It depends how they were travelling, not everyone can carry bottles of olive oil and opened bags of bath salts. If I used the bath salts here - which I genuinely believe are for us - I wouldn’t carry any that are left at the end of the sit.
A general thought:
Since many Owners are on airplanes while I am cleaning the house, taking out the trash, dealing with bedding and towels, I try to make sure that I understand the following early on:
- location of all cleaning agents
- location of broom, dustpan, mop, vacuum
- instructions for recycling and trash
- instructions for bedding and towels
Sometimes I might have a last minute question, and the Owner is not available.
Another thought: I think that Owners should create a “Final Checklist” or “Last Day Checklist” for Sitters. Most people enjoy ticking things off of a list as they are accomplished.
It would help Owners to really think through what needs to happen and make sure that the Sitter has what they need to get the job done.
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No thanks to the final checklists.
I am a fully grown capable adult.
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The potential problem with checklists:
• Responsible sitters might find them insulting.
• Might give some hosts the idea that we’re the help, to be ordered around and for some hosts to go overboard.
Personally, I get raves for leaving pets and homes in good shape and don’t want to risk encouraging some hosts to go overboard with expectations.
BTW, I think THS already sends sitters a checklist before each sit winds up.
I’ve either not received one or ignored the emails, because no need.
Typically with bad sitters, a list isn’t likely to help — they’re just not good guests of any sort and shouldn’t be sitting. I say that because of the tales we read here and say on the unofficial THS Facebook group.
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@Maggie8K and @Newt I hear both of you!
Good points, Maggie. Yes, some Owners would use it as an opportunity.
I would suggest that Owners are CLEAR about their expectations and make SURE that the Sitters have all the tools they need to meet your expectations.
I am tired of hunting around for the vacuum, only to find that the bag needs to be changed! I am tired of hunting around for all the cleaning supplies. And…I am tired of instructions which are located in 5 different places!
It would be so nice to have all the essential “last day” information on one page! I think this can be accomplished without going overboard and without sounding too bossy or entitled.
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I think that is obvious.
I had exactly the same situation in Bath: a few beers and delicious chocolate cookies in a jar, on the kitchen counter.
My interpretation is then: this is for you, the rest of the booze and the snacks is not.
I replaced the flowers with fresh ones, because it had been such a lovely home and a very easy sit (just a self-managing cat).
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I guess some sitters needs are greater than others.
I have found that kitchens are similar and therefore the cleaning stuff tends to be under the kitchen sink.
Opening a couple of doors to find the hoover in a storage cupboard is not an issue for me. Neither is emptying it if it needs it. I do that at home its not difficult.
I don’t need instruction manuals, things tend to be really easy to work out these days, I don’t find them complicated but if I did there’s always good old google.
Just give me the house keys and I’ll crack on and I’ll make sure you come home to everything as you left it.
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Isn’t it funny that mine was in Bath, too! Two cats.
I completely agree with you on a rational level. But I am a bit over the top on some aspects and saw the tiniest possibility of it not being for me.
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Mention it all. If it bothers you then it’s worth writing down. If you did not explicitly tell the sitter to not open sealed goods and packages it can be done as “I was surprised that ….” But I would be extremely annoyed if a gift I was saving had been used/opened. There is no excuse for not emptying the bins and the broken jug would annoy me too. I know what great lengths we (and other sitters) go to to find replacements for broken things or even groceries we have used from the store cupboard or fridge/freezer.
We have sat for some very generous hosts who could be taken advantage of if a sitter took them for their word. Cupboards, and I mean cupboards full of alcohol. Multiply fridges full of beer and wine. Fridge and freezers packed with goodies. “Oh, just help yourself to whatever you want”. Hosts should be careful what they say. Some of the stories about hosts being exploited on this forum would turn your hair grey.
A review is not just highlighting the good and bad things the sitter did but it also shows what the host expects. I have started reading the hosts reviews for their previous sitters that I am interested in. This gives me a very clear indication on what the host expects from their sitter. If I think their expectations are reasonable I apply. If not, I jog on by.
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So many details unknown. I go by car, I could take olive oil. Everyone has their limits of what they use or don’t use of the HO. Like I use their hand soap, but I have my own toiletries. Many HO leave shampoo and conditioner in the guest bath. Now I would use that, wouldn’t take it. If it was wrapped, I wouldn’t use it. Some may think it was just wrapped for them. But we use spices. I have brought my own oil. But many would expect to use oil in the cupboard and think the oil was left for them. I have been in homes where there is a lot of liquor. I never touch their liquor or wine. I do not know how other sitters deal with that? If they opened the olive oil, would they also consider it all right to pour a glass of brandy?
I am surprised about the garbage. That is something that has always been clear in my sits. I have had to drag out bins, across backyards in snow to get them to the alley. I think you need to write a proper review so future HO know what to expect from them.
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That checklist is a great idea - thank you! Also useful to have a checklist for HO’s, things we want to do and things we want to clearly communicate.
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I have had several horrific sitters and have been flummoxed on how to review them. For instance - I just returned home from a 9 day trip and it seems clear that several very detailed tasks were not followed. I lost five potted plants, Totally dead. The dog food left on the floor demonstrated that the sitters did not even seem to look at the photos attached with instructions.
I leave very detailed instructions for keeping plants alive -I do take photos of plants and planters; a map of hoses and faucets and a checklist of how often watering is required, and more importantly, the dogs well cared for. This includes hard copy photos of how the food bowls should look, including labeled step-by-step not difficult instructions.
The house was in a less clean condition than when I left. Again - this was only 9 nights.
Three issues here: 1)just how detailed and specific, beyond photos, does dog feeding and care require? Most sitters are brilliant. 2) How can I leave a fair review without being petty or harsh? The dogs were still seemingly healthy upon my return and that is my priority but this didn’t seem like a 5 star sitter. I gave the last sitters 4 stars when, in retrospect, I was too kind. They’d left the house dirty and actual holes in the wall. But, again, the dogs seemed okay, 3)Would it seem “too” much for me to take photos of the interior rooms so a sitter can actually have a reference for putting things, such as furniture, back where they were?
I know that when I leave a sit (and it looks like I haven’t been doing many but that’s because I have returned five times to a family that left TH because they have me!), the house is in at least a good shape as I found it. Am I asking too much? Should I even message the recent sitters (left yesterday) that the dead plants were a disappointment or just let it go?
Thanks…
Guessing here: Maybe your guidance was so detailed that the sitters felt like you were acting like their boss. This type of sitting is a barter, not a job.
Personally, I’ve taken care of a conservatory full of plants, plus a tray of seedlings in a greenhouse, as well as sits with various other plants. None of my hosts left detailed directions, especially not for a sit for nine days. I simply asked when they were watered last and how frequently they were watered, if that wasn’t specified. Simple. Didn’t feel micromanaged, which might be your challenge.
Note: It’s more important to pick sitters carefully vs. leaving micromanaging guidance. Maybe strengthen how you choose? Most likely, “several horrific sitters” = not great choosing or standards not realistic.
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I am kind of shocked that the plants were dead after 9 days. I usually ask when the plants should be watered, and do it. Also, cleaning issues have been discussed here. That is should be neat and clean. It seems that many HO are surprised yet HS are getting good reviews despite bad behavior. Why is it that HO are afraid to give a poor review?
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My “welcome guide” and printed instructions vary little from one sit to the next - except for seasonal stuff - so 9 days has pretty much the same info as 21 days.
The plants just have a map of where they are (I purposely keep pots close together for ease of watering) and simply point to which hose/faucet works for them. Maybe asking for daily watering seems like “bossing” but this is southern Arizona.
Details regarding the dogs’ dinners seems fairly routine as we would all want our animals to have continuity on that front.
I will look at what I might change to sound less like an employer and thank you for pointing out that I might sound like I’m micro managing.
I don’t want to leave an unreasonable review but, yes, why are we afraid? What would be considered reasonable for a dirty house and dead plants, while the animals seem okay?
There are separate categories for
pet care
clean and tidy
and reliable.
So you can rate each of them accordingly.
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I’m curious if you’re clear in your listing and conversations about the level of plant care you need? I personally am a killer of all things green so I don’t apply for sits that have any level of complicated watering required. Multiple groups of plants that need watering at different times from different sources would be way more than I want to deal with and if it was in the listing I wouldn’t even apply. If it wasn’t in the listing and was sprung on me when I arrived, I’d be really annoyed.
It may be worth it to set up a drip/timed system so you don’t have to worry about it.
I’m also curious what’s so complicated about your feeding that requires photos and written instructions and if you mention that in your listing as well. Aside from using a special slow feeding bowl, none of the pets I’ve sat for have required much more complicated than putting the food in the bowl and letting them eat. I would be really annoyed if I showed up and it was some elaborate feeding process that I have to follow diagrams to get right. If you need more than just dump and eat, you should mention it in the listing so people can self select out if it’s more than they want to do.
Obviously not cleaning and leaving holes in your walls is unacceptable and should be reviewed accordingly. But if you keep running into similar issues with different sitters I think you’d want to evaluate things on your end to make sure you’re 1) making it as easy as possible, and 2) being as blunt as possible about what needs to be done so you can weed out those who aren’t willing to do it.
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I’m very sorry that you’ve had this experience, so remarks just made to help to get a more consistent good match with sitters. I only petsit through THS at the moment, but I have pets and a home and have done a lot of homeswapping during decades on another platform.
I wonder what happened when you’ve had several bad matches. How is your screening process? Is the listing and the responsibilities there described so that the right sitters apply for the sit? I will for instance not apply for more complicated plant tasks, as I know I am not able to keep “plants with specific needs” alive. Are your applicants experienced sitters with good reviews? Do you have good video-calls or similar where you discuss the pets and expectations? Do you have low applications so that you tend to accept sitters that are not what you would ideally prefer?
Can you do something to make the success rate better? In listing, screening - or as suggested - take down the tasks a notch by for instance having a drip-system for your plants so that even someone like me 
would dare to apply and be able to keep your plants alive?
I’m really just trying to help you. If you want, you can also start your own topic in the welcome-category and add the link to your listing in your forum profile, if you think it could be useful to get some input.
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