, both in the US and my 3 overseas, I’ve arrived the day before and spent the night with the host. We’ve talked about the sit and about our lives, it is nice to get to know folks. In a few cases, I’ve arrived the day of the sit, sometimes meeting the host, a few times, not. At first that seemed strange but the few times we’ve not met, the sits have gone just fine.
The main thing, I think is to talk about what is going to work best for both parties.
Out of 3 dozen sits, I’ve only paid for a hotel room once and it wasn’t real money as I was using an expiring Hyatt free night coupon.
Whenever is convenient for us and the pet companions. We are full time sitters so our sits are usually back yo back, leaving in the morning and arriving in the afternoon or evening.
In November we have a first. We are flying from UK to Panama with a 48 hour stop over in Panama City before we continue our journey North. This was built in so we didn’t arrive frazzled and jet lagged at the house. We are spending a day and night with the owners before they fly out.
It is good to spend the evening before a sit with the owners, getting to know the pets, the routines, the home but sometimes it can be awkward. We are tired, they are frantically trying to remember things and pack. We usually do the talk, show around, meal then excuse ourselves and go off to bed.
When we sat in London, the flat was one bedroomed so we stayed in an Airbnb the night before they left to give them space to get themselves ready. We are comfortable with most things that the pet companion suggests, if we are not we make our own arrangements.
Elsie
As a homeowner I would prefer that you stay with me so that you can get acclimated to the pets routine and I have time to brief you on all the peculiarities of my home.
My sister and I rent an hôtel by the sea two days prior to the sit. We will take a cab from thé airport and visit with the family to get to know them and the furry friends and come back the morning they leave. I am Canadian flying to Florida, USA. We agreed on that before final décision.
