If it’s an internet provider, I understand your pain! Quite why we cannot download the WG from the app I do not know. (I seem to recall some nonsensical ‘privacy’ reasons given before). I have arrived at a sit on an un-manned handover (the owners had left already), wanting to connect to the internet… but…. the wifi code is in the welcome guide which I can’t access because I’m non online (and the UK is rubbish for mobile network coverage). I’ve had to run down a country lane with my phone held high trying to get a bit of signal.
Now I’ve learned to take a screenshot / copy+paste the wifi details somewhere before arriving. Except when I forget to do that
I had the same thing with current sit. No online WG. Said she didn’t want to post personal info online. Pet care can be posted online…I didn’t even get the correct address until a few days before I had to travel…but it turns out to be a great sit. Easy dog, sunny hot weather with a pool. Not my favorite HO attitude, but the sit is great.
There is a lot of misconceptions about what info is visible when, so I understand some hosts not wanting to share much info. It is just rather annoying when I dont get the address.. Also getting surprising and demanding pet care info last minute can put you into a bad postion: cancel last minute or suck it up. But when it is a nice sit, overlooking this is easy.
Yes, my current hosts’ WG (a Google doc) includes recommendations for restaurants, groceries and such. And they have a guest book in their guest room as well.
On some sits, my hosts have left a folder or basket full of sightseeing info/brochures.
That’s what I would do, in fact did for THS housesitting friends who sat in my home (no pets) on a private basis October-December. I think they were overwhelmed with all the places to go to in Cheltenham & surrounding Cotswolds area
@Rhe Foxtel= cable tv. There were instructions to re set if it dropped out. I just kept hoping it would drop back in .
We had a situation at home recently where our internet disappeared. Re-set modem a few times, nothing. Two days on the phone to the service provider faffing about. Still nothing. Eventually they sent a tech out and some wires in the main box in the building had been pulled out. As a sitter we would have no way to fix that and be reliant on just phone data. Technology
Our sitters can have the Welcome Guide (own PDF document) sent whenever they want, but I tell them, if its months before the sit starts, that some things might change. Usually I update it around 2 weeks before we travel.
So far I was the one offering to send it early, but all sitters said naaaw, send it a couple of days before we arrive!
I also tell the sitters that it’s also printed in a folder in the house so they don’t have to read it on a phone. My very detailed (and grown over the years) guide is mentioned by most sitters in their reviews for us.
I try to write everything that might be helpful or important for them down, including recommendations for restaurants, fitness centers, parks, pharmacies, hospitals etc with opening hours and phone numbers.
It happened that sitters asked me something via WhatsApp and I said it’s in the folder…
I’ve recently had my first unpleasant interaction with a HO. She said she was too busy to write out the details of her expectations and I said I can roll with it and ask questions. (I know, I know). It cost me a ‘reliability star’ as she assumed I should know that if workers are coming to her house, that I would be there, let them in, and stay while they’re working. She was surprised that I wouldn’t assume this as well.
This was one of a number of unpleasant behaviours on her part, and I wish there was a way to warn other sitters.
Basically, I am developing my own set of communications / info requirements of HOs that I will share with them, whether or not they’ve done a guide.
Like “if you have any expectations besides the pet care particulars, the details are required to ensure I can provide the best possible service.”
With this being the third thread you have posted on about the same sit @Kit, I’m curious to know whether you gave this host a 5* review, or docked any stars at all? A factual, unemotional review is how you warn other sitters.
How about something even simple. Here’s what I do:
Ask during chat whether they use the THS welcome guide or another document/pdf. (It’s not important which one they use as long as they have an answer.)
Ask how soon the doucment will be ready for you to view as you’d like to be able to ask questions and clarify well before the sit starts so you’ll both be relaxed. (The answer you’re looking for could be whatever you are comfortable with but there’s no reason if they’ve ever left the pets with anyone before why it shouldn’t be within 48 hours of confirmation. You can be reassuring that you accept this may be a living document with changes or that they maybe moved recently and don’t have the shopping section/recommendations done or whatever, that your focus is on the petcare and home routines.)
If they can’t answer the question, don’t take the sit. If they answer the question but don’t follow through, just let them know before you buy that plane ticket that they need to unconfirm you and find someone else. And if it is still crickets, contact THS and let them know you can’t do the sit because the homeowner is ghosting you.
This happened to me when I first started on THS but now I explain on a pre sit video chat it’s important for me to see their WG beforehand so I can understand their pets needs and clarify anything.
My WG is something that has “grown” over the years, because there’s always this little something you forgot. Additionally, I update it before each new sit, because some things change.
I don’t use the THS guide but I took over the sections for my PDF and yes, it’s a lot of work.
Some sitters want it to be sent right away and I always tell them that there might be changes, which I don’t know yet. They usually just want an overview and check if something’s missing which they need to know. About 1 week prior to their arrival I send the updated version.
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