As you can see in the screenshot, the homeowner is completely upfront about needing a free sitter for her cat so that she can travel to do paid pet-sitting jobs herself.
While I appreciate her total honesty, using a reciprocal, unpaid exchange platform to enable a paid pet-sitting business feels a bit unusual and raises some questions about the spirit of the platform.
What are your thoughts? Is this just clever multitasking and fair game, or does it cross the line of what THS is meant for?
It’s certainly unusual, but as you say, the host is being upfront about it and has made it clear right at the start of the listing.
I don’t think it really breaks any rules, as it’s no different to anyone else having THS sitters while they’re working away. Lots of sits are for people whose work takes them away from home.
If the home is in a good location, they’ll get applications, and if it isn’t, they won’t. I guess it’s just down to sitters to decide whether they’re happy with the arrangement.
She’s got a house in the sun, so it will probably work for her.
The rational side of me thinks she’s just doing a job and that’s why she needs a sitter, it shouldn’t be viewed any differently.
But the non rational side of me would take a step back… but then she’s being totally transparent so I kind of like that, and given her total transparency, I’d probably end up warming to her, whereby I wouldn’t mind her taking an income.
While THS and similar sites are centered on free exchange, lots of people do paid pet sitting, usually locally. I don’t see using a sitter for this purpose any different than for any other paid work that takes the host away from home. Whoever sits for her is getting something out of the exchange that they get for all THS sits–free accommodation. And in this case, somewhere that most consider a highly desirable location.
It raises a relevant issue. Pets are a lot of responsibility, I take it seriously. I’ve been told by friends several times I need to get paid. I do a lot of work around the house to keep it clean and PO’s sometimes leave a list of jobs to do. They see me getting free accommodation so take it the extra mile. A daily rate shows a level of respect I think sitters would appreciate.
Is there any way to ask up front for a daily rate thru THS?
If she hadn’t mentioned being retired and just said sometimes she works away from home we would be none the wiser.
I just finished reading about a sit in Sri Lanka that seems to have a revolving door if sitters often one starting on the day the last left. There are things in that listing I find questionable but hey a couple of months in Sri Lanka? They clearly get plenty of takers. There is leverage in a good location.
I think it’s not just honest on her part but quite smart: she needs income, she knows she’s good with pets, she knows how to take care of them and market her services to the right people, so she gets paid. Her primary goal might not be to go on holiday and get free accommodation, unlike THS members. She’s offering paid pet care, so as long as she’s not asking you to pay for utilities (which she could, as long as it’s stated in the listing, but THAT would be borderline cheeky), and vacates the home according to her dates, even if her paid sit ends earlier, then I see no problem at all. Wether she goes to an all inclusive resort to tan for a week in the Caribbean, or goes to pet sit for a fee around the corner, it changes nothing to the exchange.
If you’re seriously thinking about that sit then please message me and I’ll give you the full low down! We did it when the host was on MMH and it doesn’t come without side issues let’s say, albeit in an incredible location. #insideinfo
I don’t see why it would matter what the host is doing while they are away. It doesn’t change the THS exchange. I’ve done many sits for people who were traveling for work. In this case, the host’s work just happens to be providing pet care for someone else.
