Oh my! Fascinating thread, but I am glad that I only read this now, after six completed sits that were completely without problems.
The most important point that I learned here is that one can use the app for finding out about sits were no reviews were written. Yes, I can see that my profile shows an HO who has not written about me. Maybe I should request that they do so. But there is no hurry, and the system will pester them when they log in again.
Someone wrote that THS dogs in Europe were not good with other dogs, because otherwise they would be in a kennel. I don’t think that is true. I have not had problems with the dogs I took care of when I took them on walks. Dog owners had told me that their dog would get too stressed in the environment of a kennel.
I do not expect a spotless house. I certainly would expect som pet hair, maybe some pet food outside the bowl, etc. Clutter during a video chat would not worry me too much (I am always a bit nervous that the HO might want to see more of my place during the interview). But yes, when it is in the profile pictures - I now checked the one that even I thought did not look good and indeed, the three most recent sitters had not left a review.
Sometimes when the HO has left other reviews and there is one missing, this is because it is quite difficult to write a bad review. It is easier not to review than have retaliation which may not be justified. I have found that other HO try to write cryptic reviews that show that a sit has not been a good one. The whole star system is such that you need 5* all the time. I have also noticed that sometime a section is not starred at all eg Pet Care - no stars after all the others have been 5*.
Red flags are handy but not always a reason not to take a sit. I have a sit that I have now done twice because they are such great kitties and the location just couldn’t get any better. The first time was we’d like to meet the evening before as they were leaving like 5 in the morning and then they said Yes we have a spare room but we use that for storage which meant I had to get a hotel for that night á €70. Of course there was no mention of meeting half way with the costs. Then I literally ended up being sick for 9 of the 11 days i was there.
I was recently looking to travel around Spain and saw a sit up North & in the ad it actually stated “ we wnat you to come the day before and you will have to book into a hotel - and even named the hotel I couldn’t really decide whether this was just thinking they were getting free home help or would actually do something nice for the sitter as a sort of recompense.
This sort of fits in with a number of remarks I’ve seen over the years of HO’s just thinking that sitters have unlimited funds when often we have already paid quite a lot to actually get to the country or place we will be doing the sit
I don’t get it - was the sitter supposed to book a hotel for the night or for the duration of the sit? The first for me would be a red flag but the last is breach of terms and also appaling.
Curious of what they think is the win for a sitter in that bargain.
It meant that the sitter had to arrive the day before to meet the HO & had to book a hotel because hé/she could stay at the sit location. This is also what happened to me.
So no they didn’t have to book a hotel for the whole of the sit
Seen some of those that have been upfront about it in the listing, which is great.
As an agreement should be mutual beneficial, my part is my travel cost to get to their location. For me it is out of the question to pay even more (hotel, rental or other) to fulfill THEIR requirements. I might do it for my own comfort, but then it is my choice. So for me it is also really strange to ask for, expect or demand.
But if they get someone who wants to, it works for them.
Another Member of THS once wrote re this question something like: imagine it’s a dating service. What would be a Red Flag if you were thinking of going on a date?
Now that might seem odd - but it’s actually quite practical & useful.
(1) Do you have a sense the other person (HO or Sitter) is not being entirely honest?
(2) Do you wonder about the kinds of things that are important to them (but seem odd to you?)
(3) Do you think they are demanding and expect more from you than they are willing to give themselves?
(4) Do you just have a feeling that you aren’t really on the same wave length, communicating well?
REALLY go with your gut feeling.
But of course some things should jump out at you - clarity of plans, cleanliness, etc.
We have heard SO MANY people (both Home/Pet Owners & Sitters) report after a Sit that they “should have paid attention to a ‘gut feeling’.”
We have had so many great experiences via THS both originally as Home/Pet Owners and now as Sitters. So many people we’ve met via THS have become friends. And good raport happened right from first contact.
The handful that were not great?
After the fact realized that ALL of them had made us pause at some point…
FLIP SIDE: A considerate Home/Pet Owner will usually post pix of the bedroom, bathroom the Sitter will use, as well as kitchen, snug/family room… Some HO are understandably reluctant to post TOO much for securty reasons. But that much is pretty standard because a Sitter needs to know they’l be comfortable.
A considerate H/P Owner will usually put in their post that they have flexibility, such as “We prefer that Tinkerbell & Attila are not left alone more than 5 hours during the day, but an additional evening is fine.”
Look for signs in the Post that the HO understands Sits are a two-way win/win.
Look for descriptions by a Sitter that they are reliable, conscientious.
Both Home/Pet Owners & Sitters need to look for signs that the others are responsible & considerate.
Good luck!
Yes this is something you either have to go with or possibly miss out on a great sit. I have now done the same sit twice but the 2nd time we managed to arrange that someone else would hand over the keys and save me having to pay for another hotel.
Maggie - I’ve turned down sits when it became clear the HO thought I should be so grateful to stay in their home. Honestly, I grew up in some pretty stunning homes and have owned a couple of my own, A really nice home is a “plus” but it’s not the big attraction of doing a sit! Have sat multi million dollar mansions I won’t repeat: convenient at the time but the area wasn’t a great draw…
Jilly - Yes, bed sizes and the terms for bed sizes varies hugely from country to country. What in some countries is called a “full” is smaller than a US/CAD “queen” bed.
yes ASASG unfortunately sometimes after a sit you do have that feeling that you have actually been treated like a free help who was allowed to be in their lovely ome and so you don’t even get a nice thank. Shame because it already costs the sitter often a considerable amount to travel to the home. And it’s ertainly not a holiday as the care for the pets is always paramount to anything else
Maggie - TBH that has not happened often for us. We have met lovely people who have become friends - and we do repeat sits for them. Those who are high-handed and don’t understand this has to be a fair, respectful exchange to work? We just turn down requests for repeat sits.
I’ve just been negotiating a possible sit but there’s a gap between the present sit ending and the new one, 45 mins away starting. The home owner didn’t want me to come early as she had a Welcome Guide sorted and there was only one cat to care for. I asked what was the ideal time for the sitter to arrive to take up the position. She wanted to leave by ten in the morning and was fine with someone arriving the same day to take over. When I said that doesn’t give much time for the pet to get used to the stranger, she replied visitors made the owner nervous and stressed so she preferred them not to arrive earlier.
For me the handover is very important and it’s a part I usually enjoy. I like to spend some time with the home owner annd watch their interactions with their pets and the behaviour they feel is acceptable in their home. It’s also useful to meet locals, like a neighbour, should things go wrong during the sit.
The sit can be quite a lonely experience otherwise and communication with the home owner become rather formal.
The home owner even said they would prefer the sitter to leave early on the same day the home owner was due to return, thus not meeting them for any handover or feedback.
When I sit for home owners who fly abroad I always allow for delays and assure them I can stay on if required. One home owner flew back but had a meeting directly to attend so once I knew she had landed safely I left the home as agreed beforehand.
I’d be interested how other sitters feel about this issue.
Ultimately it’s the Home Owner’s call but if they are uncomfortable meeting it’s not a great vote of confidence!
@Highfive No red flag or yellow flag. The host knows what they want and it seems like a clear mismatch with what you want, so I’d suggest moving on without hesitation. This kind of thing wouldn’t give me any pause.
I couldn’t really decide whether this was just thinking they were getting free home help or would actually do something nice for the sitter as a sort of recompense.