We are sitters and always have a list of questions with us for the video-call. Even though the “gut-feeling” is important, there are crucial things to know about a sit before making a decision. E.g. routine, allergies, “accidents” in the house, account with the vet, usage of basics, expectations and tasks for us. We believe the better and more detailed the video-call is the better the sit will work for both sides. Unfortunately not all listings give us the informations we prefer to have before we agree on a sit.
What do you feel you’ve missed and what problems has that caused? That’s your cue to ask.
Something that does get missed sometimes and creates a lot of posts on this forum is failing to narrow down arrival and departure times for the sitter - so make sure that’s part of your conversation (not ‘interview’, please, we aren’t applying for a job and it’s a two-way evaluation).
Something I appreciate as a sitter is the HO telling me about the following and checking I’m happy/experienced with them:
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Work over and above usual cleaning/tidying up after myself. I was happy to look after the seedlings in the greenhouse for one sit, but turned down a sit where the expectation was to hoover the whole house and mop all hard floors every day.
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Pet care over the usual - yes I was fine to clear up an elderly cat’s occasional accidents, but I wouldn’t have been happy if I hadn’t been asked in advance. Any special needs - you need to check with the sitter.
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behavioural issues - I wasn’t happy to be landed with an aggressively dog-reactive dog by surprise, and if the owners had asked me during our chat I would have answered that I had no experience with that and wouldn’t be the right sitter.
So now I have my own short list of questions to work into the conversation.
Hi Maggie, Do you ask for the welcome guide before you are selected for a sit?
FYI We as homeowners cannot share the welcome guide until a sit is confirmed. After confirmation, THS prompts me to share the welcome guide with the sitter. I always do it quickly so they can look over it and ask any questions or voice concerns.
I have been sent the WG before confirming once. It was the HOs idea because she had a history of cancellations and wanted to make sure I was OK with all the requirements. The THS version of the guide, as @MTBer has explained, cannot be shared until the sit has been confirmed.
I let the hosts know during our video chat that I’ll need the WG well ahead of our sit. That’s so I can review and ask Qs and look for dealbreakers. I haven’t had trouble getting them, but if I did, I’d cancel.
The WG can be shared in any format, as far as I’m concerned. And unless it’s in the THS format/platform, you can share WGs anytime. No one is stopping anyone from sending/sharing via Google Docs, Word docs, video, etc. Even if the WG were only in THS format/platform, it would be easy to take screenshots and share at any time.
About half of my hosts have not used the THS format/platform for that. Like my next sit is in April and my hosts shared their guide via email a couple of weeks ago or so, immediately after we agreed to the sit. I read it right away and it looked straightforward.
Note: I would do likewise with any sit, whether on THS or otherwise.