Help or assistance needed. Forgive the posting if this is outside THS rules.
We are sitters (new), and I have seen a long sit which overlaps an accepted sit we are doing. Therefore the HO needing the long sit is ‘blocked’ because there is an overlap. The request is showing Low Applications and we’d like to help. We sit as a couple and one of us could potentially get to them, or they may be able to get local cover etc.
I have been on the Chat function and had ‘Frankie’ (I suspect is AI) but was told to ‘contact the HO’ but I can’t see how to do that without an application.
Any help? Can MS possibly let the HO know, on our behalf, and put us in touch?
Don’t know if that is allowed, but I really like the nice gesture and would be willing to reach out to them and tell them about you. So if its okay for THS, you can send me a private message with the link when there is no other way.
The site will not do anything to facilitate sitters booking overlapping sits. This inability to apply for listings with dates for which you are already booked is a relatively recent change that was a response to reports of sitters booking overlapping sits and leaving pets without proper care.
I see someone above offered to get in touch with them on your behalf which could work. The most feasible option overall would be you and your partner creating two separate accounts.
Hello, Yes I find this irritating also, as frequently if unable to do the whole sit the pet owner may be able to get friends or family to do a couple of days.
One example that worked out for me, was where the home owner actually contacted me, even though I already had a couple of days of their sit marked off. It wasn’t another sit just a prior enagagement. It was a great sit that I accepted and they had friends come and stay for the last couple of days of the sit.
I am no sure if home owners can still contact you, if you do not have all dates they require showing available or not.
It is a shame that there is not a facility for sitters and owners to contact each other, with messages regardless of a sit be available or dates not quite right. Owners can sometimes be flexible.
I think - but might be wrong - that HO can contact a sitter. I have had HOs invite me. But may be restricted if some of my dates are ‘unavailable’ for sitting. I still have a lot to learn!
I guess sitters are restrcted from contacting HOs as that could be annoying for HOs who don’t have a requirement. Thanks for your help, it’s all valuable.
As you are new, I would like to mention that there are pitfalls with split sits, and many sitters will avoid them. Mainly regarding what sitter is responsible if something happens, handover, cleaning and other responsibilities as well as how factors like these can influence reviews.
Hi @JayCee12 , if you and your partner have a profile each, as in two accounts, then you can do overlapping sits where you both sit alternative places for a few days and join up after one has finished.
We have the same issue: there is an overlap of 2 days for a sit we would like to apply for, but can’t because we’ve already accepted the other sit that overlaps. It would be no issue for us to split as they are not asking for a couple, but it’s impossible to contact the homeowners, due to us “already being busy with another sit”. It would be nice if couples could do overlapping sits if they are in the same area and only for a few days.
Thank you @Garfield for that valuable advice, and also directing me to the other forum topic which has lots of sitters’ experiences.
I realise my mistake in calling this topic ‘Split sit’. Not that I mind at all since now I have received good advice. A split shift is not being offered in this particular case. But I’m forewarned if I get offered one.
This was really ‘how to I contact a HO’ when I am not allowed to ‘apply’ as my calendar is blocked.
Thanks fellow sitters for sharing experiences with a newby.
My advice …… don’t do it.
We have done it once and agreed, never again. It’s too easy for the blame to be shifted from one sitter to the other. Handover can be very inaccurate causing lots of problems and it’s just a mess in general.
Welcome @MissOkcana. The “no overlapping” was brought in by THS a year ago which had quite an impact on owners not getting a sitter over Christmas. Looks much the same will happen this year. Despite much campaigning by members, THS refuse to alter it. The solution by some couples is to take out a second account.
As HO, when applications are low or nil I look at profiles of the most recent sitters who’ve favorited my sit. Maybe it’s an unusual idea, but could you favorite them and then write a message in your profile to the HO?
Like: “Hi name, we’d love to help out with your sit on * dates * but can’t message you as we’re booked elsewhere. Please feel free reach out to us.”
I’d be thrilled to see that and I’d definitely reach out.
We completely agree. We have done two split sits and we were on the back-end of both. Floors were filthy, basic household items were empty (Toilet paper, dish tabs, etc). It is up to you at that point to inform the HO of the condition of the home, take pictures, etc, that way no blame can be pointed in your direction. It seems like THS took away the option to do overlapping sits or double booking because too many sitters would gravitate towards one sit and not give their 100% at the other. This led to many reviews about sitters leaving early, leaving messes, etc.
Stick to one sit and move on to the next is our opinion. Trying to fill as many dates as possible by overlapping just isn’t feasible. There will be another sit down the road that will work with your already confirmed date. #Patience
I’m just trying to think what we did on our very last sit (we are the HO) as our sitters had identified a sit they wanted to do which overlapped ours (it may have been in the day or so before we confirmed, I can’t remember). We had a couple of chats with them and agreed to shorten our sit period by cancelling them, then offering back the sit with the shortened period - the HS were lovely. One of them travelled to the new sit a couple of days before, leaving the other partner to finish our sit. He stayed in touch the final couple of days until WE returned, and all was fine. I think they wanted the next sit for various reasons but mainly because the next sit was a nice, long one. But depending on how well you are getting on with your HO BEFORE your sit takes place, they may agree to do this for you. But it might have been that my sitters identified this sit before we confirmed - that’s how they were able to make contact, and potentially be accepted, with the following sit?
Yes we have done this before either sit was confirmed , we applied ,explained the situation and come to an agreement with hosts for them to alter the start date . Then confirmed both sits.
However this can only be done before both of the sits that overlap have been confirmed .
Once a sit is confirmed , sitters cannot contact hosts to apply for sits that overlap with those dates (even by one day ) .
As others have said, the ability to do overlapping sits was removed. I also find this frustrating. I think it is hard for us that do this full time and takes away opportunities from homeowners.
I am dealing with this right now because there is a sit in the UK that looks lovely and the listing indicates they can be flexible on the front end. It overlaps with my current sit so I can’t message them. I know they might struggle to find a sitter because it is right at the holiday. It would be so much easier if we could message in these scenarios to see if it could work out by doing a split sit or partnering with their neighbors or if their dates are flexible. There are so many situations where sitters might be able to lean in and help if we could at least speak to the homeowners.
