Have you as a homeowner requested that a sitter leave a video before they leave?
Or as a sitter have you been asked to do this or initiated it?
I’m a homeowner and would never think to ask this of a sitter, but one sitter did so without me initiating it.
I’m also a sitter on THS and had one HO ask me to do so. I had nothing to hide and complied but felt like it was a sign of distrust (despite that and other 5 star reviews).
Thoughts?
I’ve never heard of this as previously a homeowner and now sitter and I’d find it really off-putting and a hassle I don’t need at the end of a sit. Is the point to make sure I haven’t destroyed the place? Or so they can tell me to do some remedial cleaning if they want? Too late!
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I have thought about doing a video or some shots before leaving just for my own protection but have not. If a homeowner asked me to do a video call like this I would probably comply so that they didn’t leave me a retaliatory review should I decline. Truth is, all of my hosts have been lovely.
Never heard about this, but if I remember correctly, @MissChef does an exit video too (just to cover herself)
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Yes, that was me !
If I am leaving before the PPs come home, I do a quick little video of showing all pets inside the house before I leave, and locking the door, and also giving the doorknob a good yank so that I showed that it has been locked.
I do that, in combination with taking photos of the clean house, just to prove that I did what I was supposed to… I wouldn’t send them to anyone unless there was an issue, and I delete them soon after the review comes through.
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Other than @MissChef 's reason for taking a video before leaving a sit, the only reason I can think this would be necessary is if you, as a sitter, are handing off the home to another sitter before the owners get home. That way the owners can see that you left the home in good shape, should the second sitter(s) not leave things that way.
Otherwise, what is the purpose? The home/pet owners will see what the home looks like when they walk in the door.
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I seem to remember someone telling a story about water pipes bursting after they left. I would be horrified to think a homeowner would even consider that I would be so irresponsible. I couldn’t leave a disaster like that without handling it, but if it happened AFTER I left, how could I prove it?
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That’s where the trust comes in. I would hope I would have established a good enough relationship with my home/pet owner that they would know I would never have left a home in that condition.
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“Trust, but verify”
Like I said, nobody’s asked for proof, and I’ve never had an issue, and if anything, I have a cute little video of my farewell to the puppies and the kitties 
If anyone had a look at all of my repeat sits, they would have no question about how conscientious. I am about caring for their home, but it’s practically no effort to prepare a little “insurance”.
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Exactly, hence why it threw me off and was a little offensive, but reading others’ posts, I guess I can see why some sitter do it for their own protection.
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We did a mini video of a house sit in Portugal before we left, partly because other paid sitters were coming in after us and before the HOs returned, and partly because we’d washed down all the outside space after torrential rain and it looked fab! (& may not have by the time they came home) Our review said we were “rock star 
sitters and to book us at all costs” 
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I do a video walk-thru as we leave every single sit. It’s helpful for the owner, and it also protects us as sitters. I want proof to show that we’ve left the property in perfect condition
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I have an upcoming sit that I need to leave mid-morning and they’ll be home in the evening , same day. Sh3 asked that I leave a ‘time stamped video’. I said sure, but just realized I’m not sure what ‘time-stamped’ actually is. If I take a video with my iPhone, that should suffice, right?
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I just saw this topic as I was leaving a sit yesterday and had just filmed a walk-through video!
I have done this several times, but only if we are not doing a direct handover with the owner or they will not be the first person home.
We prefer a direct handover, but as that is not always possible for example a friend was coming to stay for a couple of days before the owners return on one sit and on another the AuPair would be back a couple of days before the owner but we would not get to handover to either of them in these cases.
So as I like to make sure that the home is returned super clean and nothing is broken on our watch I do a little walk-through video. I think it is as much for my peace of mind as it is for the owner 
@Cleeflang we have never been asked for a time-stamped one, in fact, we just do one if there is no handover. We use our iPhone and do it right at the end, then lock up and send the video along with a message stating we are off now, thank you and any questions let us know.
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