OK, all done. Good luck and hope plenty of Pet Parents provide related feedback.
@GotYourBack Thanks 
I know it’s not theoretically about “performing”… But let’s face it, when you do a video call with a potential HO (I speak only as a sitter), it really does feel as if you’re being auditioned. I dislike them intensely! But I accept they’re almost unavoidable. I just wish they weren’t. After all, I’m a great sitter with straight 5-stars.. More to the point here, I’m also a communicative and friendly person, with good emotional intelligence. BUT - I just hate being thrown onto a tiny screen and having to sell myself to a stranger, hampered by poor picture quality and a horrible sound time-lapse..
None of which happens if you’re really chatting across a coffee-table.
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While risking taking this topic way off track (SO sorry @anon55123711 - let me know if you want me to just start another thread): In 2025, video skills are just as essential as reading and writing skills. Being comfortable on camera is now a necessity. Training is available for those uncomfortable on camera, and that training includes how to address poor picture quality and sound/time lapses.
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Yes please @KittySitter , I would really like to keep this discussion on track.
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We don’t actually opt out and I have done one but we don’t require one nor have any of our sitters said that they wanted to have one, except that one person. We contact via THS and then rapidly move on to whatsApp and email.
I’m not actually averse but I personally don’t really like them though yes, before anyone suggests differently, I do use Video links of various types and am fairly used to doing them and being part of an online meeting.
I guess I’m saying we will do one if required by the sitter, we don’t offer or require one ourselves.
I’m not sure if that is an ‘opt out’ maybe it’s just not an ‘opt in’ unless we have to!
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@largo thank you for your input, it’s good to hear that you are happy either way 
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HO here. Although I don’t opt out, I also don’t require them. I usually ask sitters their preference in case they’d like a look around the house or something. There’s a scale on the HO profile asking how important a video call is and mine is set at 60-70%. (I don’t know if sitters see that or it’s just THS data mining?)
Personally, I’m an introvert who hates talking on the phone so the video chat revolution has been great for me. I zoom/facetime often with my parents and friends and it feels normal now, but it was só awkward at first, and I totally understand not everyone is comfortable with it. My mom is 83 and she’s learning to FaceTime me but she still sets the iPad where she can see me and I’m stuck looking at her chin or the ceiling LOL So no, I don’t feel overly pressured to video chat and wouldn’t hold it against a sitter who didn’t want to (as long as there wasn’t any red flag vibe about it). Messaging works too.
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Well I didn’t know that! That the HO can include in their profile how important a video call is. So helpful that the sitters cannot see it.
When asked to carry out a video call, I ask Can we have an ordinary phone call. Usually they agree. I will now say that I cannot see whether they have any setting on their profile as to their preferences
It is also useful to see that, besides some Sitters not wanting a video call, may of the Forum’s HOs don’t want them either.
@Shafofo thank you for your response. That’s very interesting about the sliding scale. As a sitter we can see that the owner would like a video call but not the level of preference. Then on many listings a video call is simply not mentioned. I always assumed that you were just asked for a yes or no answer in regard to video calls.
As sitters we don’t get asked, at least not that I have ever seen.
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We do get asked in our profiles now if we are open to both video calls and/or meet ups beforehand @anon55123711 - might be a new feature? #profileupdate
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@Cuttlefish thank you, I’ll see if I can find it.
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@Cuttlefish I found that option but does it show on our profiles? Or is it shown to home owners when we apply? 
My guess is that it’s shown to HOs when we apply. Pretty sure it’s not on our general profiles. Maybe @Jenny can answer? #questionsquestions
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Thanks
I would be very interested to know @Jenny and especially if it says that we DO NOT want a video call. On listings it either says that the owner would like a video call or it simply doesn’t get mentioned.
I have never seen video calls mentioned in any profile, sitter or home owner, pet parent, fur baby companion.
Can’t we just mention this when we make initial contact? I usually offer a video call, but if you don’t like them, you can suggest whatever else feels comfortable to you.
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@andrealovesanimals this is interesting and I would definitely like clarification from @Jenny on this.
As a sitter, I have now located the question in my profile set up where it asks if I would like a video call. I changed it to NO but now it appears that listings who DO ask for a video call are no longer showing in my searches. BUT, am I still seeing the listings, but instead of showing me that a video call is required, is it showing me something else like whether they accept solo sitters for instance? It’s a bit confusing. This is where is shows on an owner’s listing. But I don’t think it shows anywhere on a sitters.
@andrealovesanimals this is interesting and I would definitely like clarification from @Jenny on this.
As a sitter, I have now located the question in my profile set up where it asks if I would like a video call. I changed it to NO but now it appears that listings who DO ask for a video call are no longer showing in my searches. BUT, am I still seeing the listings, but instead of showing me that a video call is required, is it showing me something else like whether they accept solo sitters for instance? It’s a bit confusing. This is where is shows on an owner’s listing. But I don’t think it shows anywhere on a sitters.
I came back to edit this. I changed my settings to No Video Call and this is the same sit and it does show up differently.
I don’t really see the point, they still want a video call but I don’t see that up front. 
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I have been a sitter on this site for a couple of years and am now a HO. I had my first sitter in July. I am not a fan of video calls so when my first choice asked if I wanted one, I said not unless she did. We did not do one. I went by her reviews and messages and felt quite comfortable without one. The sit could not have gone better. I am in a prime location in Greece so I suppose I am taking a chance. but have always gone with my gut and will continue to do so. I suppose at some point that might bite me in the butt. I am comfortable with this because of the 8 sits I did as a sitter only one did a video chat and all of my sits were a positive experience, 5 of which were first-time HOs.
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Thank you @mam1996t that’s good to hear, and good for you, and the sitter, to have the confidence to confirm without the dreaded video call. 
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