Hi, I am brand new to the sitter concept. I could use a sitter who not only does all the usual things - but also has some experience and basic knowledge of hot tubs and pool operation.
Anyone else here ever found someone capable?
I’m not looking for a pool tech or someone to perform maintenance - just normal day to day monitoring of the water and systems… as well as the dogs, etc.
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!
Welcome @i8ShrimpToday - we have looked after many a pool and spa, without having technical knowledge. We usually do an in-person handover with the home owner, who will spend 10-20 minutes, explaining to us what needs checking and doing. It worked well so far.
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Expecting previous knowledge may make it difficult but surely you can train them. I’d do detailed written instructions and some people have done video instructions which seems to work well. As long as you’re open to showing people how it works and it’s not too over the top, and they can use the facilities they’re caring for, you shouldn’t have an issue.
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Welcome to the forum!
I think a thorough Welcome Guide or a written explanation will make it doable for many.
When you say «do all the usual things» and in addition pool-chores - maybe it wasn’t quite as much work as it sounds 
- but will mention that sitters will assess the listing and if they want to apply or not, and «workload» will often be important as many (most?) sitters would like to enjoy the area. Maybe totally unneccessary to mention, just from a wish for you to get a lot of good applications.
If you at some point would like input on how to maximize your listing, you can add the link to your listing in your profile and make a topic here to get input. Lots of experienced and friendly members would love to help.
Best of luck!
How to add a listing or profile link to your FORUM profile
Edit; love your nick! 
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I’ve taken care of a hot tub with a home for two or three weeks at a time. It was covered and I wasn’t interested in using it.
All it required was refilling tablets of some sort, which my host showed me how to.
If yours is complex, you could always specify that you’d show someone the drill. Anyone who wasn’t inclined could self-select out.
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Thanks. Sounds reasonable. Do owners leave a list of emergency contacts for sitters, like if a pipe breaks, snow needs shoveled, breaker pops, dog gets sick, etc? I would think so…… but again , I’ve never hired one before so these are all questions we’re thinking about.
Yes on vet and emergency contacts, as well as preferred trades / repair businesses if you have those.
Breakers, any decent sitter should be able to handle if you show them where the box is, unless there’s some kind of actual repair or maintenance issue.
Snow: You specify whether someone will shovel or you want the sitter to do. Some sitters will skip all sits involving shoveling, so hire someone for that if you want to widen your pool of potential sitters.
Note: You’re not hiring a sitter, because it’s an exchange. More like a guest relationship.
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We’re sitters. We did our first sit with a pool at the end of last year, and it was great fun learning about the maintenance side of things, but we were also given full instructions so nothing could go wrong. We love learning new things, and there are a lot of sitters like us. Since then we’ve got to know different pool systems, we love learning. It’s not a case of being capable ‘pool’ wise, just choose sitters that appear more hands-on and maintenance savvy so they’ll pick up your instructions quickly, the type that will just take care of any type of situation. For example, I own rental properties and so have renovated many properties over the years, I also used to have a commerical cleaning business with staff, so we pick up tasks like that very easily. So, rather than restricting yourself to those with pool experience, perhaps take each application on its own merits, retired builders, plumbers, electricians… and all of those sitters that embrace new challenges and love learning new things, because the normal day to day tasks are not that technical.
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This is a mindset you will likely need to change to have success. Your sitter is not your employee. They’re your guest who is going to help you out by caring for your pet and home while you’re on holiday. And they should be treated as such. It’s a win-win trade, not a business transaction.
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We’re on our first sit with a hot tub right now. The home owner left written instructions, and walked us through them when we arrived a bit early. They also left the manual, which was handy when a notification came on that we didn’t understand. They do have a guy who comes in once per week to take care of filling, cleaning filters, measuring pH and such, so all we had to do was add the disinfectant after we used it.
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For every purpose, there is a sitter.
As home owners have had pools & hot tubs so for us, now doing Sits, those would be easy to care for.
AND yes we HAVE been asked to test & top up chems many times! In fact, three times this summer.
Finding someone who can care for your pool & hot tub shouldn’t be an issue.
That said: as with all things, ask the right questions to determine if someone you’re considering really DOES have enough experience to do it!
BTW, mistakes happen. Years ago when I was renting a condo the pool maintenance company switched the chems for the indoor pool & hot tub. I opened the door shortly after: my eyes & throat were on fire! They had to lock the room then empty, flush, scrub the hot tub!
Moral of that story? EVEN if someone is knowledgeable - leave CLEAR instructions and make sure the chems are easily distinguishable!
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Might want to make sure even if someone’s had a pool before that they actually did the work. I say that, because we’ve always hired people for pool care. Like I have a lawn, but don’t mow my own grass.
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We used to have a property maintenance business & most of our Turkish sits (homeland) have pools or tubs of some kind so we have tonnes of experience in pool maintenance. Am sure there are plenty more like us @i8ShrimpToday, just pop it in your listing “likes” for your sitter. Orherwise, as lots of others have said, it’s not hard to teach someone via video &/or handover for day to day care with an added contact for emergencies or big jobs. #poolpeopleareoutthere
I recommend as others already have - recording a video of you doing the daily / weekly maintenance - including where the chemicals are stored etc .
Even with an in person handover , it will be very useful for a sitter to refer to if needed during the sit .
Some properties have a lot of details to go over at handover ( by contrast pet’s routines are usually fairly straightforward) it can be information overload - not that sitter isn’t capable of any of the responsibilities but if there’s a quick handover tour of the home where the alarm system, coffee machine, sound system , tvs, hot water tap, recycling schedule and location of various coloured bins, light switches, hot tub , pool maintenance, pets feeding and exercise , end of sit arrangements are discussed within a hour , it’s possible to forget some details .
Videos are really helpful.
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We have done one sit with a pool and numerous with hot tubs, The maintainance was very simple and took about 10 minutes to explain it to us.
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Welcome @i8ShrimpToday
I think you might struggle to find a sitter that has extensive knowledge of pools and hot tubs but like has already been mentioned a number of sitters have been asked to maintain pools and/or hot tubs during a sit including me. I presume you want someone to check ph levels? Add chlorine/bromine when needed?
I think as long as it’s explained in your listing and welcome guide I’m sure sitters will be happy to monitor.
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All good info. I like the video idea. And Yes, just for doing the normal daily stuff; as well as what to do incase one of about 2 or 3 things go wrong. I’m undecided as to whether I’d actually allow the tubs to be used by the sitter… have to think through that.
Another basic question - are the sitters bonded, insured, etc?
What about picking up dog poop and emptying litter box?
Having a tub clearly on view and then saying “you can’t use it” might be perceived as mean @i8ShrimpToday especially if it’s great weather. This platform is one of mutual exchange. Your sitters are guests in your home and should be treated as such. Free pet care for free accommodation. You should have your own home insurance in place and I believe there’s some kind of THS insurance if your read through the Ts & Cs. It’s up to sitters if they have insurance. We don’t and have never been asked in more than 3 years. Not sure what you mean by “bonded”? Yes, it’s normal for sitters to pick up poop & empty litter boxes if asked nicely. #allaboutmutualrespect
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If a host wants a sitter who’s insured or bonded, they should hire someone professionally and pay accordingly. THS sitters collect no money and have no contract with hosts.
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So you want someone to maintain your hot tub but not use it !
Jeez that’s so cheeky, wide pass for me, first red flag.
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