From your description of other interactions, it sounds like you made the correct choice. Disappointing for you as it was your first sit, I’m sure — but better that, than a poor experience which might put you off sitting again.
One thing I’ve been learning on THS, though…there is always another sit opportunity around the corner. My NY resolution is actually to work on dampening my FOMO with regards to sits, so I don’t over-commit myself!
Good luck; I hope you’ll keep us posted here on your adventures…!
With regards to the cancellation wording, I’d probably just message and say that after reviewing the welcome guide you don’t feel it will be a good fit after all. Otherwise they may start trying to offer half-hearted “solutions” to the specific issues you raise, and you’ll get railroaded into keeping the sit…and I’m seeing the same red flags you are.
I just finished a sit where unfortunately the under floor heating in the living room and kitchen randomly stopped working. The temperature inside was getting down to 13 degrees Celsius. When contacting the owners, they did everything they could from their end to see what might have been wrong through their app, and when they couldn’t figure it out, they arranged for a neighbour to take a look, who also left me several plug in heaters so I could stay warm. If they hadn’t have taken my comfort and health into consideration, I’d have had to leave, and I am so grateful for their efforts. I find it unreasonable that a homeowner would state a max temperature limit during the winter time
I’ve offered it a couple times; in both cases the host immediately responded that I should set the heat to my comfort level, that I was doing them a favor & they wanted me to be comfortable during my stay. It tells me a lot about how the sit will likely go…and $20-$50 (depending on the sit length) doesn’t seem like too much of an investment for everybody’s physical, financial & emotional comfort.
Especially given what they’re saving in pet sitting fees while on what is probably an enjoyable comfortable vacation where they will be setting the room temperature to whatever they want.
Thank you everyone for your responses. It did help me feel better with my decision making, but again, was nervous just to the newness of all of this. I did establish that should would allow me to use a space heater, which is what I most cared for is when I was showering and more vulnerable to the cold conditions.
When I asked her for a trusted contact for any pet emergencies, and she stated she did not have anyone that would be to help under such circumstances, but that she did not “forsee any issues” while unreachable for 4 days, I provided a reply explaining that I was uncomfortable with moving forward and apologized for not being a good fit for her. She called and we briefly spoke, but again she was not honoring my concerns so I had to stay my ground despite it putting her in a bind 48 hours before departure. She did not disclose the thermostat information or that she would be unavailable during her stay until after I had accepted it and that was about 24 hours prior, so I did my best to be timely with my decision making. Again, thank you all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I personally keep my settings (winter, I don’t use summer A/C) @ 64 or lower as well, for energy conservation. I feel that one can easily don a sweater if needed and our earth will thank us for our consideration. If a HS isn’t comfortable with adjusting for temps with clothing, I assume they could either ask up front, don’t accept those sits, or learn to love it. Happy New Year to you as well, and enjoy your sits.
I would keep it at 68 degrees and layer some Smartwool. Winter sits are tricky in northerly climates with short days and inclement weather. Every stay has some unknown variable of some sort.
During a video chat for a pre-Christmas sit in the UK, the HO divulged that they have the heating set to come on for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! We didn’t do the sit.
That’s exactly what I do and the answer @tduffydvm got is totally unacceptable. Emergencies can’t be anticipated, saying that you don’t anticipate any issues is ridiculous and irresponsible.
Good on you, @tduffydvm for canceling. I wish you a great first sit.
The owner for this sit should not request you to keep the temp at any upper level unless there is some issue with the house physically that requires it to be at the 68 level. It sounds like it is a cost issue for them. They are saving money by not having to pay a sitter and should not put restrictions on your comfort level. I’ve never had an owner say I couldn’t put it at the level I want, just not to go below a certain level.
I don’t agree with this and here’s why. The word “should” does nothing more than pass one’s moral judgement on another. The host can ask or demand whatever they please even if it’s stating that a sitter must walk around their home on their hands. It’s not up to you, me or anyone else to tell them what they should and should not do.
In any transaction, each party has their own requirements and dealbreakers. In this case, it’s up to a sitter as to whether or not what they consider to be unreasonable requests by the host can be challenged, if there’s any flexibility, and if not to either accept those terms and do the sit, or walk away. A hypothetical example from a sitter’s perspective based on recent events could be a sitter saying “a host should pay the sitter’s fee because the hosts get a great deal”, and again, that’s a moral judgment where one attempts to force their preconceived notions on another, rather than simply acknowledging there is a difference in perspective and expectations and either accept it or walk away.
Any host who attempts to limit temperature settings on sitters is a host that does not value that there is an equal exchange between sitter and host. As a host, I would strongly advise that sitters should avoid hosts who give off such an employer vibe.
Also as a host, I understand the knee jerk desire to reduce utility costs but it does not take much reflection to realize the fallacy behind such financial reasoning. It may be worth pointing out to such hosts, in a message declining/withdrawing a sit application, the cost savings to them of not boarding their pets is much greater than any increase in utility costs. I know I have benefited from applicants who were honest and forthright when withdrawing an application due to a faux pax on my end. Live and learn.
I’m happy to see that you interpreted “should” as a moral judgement as I meant it that way. From a previous response it sounded like you agreed that the temp requirement was not acceptable given the that they could set the temp on their vacation.
This was a first time sitter and I was giving advice that a homeowner can’t just ask for whatever they want. Neither party should take advantage of the other. This is just indicative of how TH has changed over the years.
