Just simply say that you would like a video call first. You ask them if they are free for this tomorrow (after your other potential sit)
Good luck
I would never let anyone look after my house/cat unless I’d spoken to them or had a video chat first. I tend to go for video chats as that’s just what people do these days. Also you can read body language etc etc so I think it’s just better than a call.
I tend not to ask that many questions on a video call as I don’t consider it an ‘interview’ it’s more to get a feel for the person. I think it’s good from the sitters point of view as they get to ask questions that saves heaps of time consuming emails (and you can tell a lot by what questions people ask as some have obviously put more thought into the whole process than others.)
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I had one instance where a brand new home owner confirmed me without reaching out first. I wrote her and explained it would be better if we have a chat first, we did and it worked out fine. I can not imagine an arrangement such as this, either as the home owner or sitter without a discussion prior.
I don’t get hung up on the semantics of ‘interview’, I do see this as an opportunity for both parties to 1) validate the information they gathered from the profiles and emails, and 2) make sure that the expectations are clear on both sides, and 3) make sure they ‘click’ in a positive way. I’m pretty sure that I always use the term ‘chat’ or ‘discuss’, but, wouldn’t be offended if someone called it an interview.
The overwhelming majority of communication is non-verbal, body language. Video chat is just a means to enhance the overall communication and I prefer it. However, if the person I’m chatting with doesn’t, or isn’t capable of it, I’ll deal with a regular old phone call.
As a sitter, I’ve had two sits and am scheduled for four more. As a home owner, I’ve had six sitters (though, two of them have been for three times each).
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I don’t understand body language being a clue to how a persons personality is. I feel very uncomfortable on a screen.so probably don’t come over very well. I’m relaxed on a phone call only.that’s just me.would rather video calls never were invented.!
I’m quite comfortable with a HO asking for a video call and I always offer this in any application. I want the HO to feel happy and at ease with me. It’s also an opportunity for me to ask any questions I might have about the pets, perhaps something has been mentioned in the listing that I’d like clarified. Sure I’m getting something from the sit, but it’s the HO who will be accepting a relative stranger into their home.
I have on my application and profile, I am more than happy to do a video interview prior, I like to get a feel for the HO and their pets, I will often get them to d a walk around the house for me and photo’s especially if we are not meeting the owners at the start of the stay.
If HO are new to THS I always get them to do a video chat at least, to put their mind at ease, I like to get all the Q&A out of the way well before the sit, so the HO can just get on with life until it’s time for their Holiday, I keep in touch usually via WhatsApp from when we accept/confirm a sit and prior to the sit, the week before I will touch base to reconfirm everything ask any last minute Questions, I touch base again a couple of days before, the day before, the day we are arriving, keeping them updated on our travels especially if they are not going to be there when we arrive, I let them know we have arrived and send Photo’s of their Pets. x
I’d say that I’ve done (video) calls for about half the places I sat, and only exchanged messages for the other half (with no call upfront). Never had things not working out, so it doesn’t really matter that much to me except if there are specific reasons why I want to talk with them in advance
As a sitter, I have no problem confirming a sit after just exchanging written messages. I’m just not that fussy about whether the house looks like the photos or not, and I can get a reasonable sense of the homeowner’s personality from what they write. The one sit I had which was problematic was not an issue that would have been revealed in a Zoom or phone call anyway.
I do always offer to have a video chat, since many homeowners feel it’s important, but I’m more than happy to confirm after just exchanging messages.
Although I would be comfortable with just text chats back and forth, for the only sit I currently have booked (I’m new) we did a video chat and it was just lovely. I bring my little dog with me when I sit, and we had both of our dogs look at each other in the video and it was so adorable. I felt an immediate bond with the homeowners and I really can’t wait to do the sit for them.
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