Hi. I just came across a current house sit listing that is seeking a couple who will supervise and manage the two (separate) airbnb rentals on the property for about a month and a half. The sitters will also be required to supervise a full-time handyman and a cleaning person, and go shopping for Airbnb supplies. Also, one of the sitters has to be on-site at all times, in order to be carry out the hosting and management duties. The homeowners estimate that these duties will require five person-hours of work per day from the sitters.
I’m surprised that THS is fine with this listing, which currently has three applications. It doesn’t seem to fit with the spirit of THS, but maybe I don’t fully understand the THS guidelines.
Yes, I did try to report it. I clicked on “Help,” on the website, and got the chatbot, but I could not get the chatbot to understand what I was trying to do. Finally the chatbot gave me a link and said “Click here for the help desk.” So I did that, but the link only took me to a page that listed a bunch of help topics. None of the help topics fit my issue. At the bottom of this help desk page, it said, “Can’t find what you’re looking for? Chat with us!” and then clicking that brought me back to the chatbot! So I came here.
I didn’t see the listing but here’s my thoughts as an Airbnb owner.
Management can be done remotely. And no decent owner would put a complete amateur in charge of the management side. It sounds as if it is supervising the cleaner and handyman which is not hard. Being on site is ridiculous. Yes, it’s nice to greet the guests but if they have a phone number they can message or call if they have questions or problems.
Yes, this is out of the remit of most sitters but I’m sure someone somewhere would enjoy it. The going rate for doing this job is 15% of the guest payments so it could end up a tidy sum.
My point is there is a sitter for every listing. The pet parent just needs to find the correct one. I read everyday that this is against the rules and that’s against the rules. First of all THS is an introductory service. They cannot enforce rules. They can only make suggestions. It’s up to us to decide what we find acceptable and what we do not. I have had people other than us in the house - husband forgot something, daughter wanted to check the post, house keeper did her weekly visit. All of these reasons I found ok. As long as I’m told before the sit begins or given prior notice I’m fine with it. I do understand others are not and want rigid rules which are adhered to at all times. All I can say about that is “be careful what you wish for”.
PS can someone please post a link to the terms and conditions of THS? I can’t find them.
I did a five week sit in exactly these circumstances and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was an Airbnb host myself a few years back so I was aware of how to run things. Actually I’ve done two of them now I think about it Not everyone’s cup of tea but for some of us, it’s a great gig. Being a solo traveller, the interaction with guests etc and keeping busy all the time was personally very good for me mentally. I was paid a very small “tip” for doing it and everyone was happy.
There’s a situation that suits everyone, but not everyone is suited to every situation. If people don’t want to do it, move forward
Hi @temba. No it wasn’t, it was one of our Oz sites, but I was just pointing out that some people do actually enjoy this type of sit, regardless of the situation. I understand it borders on the T’s & C’s but if a sitter is happy to do it, I don’t see the harm. So many iffy things happen on THS I am not sure this is such a bad one. But I’m biased because I would do it in a heartbeat
@ziggy I don’t think I’m supposed to post any identifying information on here, so I can’t give the location. I will say that it’s a remote rural location, off the grid. So the management of the two rentals and the sitter’s own guest apartment requires training in managing the solar electric setup and the well. As of now, the homeowner is reviewing applications, so obviously people are interested.
I’m not super-motivated to follow all rules, and I have also shared space with homeowners when I’ve been a sitter. I think I’m just concerned that these particular homeowners are asking their sitters to do significant work for free: work that falls outside the ordinary realm of home and pet care. There are help exchange websites where travellers offer various kinds of hourly work, but those exchanges normally provide all food as well as lodgings to the workers.
@Betsy understand your points. But I think that is up to the homeowners and sitters to work out between themselves and I could almost guarantee that the sitters would be offered some kind of compensation. Sitters know what they are doing and I’m sure they wouldn’t be applying blindly. We don’t know the facts in this case so I don’t think it’s up to us to be judge and jury when we don’t know what is going on off site.
Obviously it is very inviting for some as it is in reviewing stage. I will give this one the benefit of the doubt as we simply don’t know so personally I’m fine with the listing.
As always there seems to be sitters who will apply for anything, at least judging by the fact these listings get applicants. Cameras in the house, sleep on an air-mattress in the living room, drive my child to school, manage my business for me, supervise the renovations, the list goes on. I’m not ok with sitters and owners being ok as the benchmark for what is allowed. I think you have to have a minimum standards and stick to it or the whole site will end up with the worst listings and the most desperate sitters only.
I think not allowed to ask sitters to run a profit-making enterprise for you is one of those minimum standards.
Sounds quite interesting to me, I would probably consider a sit like this, as long as all the duties were detailed from the start. Not for everyone though.
I have literally just stumbled across this AirBnB listing. I’m going to go out and buy a lottery ticket in a minute with luck like this.
You didn’t do it justice. Not only must you manage their 2 “treehouse” airbnb properties for the 8 week sit but you don’t even get to stay in their 3 bedroom house. No you must stay in a 500 sq ft apartment while managing all this. While they collect $185 a night for each one (currently booked out for at least the first 4 weeks of the sit). So they can get 185x2x56= $20 thousand dollars for your 280 hours of free work.
Oh and they have a picture of the pool in their THS listing but in their airbnb listing it is for the exclusive use of the airbnb guests so you won’t be using that either.
And yet at least 5 sitters scrabbled to do this gig.
It looks like it should be disallowed according to this
" 5.1.12. only use the Services for domestic and private use, and will not use the Services in connection with any business or other organisation or for any commercial purpose whatsoever;"
Hi @Betsy
I am sorry you have not managed to get to speak to someone in membership services and thank you for trying. Always appreciated. As @HelloOutThere suggests, always ask to speak to a human if Frankie doesn’t seem to understand.
If you can kindly email the url of the listing to Membership Support. This listing would be in direct violation of the terms and conditions. There would be other websites for that kind of listing. It must have just slipped through the approval process.
@Therese I would think this topic could be closed as it really isn’t relevant anymore??? Comments could just drag on unnecessarily as it is basically resolved. What do you think??
Not everyone’s cup of tea but for some of us, it’s a great gig. Being a solo traveller, the interaction with guests etc and keeping busy all the time was personally very good for me mentally. I was paid a very small “tip” for doing it and everyone was happy.
