I fairly new to THS having only completed 3 sits this summer. I’ve just applied for a sit which is to occur later this month. The owners profile seems ok and there are past positive reviews, but something seems off. When applying for a sit I include some basic points about mysrlf including that I’m traveling in an RV as it can affect the parking situation. Thus homeowner has only responded to the RV concern. I’ve now asked twice to set up some kind of video chat and these have been ignored. This morning I see they’ve accepted my application. I’m inclined to reject this sit as they only seem interested in a sitter. Has anyone else encountered homeowners that don’t communicate anything regarding themselves beyond their profile?
@Gardengirl045 Yes we have had this before -( been accepted without any conversation ) we contacted the HOs again to thank them for their invitation and saying that before “agreeing to sit” we would like a video/ phone call with them - provide your number and suggest times that you are available for a call.
Hello @Gardengirl045 and a very warm welcome to the Community Forum
As @Silversitters mentioned, we have also had exactly the same thing happen to us where we have had our application confirmed straight away and receiving a message saying we have been chosen for this sit. However before we confirm we always request a video call with them first, (which is our preferred form of contact), or at the very least a telephone call.
We also ask for their contact number at this point and provide ours and again as @Silversitters said, we also ask when would be a preferred time for them.
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As someone who has been doing this for almost a decade, the most important piece of advice I can give is trust your instincts. If something feels ‘off’ in any way, move onto another opportunity. It may turn out to be perfectly fine but with all the sits available on the site, there is never any reason to take one that doesn’t feel right in some way.
Same goes for taking sits that involve responsibilities you aren’t interested in taking on, has you in an environment or type of house you don’t want to be in, has you dealing certain types of animals you don’t want to deal with, has you dealing with certain types of people you don’t want to deal with,etc. It just isn’t necessary.
The key is trusting the right opportunities will come along, not getting too attached to any one in particular, and not taking a sit just because of a good location, it works for your schedule, you’ll save a lot of money,etc. without carefully considering if it is a good fit overall.
Yes, we’ve been accepted straight away without any additional conversation, other than our original application.
I totally believe in trusting your instincts… TOTALLY, but I’m not sure why you are so concerned. You mention “Thus homeowner has only responded to the RV concern.” So they responded to what I would imagine was your main concern.
Not every HO wants to video chat, it sounds like you are expecting everyone to WANT to video, that doesn’t happen! Some HO’s are just not used to video’ing, you must know plenty of people yourself who don’t do video chatting.
We only video with maybe 50-60% of the ones that go ahead and that’s only the HO’s that have asked us, it’s more for their peace of mind than ours as we would have already known we wanted to do the sit by their profile alone. But I can understand you needing clarification for the RV, but you’ve had clarification about that. So I think you may be worrying for no reason. Think about how many people you know in normal life that don’t video chat and maybe that will help you to relax.
We are both HO’s and sitters, and we mever video call with our prospective sitters, and only if we are requested to by a HO. We hate it!
I dont understand what you mean when you say the HO seems only interested in a sitter? That is what they are looking for, and if your profile and reviews look good to them they may not feel the need to ‘interview’ you, and you can always message them with any questions you have for information not provided in their listing
@Gardengirl045 The fact that you have posted this question means you know something is off. Listen to your gut instinct and follow it. We would absolutely never confirm a sit in this situation.
@Gardengirl045 This is the part that would have my guard up. I’ve seen comments here for and against video calling, but I don’t see that as the issue. Differences concerning video calls can be explained and respected, or move on. Whether or not the owner agrees with the idea is not my concern; it’s that your request is being ignored. That’s being disrespectful to you, in my opinion.
Make sure that you fully understand when a sit is being offered to you. I’m not sure where you’re at when you say they’ve “accepted” your application. Check these steps to make sure it has actually been offered to you. Then listen to your gut instinct.
I hear what you’re saying. They only responded to my RV question and ignored everything else. I always mention the RV because if they don’t have the space or it’s not allowed whete they live there isn’t any point in pursuing the sit.
Just to update. I asked two times in messages offering to set up a video call which went completely ignored along with other items I aked about. I have declined the sit
For the people who don’t do video calls do you do a phone call? Or just leave those conversations until you arrive? Our very first sit we never met or spoke to the homeowners at all. They confirmed us as sitters immediately on applying then left us the keys under the door mat. We were gone before they got home.
It was honestly a great sit! And I never had misgivings. We’ve just booked a sit where equally the homeowner doesn’t seem keen to talk and confirmed our sit without further enquiry. But the pet, house and location look lovely and the listing is well written so we’ve gone for it. My preference would be for a phone call or video call though (no real preference for one of those over the other)
I got along well enough with almost all of them, and some I consider friends. But in couchsurfing etc I spend much more time with guests or hosts: socializing, sightseeing, breakfast, dinner, going out. For several days. And I never do a video chat with any of them.
Yes I have accepted sits based on a call. This owner though ignored all my online questions and ignored my request for a vid. If they had suggested a phone call instead that would have been fine.
From what you’re saying then I’d probably decline the sit - it sounds like a case of having bad vibes. Always listen to those! Neither of the sits I’ve accepted without a chat have given me bad feelings but if they had I wouldn’t have done them.
