I’m helping some home owners with a sit that I have agreed to do. The owners will be away during my sit dates but also prior to my arrival. As a result I will be staying over for one night while the previous sitters are still there.
I don’t mind this and I presume the prior sitters are happy with this arrangement too…
Has anyone had this situation to deal with and do they have any advice for me?
The home owners are arranging a cleaner to go in to ease the handover, which is a lovely touch.
I rarely meet sitters being a sitter myself so I’m actually looking forward to swapping notes. I’m sure they will have great tips about what to see and do and about managing the dog.
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We have only met 3 sets of sitters (all couples), but only one for a hand-over (and not overnight). In all 3 cases the sitters were lovely beautiful people, and very like-minded in a lot of ways. We had a good giggle with all 3 sets, so just relax, and enjoy yourself.
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Oh, hiring a cleaner to come in at the time of handover is a great idea! I prefer not to do sits where I don’t do a walk through with the owners first, and the thought of potentially being left with someone else’s lack of cleaning to my standards is a big part of that. Having a cleaner come is great! You’ve got some very kind and thoughtful people in these owners.
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I would just clarify with the HO that the other sitters do know you will be arriving the night before and are happy with the arrangement, just in case they decide to leave when you arrive or earlier. Perhaps the owner could share your phone numbers with each other so you can liaise more, obviously with both parties’ permission.
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It can be fine @Highfive and it can be a pain so go prepared! We’ve done it twice & was fine but wouldn’t do it again, too many unknowns. Most experienced sitters refuse split sits. Communicate with the other sitters before you arrive, agree times, screenshot exchanges etc just as back up. Take photos on arrival & save/send to HO. And hope it all goes to plan. #itmaybewonderful
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Thanks so much Cuttlefish and others for your helpful comments here. Always best advice forewarned is forearmed. It’s great to draw on others’ experiences. I love the forum for that very reason.
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I’ve done this once when the HO extended their stay and I was already booked on my next sit so couldn’t stay longer.
TBH I didn’t really like the new sitters, so maybe be prepared for it that, although hopefully they will be lovely. The minute they came in the house they made disparaging comments about the place and the pets. It was all a bit grim and I worried leaving the animals with them, tbh.
Great that the HO has employed a cleaner. Personally I’d want to be in touch with the current sitters prior, just to make sure casually that they’re ok with you staying etc, I wouldn’t rely on the HO to establish that necessarily.
Also - where will you sleep? Are there enough bedrooms so that you can both have your own space?
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Great ideas thanks. Yes there are two bedrooms and a box room / office. I’m retired so don’t need a work station.
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We had this and it was ok.
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