We all have different communication styles, and it’s good to respect this rather than berate another for their style.
It works best when the sitter and HO are on the same page.
Most often, as a sitter, i think we get a good balance, but sometimes an HO may want more from us and vice versa.
Just throwing in the mix here if a HO didnt respond to my text I would stress a bit. I wouldnt take it personally but I am autistic, so Id wander either they havent got the text or they’re not happy or there’s something wrong…in reality this is just my anxiety provoked autistic mind and everything is fine. But i dont know that.
So please dont take communication styles seriously. We all have our quirks.
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I think you may have taken a different message from the feedback provided than was intentioned. But more communication is great, as long as you make your expectations clear prior to the sitter accepting the sit and they know your expectations. I respond mostly timely to after sit texts, but I work at home andI no longer have little ones to chase or trips to plan/execute. Some may look at the sits as time-defined…when the sit is over, the sit is over. I think that should be respected unless there is damage or an urgent health issue.
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Another POV - I just got a post-sit text message from a HO asking me if there were things she could do to make me more comfortable or make the sit easier. All I could suggest were a luggage rack in the guest room, a rechargeable stick vacuum to make vacuuming easier, and a toilet brush in the guest bathroom. There was one in the master bath that I could use.
I was really happy for a HO who took the time to ask.
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A luggage rack is a good idea as I lack closet space. I let my sitters know this ahead of time so they can decide if my place is a good fit or not, of course. Thanks for the tip!
@Lokstar I agree that an acknowledgment is needed. I wouldn’t ignore a sitter entirely. I think that is rude. However, in the case that I explained, I answered the sitter’s question that day. We actually went back and forth in a friendly chat in about 5 text messages. A few hours later, she sent a pic update and expected me to respond to the update. I felt her expectation was a bit much. We aren’t friends or family…I’m cordial and friendly, but at the end of the day, I view TH as transactional. Overall, the whole sit was a weird experience. I felt that the sitter was a bit needy and controlling. Let me say that the majority of my sitters have been absolutely fantastic and meshed with my personality.
You mentioned in another reply “micromanaged” and that’s exactly how I felt as the HO lol.
Unfortunately, some people overstep boundaries (HOs and sitters). With my personality of being laidback and chill, I now see that it’s important for me to actively seek sitters who share the same qualities (but are responsible and considerate). I have always let sitters know my personality, but now I’m going to ask if we are aligned. From now on, I will only be confirming those types of sitters. It brings less drama and complications.
Someone who likes to micromanage or is uptight is not a good fit for me. It is a complete turnoff.
@systaran I agree with you 100% about trust. If I have to contact a sitter multiple times a day, that means I don’t trust them. If I don’t have overall trust in sitters, I shouldn’t use the TH platform period. This is where I think some HOs can be overzealous. Yes, I know that you are being completely vulnerable to letting strangers into your home with your pets, but that’s why people need to do some honest soul-searching if TH is right for them. No one should be treating sitters like parolees with multiple check-ins throughout the day or imposing requests
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I think of THS as mutual aid rather than transactional but with you on the sentiment.
I ask HOs directly how often they want an update. Personally I would only want one every few days but some people request every day so I’ll do that if requested.
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I used the word “transactional” as giving it a business feel, but I like your phrasing much better. It is definitely mutual aid and the respect needs to be mutual as well. It’s wrong to treat sitters like “The Help”
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Yes totally agree with you 
Yup, I’ve been asked for feedback as well on how hosting could be better done. That happened with my first sit, for instance.
I said it would be safer for sitters if there were nightlights, since the bathroom was on a lower floor from the bedrooms. That would be in the host’s interest as well, because in the U.S. someone injured in your home can become a legal and financial liability. I also suggested that they have somewhere for guests to stow their clothes, though personally I’m fine living out of my suitcase.
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@Maggie8K This HO has hosted many sitters and there were 2 nightlights and an air purifier in the bedroom for me to put where ever I might want them in the house. Maybe you’ve sat for her and she took your suggestion. 
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What does your handle mean? Alltheferretsdied??
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Honestly, This is a problem for the website admin.
We should be able to leave a comment for the HO that is not related to the rating and recommendation feed back like Airbnb allows you to do. I am currently on a 3 week sit and noticing a loose stool. I have stopped feeding Rosie a whole can of food with her kibble. Plus this website sucks and is clunky and hard to deal with. I try to be done with it as soon as I can.