@JoanneD We’ve booked a little hotel for the first week with a small pool which will just about save me (I hope!!) I’ll be working for some of the time so I will start very early and finish by lunch time. This is all great advice… thank you! We have been to Merida before but only for a long weekend before 8 months of sits and travel in cooler inland areas! I do remember the evenings being absolutely lovely.
I’m like you @CreatureCuddler I don’t fare well in heat - so I may be moderating the forum from the edge of the pool - like that idea very much We spent a summer in San Miguel and also went to afternoon cinema which had several benefits… they had a $2 session, it was cool, great ice-cream and we’d get to practice our Spanish by avoiding the VOs!
We are in Progreso - not Chicxulub, Chelem or Chuburna, which a lot of people call Progreso but are different towns. We used to live near the Malecon but we built this house in 2016 and moved 10 blocks east, but still in Progreso.
Pro tip - if you sleep in a hammock, have the fan blow under it as it keeps you cooler. I work online so I sit with a fan blowing directly on me. I open my office window first thing but close it as soon as it starts to warm up. We have gone to movies simply to cool off too. Last time we did that I said I’ll go to anything, I don’t care what we see. And promptly slept through half of an action movie. If you go to the VIP theaters its super cold and they will give you a blanket. Lean back in your recliner and have a snooze.
We are Canadian so are much more accustomed to cold than to heat. When we moved here we persevered through the first year, did not use air con, just so we could acclimatize. And it worked. Life is so outdoor here that we knew we had to get used to the heat or we just wouldn’t enjoy it. I am not yet at the point where I can wear skinny jeans and a long sleeve shirt in May, but have worn that, plus socks and shoes and a sweater in January when it goes down to 20 C/68F.
The evenings are glorious here. I float on my back in the pool and look at the stars.
Hi @dreamfish I understand your point, and can appreciate that some may not find that workable. However, for those who would, but who pass by any listings were it’s shown that a car is needed, then the homeowner may miss out on a sitter who would have been a good sit. It’s important that homeowners not put limitations on their sits that would not apply to everyone. That’s all I’m suggesting.
I’ve done a sit where it was that distance to a store. However, I took a small backpack and part of my routine was to walk to and from the store every day or so. It gave me the exercise and fresh air I needed and enjoyed. The family actually left me their vehicle, but I only used it to take the dog to the groomers as it could not have walked the distance.
Totally agree. While the owner is off on holiday, we are on duty 24/7. Time is no longer our own. Waiting for parcels/window cleaners/tradesman/pool cleaners/gardeners/watering plants(sometimes many), pond pump cleaning,yes to very early wakeups, lack of sleep due to bed sharing, paying out travel costs, increased shop ingredients dye to not having my own at home, etc etc.
Full time sitting 13 years. Will never pay utilities.
Still have to pay them on my own home.
To start we will be away for three plus months. We will also be away for much shorter times - long weekends and a week or two at times.
Here, I am seeking advice about long term “sits.” I am thinking “sitters” would welcome the opportunity to pay toward utilities (electricity, internet and more.) based on some of the posts I have been reading.
My thought is to pay what we historically pay (will show documentation) say, $200 a month for electricity, and say that the sitter can choose to increase heat or sit more often in the hot tub, or have long hot showers, or… but that the sitter will be responsible for the costs above my historic costs. I am curious if this makes sense for long term “sits.”
Also, I am curious as to whether we should stop our internet service / streaming services or make them available as well with the sitter covering cost that go above our historic bill? For instance our internet is based on usage. We don’t game, we don’t do a lot of on-line “stuff” but, we do stream a couple of hours a couple of days a week to watch movies and such. Should sitters use one or all streaming subscriptions (i.e., Netflix) or be asked to access their own? Should the sitter need / want to be on the web a lot (work/gaming …) then the monthly costs would be much greater and that is okay if the sitter pays for the amount that exceeds the historic bill.
Finally, for long “sits,” is it prudent to ask for a deposit to cover any bills that come in after the “sit” period is over? Concerning deposits, would long term sitters be offended if asked for a damage deposit? Of course if no damage is sustained the deposit would be returned at the end of the “sit.”
I may be overly cautious as our pet duties are minimal but we are in a very popular resort town, one wherein short-term rentals are beginning to receive a lot of local community push back due to abuses. We do not do such rentals. Any and all honest and constructive feedback is appreciated. Thank you.
I am thinking “sitters” would welcome the opportunity to pay toward utilities (electricity, internet and more.) based on some of the posts I have been reading.
I think this is a drastic overstatement and likely not accurate at all. Most sitters would not “welcome” paying the HOs bills and generally would only do it in exceptional circumstances. As a sitter, I would not apply for a sit that required the following:
I pay utilities
I pay internet
I pay a deposit of any type
I don’t really consider a 3 month sit especially long that any should be required, especially as there are also pet duties. I generally use my own subscription services, so I don’t think that’s the issue, but the internet limitations would make this sit impossible for me. I, like many sitters, work from home. Having a data limit would be impossible for me as it would potentially impact my ability to work.
If this is the direction you’re going to go, you need to clearly state all three expectations in the listing so sitters can decide if they want to apply or not. Personally, reading something like this would make me feel nickel and dimed and that the HO is looking at the sit as a financial transaction rather than a trade and if I was going to have to pay for all that, I would feel they should pay for my services.
Goodness @dreamfish , I am very interested in how you choose your sittings?
I have been sitting for 11 years and may have carried out some of these tasks from time to time but most of my time is my own.
Pick your sitters carefully, it retired they don’t work and if you say something along the lines of “we don’t have an Xbox” and they reply with “wouldn’t know what to do with one” them you are good to go.
It’s unusual in the UK for internet usage to be capped now, so I’d make sitters aware this is the case
Consider how much these potential extra costs might be in comparison to three months paid for pet care.
@DavidE -I think you are mistaken, most sitters will definitely not welcome ‘being given the opportunity to pay towards utilities’.
In return , what were you thinking of contributing to the sitters for them giving up three months of their lives to come care for your pets?
If you ask sitters to contribute towards your utilities during their stay then you will get very few, if any applications. If you also decided to stop your internet/streaming services then you will get no applications.
I don’t know. My mom is retired and doesn’t work and watches a ton of netflix movies each week. I wouldn’t equate not working to not using large amounts of internet data.
We would skip a pet sit asking to pay for utilities / internet or demanding a deposit, to be honest (unless it’s a sit of lifetime). Especially internet is vital for a long term sit, since a lot of people work from home. We don’t expect Netflix etc., though. It’s your home and you make the rules, but you might get fewer applications and/or less experienced sitters (if any). If you go through with this, it’s important to clearly state all the expenses you expect the sitter to cover in the listing (and make sure they understand that you don’t have unlimited free internet).
I commend you for asking the questions, and I can see your point of view but as you are finding out, it is not normal for sitters to pay for utilities. THS is really aimed at homeowners who want someone to care for their pets, look after the property etc while they are away. Your only mention of pets is that the care is minimal, whatever that means.
For a 3 month sit if expenses are a major factor perhaps you should cost out what your outgoings will be if you have a sitter, versus the cost of boarding your pets and putting all your utilities on hold (eg turn off electricity supply, put a hold on Netflix, etc), but include any garden maintenance for instance that may need to be done. And nothing wrong with that! I did a similar exercise about 6 years ago, ended up paying a sitter because the comfort of my animals was the most important aspect for me while I was away.
However looking at replies you will be limiting your potential sitter pool if you ask for reimbursements. I wish you well!
The only way you will truly get your answer is to post a listing clearly stating your expectations and what you expect the sitter to pay for and wait for the applications. I would emphasis the bills to be paid at every opportunity as it has been shown in the past that some people do not read listings thoroughly and then will start complaining when you ask for money.
I would pay for energy that is over your usage as I do like my comforts. The deal breaker would be the internet. I run a business remotely and I haven’t got a clue how much internet I use as I have never used an internet you pay for as you use it. It is usual to pay a monthly sum and have as much as you want. Speeds may vary but nothing else.
Something to bear in mind that, post Covid, the pendulum appears to have swung to far more sits vs sitters. There are numerous threads on this forum regarding the current state, many HOs going without applicants for their posted dates.
@DavidE you don’t have a link to your listing. This might help experienced sitters on this Forum give more feedback.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Try posting your sit with your utility/internet/deposit parameters and see what happens. Based on response, you can adjust accordingly. But do keep in mind, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Sitters, especially experienced sitters, remember listings.
***Found your listing and note you do not mention any utility fee requirements, etc., but also note you have 8-11 applicants!
That’s another thing, this year is really crazy, we are getting invitations even though the first word in our listing is “fully booked”. But if your sit is exceptionally attractive you might still have a selection of sitters who would accept your conditions (they only way you will know is by posting it).
We spent a summer in San Miguel and also went to afternoon cinema which had several benefits… they had a $2 session, it was cool, great ice-cream and we’d get to practice our Spanish by avoiding the VOs!