Last week agreed to a sit in the South of France for 2 weeks in June! I am from California, so this is a big commitment for me and I was thrilled last week to meet virtually with the home owner, and even with the sitter who was “in training”, (from North Carolina). The home owner always has sitters come 4 days in advance of their sit to get oriented w the house duties and the 2 dogs and 4 cats.
The home owner and sitter were great, conversation was all positive and I agreed to the sit and was ecstatic to start looking at flights.
Since last week, the home owner has texted, emailed and messaged me on the this platform with extensively long messages. We are 6 month away from my stay, but she keeps messaging me asking me if I am sure that I will walk the dogs at 5:30am and if I can handle the job. She even emailed me a very detailed 16 page PDF outlining the home routine, even down to tiniest of details (like not adding salt if I boil water for pasta, and vacuuming every day, and how to clean the coffee filter properly, and the telepathic animal whisperer to contact if the dogs are acting strangely). I can’t make this stuff up.
I was really looking forward to this sit because of the home and location (and minimal pets) but now I’m starting to worry that this lady might be a little too overbearing, particular and micromanag-ey (and I’ve sat for some crazy people before).
Although she has a some great reviews, there were a few sitters that didn’t leave reviews, which I always find curious. When I looked at their profiles, those sitters all had great reviews (27 five stars), but I saw that this home owner left them horrible reviews and completely tore apart these sitters with details about how they moved the Tupperware in different places in the cabinets, and only washed their sheets once during their 10 day stay, and the small spoons were mixed with the large spoons….Like crazy stuff.
I get it, some people are particular and want their house the way they left it, but they are human, and taking care of your fur-family, have a little grace.
Then, the home owner messaged me today saying that she had to “fire” the sitter before she left for her vacation and went on an on about how incapable she was because she didn’t empty the ash out of the fireplace properly, and didn’t have their walking route memorized after going a few times.
I would really like to be able to contact these sitters, particularly this sitter, because I spoke with her for about 25 minutes. I want to hear her side of the story, if this is a sit that I should cancel or if they just didn’t have personalities that meshed. I found this sitters profile, is there any way to be able to contact her? I think speaking with her? I think it would really help me to make a decision.
Amanda
(Post edited by the Forum team to comply with the Terms of Service).
Personally, I wouldn’t waste my time trying to contact past sitters. There are enough red flags. I would withdraw my application. There will be lots of lovely sits in France.
There is another post on this forum that could well be the sitter that was “fired”. She didn’t say where it was but she was there 4 days early and it seemed to get well out of hand. Somebody might link it or you could search it out. Bells might ring if you read the thread.
I don’t even know why you are asking the question on here, you have seen the many, many red flags, just CANCEL. it cannot possibly go well, or be an enjoyable sit. Don’t wait for hindsight.
I think you already know that this won’t work out. Some of the details in your post clearly demonstrate that this HO is hard work. Contacting another sitter is not going to add anything. Trust your gut!
I can’t believe that wanting you to arrive 4 days early wasn’t enough of a red flag to stop you from applying or accepting this sit. Add to that terms like “in training” and “fire the sitter” and you should realistically be looking for the exits.
Seriously just get out now. The owners incessant messaging and ridiculous PDF should be enough reason but just message her and tell her you are cancelling and good luck with her next sitter. Do not interact with her after that. If she fails to cancel contact THS direct and tell them to cancel it and that you don’t want any contact.
I commend you for doing the research by thoroughly reading the WG, we’re you’ve found some red flags
Great that you Checked reviews left for sitters - which has revealed more issues .
Now it’s up to you what you want to do with the information you already have - will you go ahead with a sit that 6 months out already has lots of issues or cancel the sit ?
How many red flags do you need before making a decision to cancel ?
How does the HO know the sitter only washed their sheets once in 10 days, and why does that matter, how does it affect her ? Not at all is the answer. She sounds like a real fruit loop.
She even emailed me a very detailed 16 page PDF outlining the home routine, even down to tiniest of details (like not adding salt if I boil water for pasta,)
Don’t let your attachment to the location cloud your judgement. No matter how amazing the location, it won’t compensate for an unpleasant day to day experience. And from everything you have said here, it is highly likely that is what this will turn out to be.
There is a good chance you’ll leave there regretting your decision to go and a bad review to boot. .
Of course there is always the possibility it could turn out fine but I wouldn’t risk it given all that has happened thus far. I think you already have more than enough to go on to make your decision and you don’t need any input from other sitters who have been there.
Wow. Yes, I think other people are mentioning this. I got involved responding to a post that someone just did called beyond unacceptable where she had a horrific experience with the homeowner who asked her to come four days early. And they ended up needing to cancel. And I just read a little bit of your post but the long messages is a huge red flag, asking if you can walk the dog at 5:30 a.m. But definitely check out that post. And from my experience, if there’s any red flags in the beginning, then I do not accept a sit or I cancel the sit because I have found them. They just get worse and worse and worse, and it’s not worth the incredible stress. But yeah, check that post out.
I understand that the south of France is a very desirable sounding sit location but I do NOT understand how anywhere is desirable enough to skip over the numerous and blatant signs of interpersonal dysfunction you detail about the host in your OP. If you’re not just spoofing us on this forum, what you’ve picked up on is not the sum total of what you’re eventually going to learn about this host if you go forward with the sit. It’s just the beginning. The host sounds like someone you wouldn’t want to start up a conversation with on a park bench much less fly 1000s of miles at your own expense to a (presumptively) unfamiliar destination for 2 weeks of who literally knows how many more shoe drops they’re in for.
IOW, RUN far far away. I’ll watch for a continuation of your saga next June in case you don’t.
red flags