BTW, having only basic wifi also will rule out many potential sitters, including most who telecommute.
A few additional bits of info I think you should address in your listing:
- distance your home is to grocery store, restaurants, parks…
- type of fish you have and necessary care - I’m assuming not saltwater fish
- care needed for the quail
- are there bikes that sitter(s) can use
I’d love the peace and quiet of your place, but it’s way too late to get a decent flight to anywhere in France. As for the bed, I’ve slept on a lot worse.
Hope you find someone.
Aside from the issue of airbed which is putting off a lot of sitters .
As you are looking for someone to be mostly staying at your home and not leaving your pets - there would be little point in a sitter paying for the expense of a hire car for the week, if they will not be able to take daily trips out .
Could you offer to collect your sitter from a train station or airport so that they don’t need to hire a car ? How far away are the nearest shops for groceries etc ?
If that is not an option looking for a local sitter with a car may be more practical. Or you could try Nomador which I understand has more sitters that are already based in France and therefore more likely to have a car .
I must say that the whole MUTUAL EXCHANGE concept seems to have gone over your head.
Hi, sorry wasn’t intending to completely alienate everyone but was a little annoyed with some of the comments but I have thanked some for giving me some good advice. I am new to THS and after our 1st sit went so well ,I wasn’t expecting a problem especially as I have 26 people that have ‘favourited’ it.
Our internet is perfectly sufficient most of the time but I described it as basic because it isn’t 'super faster like perhaps others have and I didn’t want to miss lead anyone. Celia did not report any problem with it and I did ask her for a private opinion on our sit to see if we could do better.
I understand it’s an exchange, between the sitter & host. I also understand the sitter has responsibilities but in France, this can’t be described as work as otherwise Monsieur Impot would be knocking on our door.
The quail are very easy to look after as they are kept in a large exterior aviary & just need feeding, checking twice a day, fresh water & collect the eggs. No cleaning is needed.
I originally joined the site as I was recommended and I liked the idea of the checks & recommendations from other hosts. Normally we never leave the house together but my mother is very ill & hubby went with me last time for support. This time is just a holiday so I can cancel. I don’t know if any professional sitters but will be looking into that.
Hubby says the fish in the pond outside do not need anything doing to unless water suddenly drops with high heat.
Yes, no problem,collecting from airport or train station. This should be mentioned in my listing but I will check it hasn’t disappeared.
Also I’m not expecting anyone to stay in all the time with our animals, we certainly don’t but I didn’t want to put 6 hours for someone to do that everyday.
@Ash4bruyere Wow, that’s a lot of use of the word free. So you feel the service sitters provide, in-home pet and home care, has no value at all? That’s what you are saying. This is supposed to be a mutually beneficial exchange. Sitters are not volunteers. If I want to volunteer my time to take care of animals, I will do so at a non-profit organization. Sitting through THS is an exchange in which both parties benefit.
It seems to me you have a choice to make here, would you like a solution or would you like to be right?
One of our guest rooms is also used as a yoga space plus music room. We only have infrequent stay over visitors so decided to create a solution that offers a real bed with deep sprung mattress on slatted base that folds up into the wall behind doors. It’s known as a Murphy bed here in England and the modern versions are really fantastic. All the bedding lives in the cupboards either side of where the bed lives so when in use on the bed it then provides ample usable cupboard space for guests. The various instruments and yoga equipment is then stored under the bed. I offer this idea as it might solve more than one issue for you. Best wishes.
Thank you 