Huge apologies - I was trying to move a number of replies on another thread to this one - and the Forum platform did something unexpected. It’s meant I had to post @KittySitter’s topic again and manually move the replies to the original post over.
Nothing should look any different other than the time that this discussion was posted which will now show as today.
I’ll work on getting the replies from the other discussion moved over
Jenny
PS. I’ve asked the team to double check the advice that lead to this post, and shared a link to the topic as well
I inquired and the reply I got from Trusted Housesitters is that we can use our profile to advertise or solicit jobs that we would do for pay while pet sitting, as long as it’s not doing anything involving caring for the pets or regular housesitting. Who knew!
One could I suppose. As a host, I’ve seen some profiles offering extra services for pay including:
deep cleaning
animal photos
home organizing
energy healing
Yet, I’ve never once even had a video chat with any of the sitters offering those services on their profiles. When I’m looking for someone to come to my house on certain dates to take care of my pets, that is all I’m looking for.
Who knew exactly! I find their response quite concerning @Jenny.
Soliciting for paid jobs while on a housesit would surely detract from the time spent on pet care. I would be interested to see the terms and conditions relating to this.
I was very surprised to see a sitter’s profile where they offered many additional services ( gardening, helping with the owners business etc ) and they had over 100 reviews !
It concerns me, I just feel that it would ‘muddy the waters’. What parts would be considered tasks that should be paid for and which remains part of the free exchange?
Do I sweep and mop the floors as part of the exchange but charge for plant care?
Do I clean the air fryer as part of the exchange but charge if I clean the oven?
Do I deadhead the garden plants as part of the exchange but charge for mowing the lawn?
It would create much confusion I think it would need to be something very separate, for instance french polishing of furniture, upholstery cleaning, or similar tasks.
I don’t think petcare does require a 24 hours committment, and usually I work during sits. My hours are somewhat flexible, but I’m doing work freelance and self-employed work and no one is paying me for vacations so if work is available I can’t afford to turn it down. The difference is doing work FOR the host of the sit where you staying. It’s also soliciting this work from the host. That’s where it feels there is all sorts of room for what might feel like expoitation on both sides.
I completely agree. In my opinion, the pets do not necessarily have to be affected by this but the whole concept of mutual exchange and the relationship would certainly suffer. It may not be against THS T&Cs, but I am not Interested in that at all.
Totally agree @Marion - our set up is similar to yours. Freelance and self employed, so make hay when the sun shines! The extra paid tasks to the host is an odd one, we had HOs who confirmed a sitter from Cyprus who then gave them a list of paid extras including extra walks, poop picking, shampooing, gardening tasks etc that they could add. They cancelled & reported her & she was given a warning. (She had plenty of reviews too) This seems in contradiction to what’s MS told @ExploreDreamDiscover is okay? #whollyconfused
@Cuttlefish, the response that @ExploreDreamDiscover got it did say that the tasks should not be related to pet care or regular housing sitting, so all the tasks you mentioned are. That’s the difference but I still don’t like the concept, it’s open to abuse.
And I cannot comprehend how anyone could justify asking for payment for picking up poop!
The worst part in the case @Cuttlefish mentions is that they were already confirmed and then they sprung up this list of paid services. Good on the owners to report them!
I did think that about them being pet and house related. There was more on the list from the “paid selection box” but can’t recall it all. How can you sell an HO extras that aren’t related to the sit and what might they be? #stillpuzzled
I have a vague memory of a sitter or two who said they offer to do home repairs or such for money while sitting. Some hosts might find that useful. But I think it could easily get unnecessarily messy or awkward, or run into gray areas, for THS sitters to sell services.
I think that’s fair enough, after all HOs already make decisions based on their personal preferences like age, couples/single sitter, sitters already in the country etc. I don’t see why it’s any different favouring those who would be prepared to help with an AirBnB business etc. My only concern as a HO is that someone inexperienced might accept without really knowing what is expected in terms of, say, a turnover clean and this could lead to frustrations on both sides. It all comes down to clear communication, as always.
The extra paid tasks to the host is an odd one, we had HOs who confirmed a sitter from Cyprus who then gave them a list of paid extras including extra walks, poop picking, shampooing, gardening tasks etc that they could add. They cancelled & reported her & she was given a warning. (She had plenty of reviews too) This seems in contradiction to what’s MS told 
