Have you ever received an invitation to sit or seen a request in the listing that was so ludicrous it made you laugh out loud ?
It happened to us this morning, a request in our THS inbox to sit for one day ( daytime only - no overnight stay ) ā¦ but thatās not the funny part
The location can only be accessed by ferry 45 minute crossing ( Ā£100 rtn ) and is 200 miles 5 hours drive away from our location ( as stated in our profile ) !!!
and they wondered if we might be interested in doing this regularly!!!
Had to share as it has really given us a belly laugh this morning and I thought it might brighten up your Monday morning wherever you are
Mine was would I go to Australia for a weeks stay to look after a cat. I live in the UK and it was a request 2 weeks before Christmas. Imagine the fare!
I applied for a sit in Asia ā in a location where I speak the language and know the city well, which was one of the hostās preferences. It was crickets from her, so I withdrew my application.
A couple of weeks or so before the sit, she asked whether I was still available. By then, airfare even on inconvenient, grueling flights from my home in the U.S. were so expensive that I couldāve instead gone later and it wouldāve cost me less for flights AND hotel, with my choice of location and timing, without any responsibilities for anyoneās pets or home, LOL.
I didnāt even bother to reply to such a self-centered host.
Things worked out terrifically instead: I landed a U.K. sit with great hosts who were decisive, welcoming and super easy to deal with. Their dog is a lovely, dreamy, little chap ā the easiest-going pooch Iāve ever met. I found their city enchanting. And Iāve agreed to a repeat sit, even though I donāt typically like them, since I love variety. Iām going to be so happy to sit for them and their sweetheart dog again. Even thinking about him makes me smile.
Not sure this counts but years ago (I donāt know whether the listing is still around) there was an add for a house sit where the HO specified they were looking for a trained veterinarian to look after their pet but they would settle for an experienced vet nurse if necessary. Talk about shrinking your potential sitter pool to the extreme. From memory the listing wasnāt a showstopper and the pet didnāt have any medical needs that would have required a trained professional. At the time that kind of demand in a listing was still pretty rare so itās always stuck with me.
Even if their pets actually needed professional-level care, it shows a crazy amount of entitlement or cluelessness to expect such without paying a professional.
I saw a listing in rural UK. The owner said there was no need to leave the house a fridge was well stocked.
At the time, I was starting in THS and was searching for low applications sits to improve my chances of getting experience in this platform but even so, I had a good laugh and didnāt consider it for a second. Why would anyone want to be locked in a strangerās home in the middle of nowhere? Especially when it is presented as a demand not a personal choice.
I saw a listing once where one of the sitter reviews told something the listing didnāt say; the sitter was asked to go out and pee in the bushes. Lovely thing to get sprung on you at arrival.
Not a house-sit, but I once saw what looked like an amazing opportunity to go and work somewhere in New Zealand on a board and lodgings basis ā so gardening/farm work in exchange for your food and accommodation. The listing went into great detail, and the place sounded idyllic. Luckily I read all the way to the end, where the final sentence explained that they were ānaturistsā, and that any visitors would be expected to follow suit. They did offer wellies and gardening gloves as part of the deal though!
There are some new laws in Turkey where youāre not supposed to have non family in your house overnight if youāre not in residence. House sitters are therefore in question soā¦ā¦ One HO suggested āWhy donāt you take the three big dogs to your house instead?ā Errrrrr. No. This is a free exchange. Oh okay, āI know, pretend youāre sleeping in your van?ā (Itās a Kangoo!!), if the jandarma turn up. Errrrrr. Also no. Funnily enough it ended up cancelled #weirdisasweirddoes
FWIW, I live full time in a van the size of a Kangoo and even have a kitchen and toilet. It can be done, but definitely not comfortably with more than one person.
We salute you for sure & we have done plenty of drunken overnights happily in there @CreatureCuddler (albeit there are two of us and one is 6ā2ā ) It was a) the audacity of the ask b) the fact they thought the jandarma would believe the ruse of a duvet and pillows as complete two week accommodation & c) the faff of going in and out the house repeatedly to keep up the pretence. #beggarsbelief
Oh yeah, it was an absolutely ridiculous request. No doubt about that. I donāt know how 2 people do small vans like that. I was parked up once in Spain and it was just chucking it down and a couple was parked a little ways away in a similar size van and were stood under the tailgate because it was in bed mode so there was nowhere to sit inside. I was grateful to be single and cozy. lol
Recently saw a few holiday sits that had arrivals and departures on dates like Dec. 25 and 31. I bet even paid sitters would typically avoid sits like those.
or charge a massive extra fee. I donāt really celebrate the holidays so I wouldnāt mind those dates (depending on location) but if I were getting paid Iād definitely upcharge them. lol
Depending on where you are, it can be harder to get public transit, cabs, ride shares, and such, along with food. Even if you donāt celebrate, itās usually nice to get settled into a place before amenities slow down or shut down.
Yes, makes sense to up charge for holidays, if youāre working in many jobs and the market will bear it.
When I worked in news, I sometimes flew on Christmas, no option. It usually was super quiet at the airports.
It can be done, but definitely not comfortably with more than one person.
you for sure & we have done plenty of drunken overnights happily in there 