I’ve only done eight sits, so I’m relatively new to this. But your comment about cancelling if you’re not sent a Welcome Guide confuses me a bit. Surely you can only ask for the Welcome Guide once you’ve accepted a sit and it’s been confirmed? So cancelling at that stage would be a no-no. Or not?
That is why one would want to change that.
For my next sit (starting now on Sunday), the HO had sent me a Word document before the video chat. That is of course much better.
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Referring to in general as topic has moved on to receiving the welcome guide. We have never had anything come up in a WG that was not already in the listing or discussed prior to acceptance so I am genuinely curious as to what the ‘extras’ are. I think it is an entirely different matter springing surprises due to dishonesty to lure in an unsuspecting sitter but then they wouldn’t even give a WG as in the situation for the OP. Are sitters being asked to do tasks over and above taking care of pets and the other things I mentioned? If so what sort of things are cropping up?
Yes it seems so @Shannon - dealing with workmen, visitors, collecting mail that is a drive away, having an extra pet sprung on them, possibly an overnight guest occasionally. Not all the time but yes, on the forum there are plenty of these type of stories. Additionally, pets that are much more demanding or sick than initially suggested on arrival at the sit. #notcool
Thank you @Cuttlefish
In my mind I guess it comes down to terminology, I don’t see these as a responsibility of a sit more an imposition by an entitled/inconsiderate HO. We have been very fortunate then not to have met them (yet).
Also to a degree the age/experience of the sitter possibly comes into play here as I suspect the ‘older/bolder’ (to coin a phrase) would not accept those ‘extras’ and possibly a HO would know not to ask. Although, some asks presented the correct way would be fine with us if they were not unduly disruptive. We are more than happy to accept deliveries if we are around and generally these days HOs have a safe place if we are not and they can be rescued from there.
We always ask about medications and waking times, toilet needs etc. before we accept a sit and would as the OP did, beat a retreat if this was not fully disclosed or properly represented. I would think HOs would be running a huge risk of sitters leaving if falsely representing their sit.
So far we have never been unduly put apon and I hope that continues to be the case as otherwise we would stop doing what for us is a very pleasant experience giving us something useful to do in our early retirement.
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I’ve just received a WH that describes carrying their small dog up and down their steep townhouse stairs and onto and off of sofas, it’s a Daschund. Now this is all fine for me as I immediately spent a day researching the breed, and also watching YouTube videos about the correct way to lift and carry to protect their sensitive long backs, and I now feel much better informed.
It’s a miniature long haired Doxie so not heavy, and they’d mentioned helping her with the stairs in our chat but I don’t think I’d fully registered ‘helping’…. there’s also stair gates to stop her attempting it alone and falling. Every breed has its own care requirements of course.
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Ditto all that. We had one tricky “you’re the caretakers and will manage all the estate workmen” type scenario in Asia so we said we’d quit and magically it was solved. Who knows how common these things are as the forum is only a 10% representation of the membership and naturally attracts bad scenarios seeking advice rather than vice versa. Fingers crossed it stays like that for you @Shannon 
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As sitters, we always discuss the Welcome Guide during the video chat. This helps new homeowners understand its importance.
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Hmmm. Must admit I’ve not read until the very end so not really able to comment on any ‘dispute’. I agree that the HO should have been much clearer about the dog’s needs so you are better informed to decide to accept or not. However, I’m not so supportive of expecting to use someone’s home as a full time place of work. For my wife and I the ‘deal’ is accommodation in return for looking after pets and home - and the pets take priority for us. By all means squeeze in the odd hour or two in between walks etc but I feel a sitter should be arranging their time AROUND the pets, not the other way around ( and hence the importance of finding out all the responsibilities first). We’ve not said no to the occasional workman, gardener etc coming in, or even a family member or neighbour dropping by, though we did once say no to a friend o& the HO staying for a few days. But hope it all got sorted in the end . . .
@Liffy99 whilst full-time remote working when house sitting isn’t something that you would choose to do, it is a lifestyle that THS actively promotes to sitters . So full time working whilst on a sit is definitely is acceptable on this platform .
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@KenandMary1998 how would you avoid a bad review yourself if you withdraw from a sit before it starts?
You can’t review someone who doesn’t start (or withdraws before start date) of a sit @CuriousCat so there won’t be one, good or bad.
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I have a dog of my own and don’t even do as you described, where my life revolves around my dog. Why not: Because normal people work, have lives, etc., and don’t live like this:
And many, many hosts actually prefer telecommuters, because they’re in the home with pets more than most sitters. At home, for instance, our dog gets walked more and much more attention than if we worked outside the home. For effective telecommuting, it’s important to take breaks. And many of us have the flexibility to take breaks when we want or need to.
And our dog isn’t so freakish that he needs attention nonstop. Like many pets, he spends a lot of time sleeping, because they actually need that.
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I’ve got about 20 more years before I can retire, but right now I work 4 hours a day, with big breaks in between, which has been attractive for HO’s and nice for me and the animals. Almost every HO has been respectful of my work schedule. Because of this, I haven’t felt like I’ve had to prioritize other peoples pets over my career. In rare situations, like a cat needing a trip to the vet, I’ve rescheduled my clients. When the fit is right, there’s an ease to it all. I’ve found this to be true even with several animals.
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Definitely send the WG as soon as the sit is confirmed otherwise the sitter is left exposed to random changes by the owner
The HO can still edit the THS Welcome Guide, also after they gave the sitter access to it.
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Yup, if they send it via THS. I suggest taking screen shots, so if they change the guide, you have the original. I’d estimate that I get the info about 50% of the time in other ways — PDF, Word doc (can edit), Google doc (can edit). Once via video.
Screen shots also help if you need access to the WG, but the THS might be hung up technically.
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Of course I do not know this dog’s health or medical needs but limiting water intake without a vet’s recommendation or oversight is potentially dangerous. It is not a safe solution to this problem.
@hayhay123
What an awful experience. How dare the HO use you to have work done in their home while they were away.
Can I ask as I’m quite new, how do you access THS policies and forward to HOs?
If you’ve agreed to the sit and then receive the welcome guide which lists responsibilities that r way over the top compared to the general responsibilities in the listing, what are our options?
Hope your next sit was a dream.
Good on you hayhay123
How does one write a blind review? And who can see it?