Why would you jump to assuming that they are afraid? They simply choose to not be bothered with sits that ask for this … their experience is everything and they know that there are plenty of better options for them.
I didn’t understand your message. The lady wrote that she felt awkward asking, yet suddenly you’re telling me off for making assumptions.
I’ll add this from my own perspective: I don’t equate a high number of reviews with actual experience. Unfortunately, the more I read the forum, the more convinced I become that many sitters end up dealing with truly awful people—the kind I wouldn’t even bother engaging with. I’ve had two odd experiences myself, though they ultimately turned out well; the hosts apologized, gave me small gifts, and even called back hoping I’d return. It’s not just about adjusting the timing, either, I often ask hosts to change the dates if possible. For instance, I absolutely loved one location, but the host wasn’t offering good accommodation—the house/land was huge, yet they were proposing the guest cottage. I was upfront about the fact that I’d be happy to help them out, provided they offered a nice, large, and bright master bedroom.
I always discuss all of this during a video call, and we come to an agreement. For instance, I immediately rule out hosts who tell me, “Thanks for the interview—you’re the first one, but we need to interview everyone else.” Later, they start calling me back, but I’m no longer interested. I just know for sure they aren’t my kind of people, and I don’t want to do anything for them.
She didn’t write that about herself, she pondered that others might feel that.
Experience outside of THS is varied and unverifiable, but HOs do care about and take note of THS reviews. I have decades of experience as a HO with our own horses and engaging sitters…. but now I sit for other people just for a fun hobby. So I’ve experienced it from both sides and away from THS.
Your experience is yours but others have very varied and interesting experiences, they simply haven’t shared them here. I’ve met a few sitters with fabulous stories to tell person to person in confidence.
I take the same approach as @KC1102. If the listed arrival/departure times are unreasonable (I looked at one with a 6-7am arrival time this morning), I just move on. I’m not going to waste my time contacting them. The HOs make their listing and I will assume the times they list are accurate and intentional.
That’s kind of a rude generalization. Some of the kindest, most considerate HOs I’ve sat for have been elderly women living alone. I have one sit for a single woman in her mid-seventies that has become annual trip for me. I look forward to returning each year because it’s such a great sit.
(For reference, the quote from another member’s post above has been edited by the Forum team in line with our Community Guidelines).
So they are open to you coming a night before, which means they are taking your needs into consideration and are also providing the accurate time of when they need a house sitter.
This thread is literally both sides. You want them to be accurate about the listing start date, but you also want them to tell you that you can come early.
This is silly.
There is a messaging feature to ask for a reason. There is no need for additional features around the start and end date.
Next feature request is literally going to be - Make it possible not to communicate with the owners. Similar to Airbnb and booking… but without the fees.
I have applied to many house sits that I liked without even considering the start time or the departure time because I always ask during the interview about those. The home owners are always flexible about that.
It’s almost never set in stone
Well, I haven’t paid too much attention to the arrival and departure times as most of listings I’ve seen stated reasonable times, and I do ask if they accept arrivals the night before or after they’re gone.
What I have experienced is that some hosts prefer minimal in person contact with the sitter, even though they have extra rooms available. If having a choice they choose the sitter who doesn’t need to arrive early or stay longer than needed. Some tell clumsy lies saying they’ve away or not at home the night before. I think it says a lot about how they perceive the exchange and sitters.
They’re oblivious 
Especially if it’s their first sit on this platform. I see one rn with arrival 6:30-7am. No applicants. They will be my last resort. I’ll nudge them then… 
Hi
I’m a new host this year…though had 3 lovely sitters already.
I purposely choose the category for arranging times later ie don’t give specific times as I assume both sides can work it out when in contact to see if works. Does that category put off sitters? We haven’t had a problem with applicants but we live in a lovely area, so just curious really from experienced sitters point of view.
Jackie
I prefer it that way @JackJack - discuss arrangements in the pre confirmation chat 
Yes much prefer this as the HO can’t know where the sitter is travelling from, in our case it’s often just 15 minutes away when we’re local or maybe we’re visiting family nearby.
I want to ask you, having done so many sits, have you come cross hosts who made you feel devalued, dehumanized, and looked down upon. I came cross two that stand out, one had the attitude like “If it weren’t for the sit, you peasant would never have a chance to interact with me.” She also made me feel extremely cold. The other one was like wanting nothing to do with me, i suspect didn’t bother to save my number on WhatsApp, also didn’t want to put my name on their calendar, just a time and the pick up location. I think they might prefer an AI robot if having the choice.
Hi @ariela
Hi there. It’s not that I’m afraid to contact them, it’s that I assume the times they’re listing are the times they actually want the sitter there or they would have listed different ones. When there are those really tight windows, that probably means there’s not as much flexibility.
Also, I’m referring specifically to sits with really early and late times listed. In these instances, the times I would need to arrive or depart are different by at least several hours, so I know there’s a l smaller chance it would work out. It would be different if it was a sit that wanted me there by noon but I couldn’t get there till 1:00. In that scenario I would probably be inclined to ask.
And the assumption that those times are actually correct was the basis of my original post, which was suggesting to hosts who are asking sitters to arrive really early or stay really late to perhaps offer an option to come the evening before or stay the night they return.
That definitely would not put people off. . That usually indicates the host is flexible with the times.
The only thing that keeps me applying for a sit is when the specific times listed conflict with my schedule significantly, such as these really early and late times.I was addressing specifically in my post. .In these instances I usually would not be able to arrive or would need to leave at least several hours differently than the times listed.
It it was a different time of day and the arrival or departure time was an hour more or less than I needed, in those instances I would be more likely to inquire about flexibility.
There is no room on the form as it now exists to say “Unless you have a better idea” or “Open to …” Prior to the form, I used to edit my introduction when I listed a sit to give arrival and departure options (including remote handover)I now do a workaround where I still explain my arrival and departure options at the beginnning, but use the TBD for the form. Mine is a catsit. . Obviously, most dog sits are tougher.
With dog sits especially where there can’t be remote handovers, I think most homeowners are doing their best but might not have thought it through. I would certainly consider talking to them and standing firm with an ask and choices for both arrival and departure. The thing is sitters especially great dog sitters have a lot of power in the equation that they don’t use. People don’t just want anyone. They want someone they can trust.
This was never complicated.
Since the introduction of time slots , many HOs will take advantage of asking for unsociable hours as the option is there. Before this option existed, you discussed timings before you confirmed and I have never been asked to arrive early or depart late. I have been offered to stay with them overnight instead.
This goes along with the option of choosing how long a pet can be left with many choosing up to 2 hours. It used to be normal for a HO to set out in their WG that you could leave a dog for up to 4 hours. Cats were all day.
I do wonder if HOs don’t even realise they’ve selected by default the 2 hour option. I can’t believe that HOs never spend even a half day of 4 hours or evening away from their dog!
Oh, I genuinely believe that! Because there are so many wonderfully good hosts on this site. I was talking more about the experience with the people… you know what I mean? You get a read on people right away. Plus, I’m a fairly proud person; if I provide my services and show respect for the home, the animals, and the host—for free, I expect respect and comfort in return.