You’re perfectly entitled as a sitter to not do video calls and to prefer having everything written down. Likewise, any host is perfectly entitled to want a video chat or not. It’s just that you’re not a good match for anyone who wants a video call.
Most people prefer to look others in the eye, read body language and reactions. Tech has continually improved and now that’s easy by video. So your choices are to stick with your preference, which will limit your sitting opportunities, or you learn how to do video calls better and get more comfortable, which presumably would increase your sitting opportunities. (If your status quo is working for you, no problem then.)
To me, not feeling comfortable with video calls isn’t surprising, because it’s a skill and skills require willingness to learn and practice. And tech evolves. People didn’t know how to use a phone, type or drive back in the day, and yet now all those skills are basic. Likewise, being able to do video calls is moving that way. In my line of work, you’d be unemployed if you didn’t video call well.
Video Call is another name for Mutual Due Diligence OR WISDOM!
Yes, it certainly hasn’t been a problem for me, maybe my writing skills are better than average.
I asked the question because I have often wondered why people, both owners and sitters, place so much importance on the video calls. And it is very difficult for anyone who is autistic, suffers with anxiety, is very introverted, has a speech impediment, etc Yet those people may be the most wonderful sitters imaginable.
It seems very unfairly weighted in favour of more outgoing extrovert types and neurotypical people.
I read a post yesterday by someone who was suffering feelings of rejection and inadequacy because of so frequently being turned down following a video call.
Homeowners have the option of ticking a box to say they would like a video call, perhaps there should be the option for both owners and sitters to indicate which method they prefer.
You see I just don’t get that. It’s one method of communication but not the only one.
Unlike with paid employment, there are no THS protections for accommodations if someone has a disability. And of course, there’s no reason that any host ever has to leave their pets or home with someone they’re not comfortable with. If doing video chatting is necessary to get them there, that’s that.
THS could add a button or such as you suggest, but it’s unlikely, because relatively few people resist video chatting. Companies usually invest resources in things that serve a large number of users, because it’s more likely to give them better returns.
I am a sitter and a HO - I prefer a video call for both - its much more personable and I feel I can get a better feel for the other person.
There are many ways that people can be neurodiverse. Some people may be visual learners and find videos and direct communication that includes visual cues easier than written communication. It’s way overbroad to suggest that videos favor “extroverts” and “neurotypical” people. Many sitters (and homeowners) are not native English speakers and again a direct face to face communication that includes facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice may be better than writing.
These days it can also be what people are used to, especially in a post-covid world where peope “chat” less on the phone and are used to video meetings.
Good point, in fact my daughter and I both prefer video calls to phone calls, because it requires less concentration and is less tiring.
However, if I were having to communicate with someone in a foreign language I would definitely need to use the written word so I could use a translation app. But yes, if I was reasonably proficient in a language visual cues would help.
Since English isn’t my first language, I feel much more comfortable with video calls than phone calls. Seeing the other person’s facial expressions and gestures helps me understand better, especially when someone speaks quickly or uses unfamiliar words. It also gives me a bit more time to think before I respond. I feel more confident that way and I think it also helps me come across as more natural and less awkward.
Many HOs and sitters would disagree, as the comments seem to suggest many prefer a video call, including me.
“Need” is subjective with video calls, phone calls, etc. We all do mutual matching with THS sits, so the key thing is finding hosts or sitters who match. And some hosts might be more amenable to doing without video calling if a sitter has robust and strong reviews, especially if their sit locations aren’t drawing many applicants, or their sits are otherwise not popular.
Tangentially, in my work life, we discovered that many 20-somethings are uncomfortable with phone calls, because they grew up with texting and instant messaging. For certain jobs we hired for, phoning was necessary, so those folks had to learn. Otherwise, in one case we ended up letting someone go, because their resistance to phoning ruined their performance.
Yes, there has been a massive shift away from making phone calls. I know very few people, if any age, who make phone calls.
I never answer my phone, if it’s an unknown number but recently someone I do know formed me and I could hardly remember how to answer the call. 
Yup. I can’t remember the last time I had a ohone call to chitchat. Maybe if our signal was bad on video?
I never answer my phone unless my phone recognizes the number. Everyone else goes to voice mail. Too many random solicitation calls.
A phone call on my mobile attracts international rates when calling the HO who is outside of the UK so it’s a hard NO to this form of communication. I need contact via WhatsApp to know that the HO can use this app effectively- and I need a video chat to get a sense of how they communicate, their approach to me/us as their sitter, details of things that I need as opposed to what the HO needs and has already listed… so quite a bit of clarification on my part. Also I like to check and agree handover dates/times and car ‘things’…
I am that rare bird, “neuronormal”. I have no Conditions at all. Except possibly Social Anxiety… Or shyness, as it used to be called.
So yeah, I’m not a fan of video calls.
I joined in 2022 and have only ever known video calls to be pretty standard.
Over the past year I’ve had a handful of new HO who wanted me to travel to their home to meet them and their cat as part of the application process, which I found unreasonably demanding.
I don’t do in-person meets even for local sits. I sat twice while my new-to-me house was being remodeled — both sits within 45 minutes of me. And the hosts were perfectly fine with just a video chat, one pair with one dog and a custom home and the other with two expensive Siberian cats and a high-end high-rise apartment. Both pairs were relaxed and hospitable hosts. I arrived and we did a brief handoff and then we were good.
One pair even volunteered their wheels and gassed it up full after I said I might take their dog to the beach. They said I shouldn’t have to spend to take their dog on adventures. And that was despite my already having driven my own car to their home. Got terrific reviews from both of them.
I mention the above, because there are still good hosts out there. Just keep skipping the unreasonable ones and hopefully other sitters will do the same.
Yes, I see that sometimes, it’s certainly not feasible for most of us, we are generally travelling long distances to house sits.
We like having a video call to get to know the sitter. My sits usually hit the 5 pause button in the first day after it is posted. I review all sits and pick the one that meets my needs. I usually only have the one phone call. I don’t “interview” several sitters and then choose one. I’m a retired Purchasing Manager and the last thing I want to do is make my calls seem like work. I want to get to know our sitters and hopefully they want to get to know us. I have all the required information on our profile so when the video call happens, it’s more about the sitter and just reconfirming whatever information the sitter needs.
I want sitters to feel welcome in my home and enjoy their time in my location.
I have been sitting with THS on a regular basis for 12 years and could count the number of video calls I have had on one hand.
I am not keen on video calls and find them awkward. I haven’t had a problem confirming excellent sits.