Hi @Tavia and welcome!
We have a set of questions we ask in the video chat, which is technically before either side confirms the sit. And then more detailed information comes later if there is an in-person orientation before the sit.
Pets:
-Do they have any special needs or require medication?
-Are they indoor/outdoor or a mix? (For cats)
-What is the walk routine (how far, how often) and is there a fenced in-yard for potty breaks?
-What is their sleep routine (on the bed, in their own bed, crate, etc)
-Are there any habits I should know about (hiding from sitters, escaping through doors, getting into plants, eating socks, etc.)
-Any areas in the home off-limits to the pets?
-Are they accustomed to having a house sitter or will this be the first time?
-How long can they be left alone?
HOME/AREA:
-We always request a video tour of the home on our video chats, which HOs have always been more than happy to give us. This helps us confirm that the home is as pictured and we’d feel at ease living there. (Clean, tidy, non-smoking)
-Reliable WIFI
-Do you use an alarm?
-Where will we be sleeping?
-Are there cleaners and when do they come? What is the pet routine for that?
-Parking situation?
-Is the neighborhood quiet & safe?
-Nearest grocery.
Logistics:
-When are you departing & arriving back to your house? And confirm sit dates exactly.
-Do you prefer I arrive before you leave for an in person orientation?
-May I leave before you arrive back home? (our preference, but adjust as needed.)
-Do you have any other questions for us?
We always assume use of the kitchen appliances & laundry unless other wise told (which has been never.) HOs also typically will tell you if any areas of the home are off limits to you, which is ocassional and is usually a locked office or something like that.
Things I’d ask later would be the following - sometimes these are included in the Welcome Guides as well:
-where are the pet carriers located in case of emergency & how are they in the car/what’s the best routine for the car if needed?
-neighbor or emergency contact information
-Vet info
-the exact feeding routine
-exact leashing routine
-how to work the tv (literally every home is a new sitaution!)
But more than anything, make sure to keep your bar high. It’s great you are on Rover already b/c I think those of us who were paid sitters before TH have a better picker for the right fit HOs and sits here. Make sure they are communicating promptly, easefully, kindly. Make sure you also are interviewing them in the sense that Are they a human who you’d like to interact with, do they see you as a great find for them and their pets. Is their profile nicely filled out - nice photos, tidy home, well answered sections with good reviews, etc. The profile is the first filter for us - if it’s sparse or shoddy, it’s a hard pass, even if the home or location is desirable. It has to be the full package for us to apply!
Good luck and reach out anytime!