Cameras, Scheduled Staff, Expectations and other Notes
In the Forum there are posts about sitters arriving to discover unexpected situations.
Often the comments are “Isn’t this against THS rules?”
Often the responses are "You should have contacted THS Customer Service!"
Many of these stories end with “The HO didn’t think it was important” or "I was too shy to say anything, but now don’t know what to say in my review!"
In the Welcome Guide a list of all the THS rules with a clear explanation & check boxes could solve this.
Some examples:
(1) List all cameras at your home. Note: door bell cameras, outdoor cameras are permitted, but still must be noted in your Post & discussed with potential Sitters. No indoor cameras can be active: please list where those cameras are placed and confirm you’ve turned them off for the Sitter’s stay.
(2) List all personnel who may come to your home during a sit This includes cleaners, gardeners, pool/spa maintenance, repairmen, installation staff, etc. Be clear about whether any have access to the home Potential sitters need to determine if they are comfortable with those arrangements before agreeing to a sit.
(3) Have you informed family, friends, neighbors that you will have a sitter? Anyone who might serve as a local contact should be listed and anyone who has key access to the home should be told they cannot enter the home without the Sitters agreement during the sit.
Having done many sits in many countries, I can state that 25% of our sits involved rule bending that wasn’t disclosed in the Posting or in interviews. Now, we love having someone come to clean a home, do the gardens, etc. And usually don’t mind having to be on-hand while a repair or installation is done (having been a home owner, I know that when tradespeople give you an appointment, you don’t want to decline it!)
BUT we are a couple. If I were a single woman? It would make me very uncomfortable to know that half a dozen people I don’t know had access to a home where I’m staying.
It’s NOT just about privacy: it’s also about safety. And consideration.
That last one?
(1) HO told us to spend several days in a home while multiple trades came to make estimates. We were told this by EM the day before they’d scheduled people to come!
(2) HO neglect to tell us there was a serious issue with plumbing that meant NO water for 48 hours while repair people came in/out
(3) Had familly come to stay at a home we were sitting with just a casual “By the way…”
There are MANY sitters who will not mind having people come to a home they’re sitting for regular maintenance or a scheduled repair, installation - as long as they know in advance of agreeing and the expectations are clear.
THS is a great win-win-win for HO, Pets, Sitters when everyone acts with consideration.