I guess when I think about this, the sitter would be sitting and sleeping on a place the homeowner uses regularly…the couch, so I guess it makes me wonder , why not offer the bed then. The home owner can have a pillow and sheets specifically for the sitter if that helps.
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So they want to entrust the irreplaceable, their pets, with people they won’t allow to comfortably sleep on their one bed, which is replaceable. It seems like their priorities, as well as their hospitality and understanding of equitable exchange, are misaligned.
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I’ve not seen any offer of only a couch (and from what you say it sounds like it’s a normal couch not a fold-out?). To me that would instantly consign the listing to the bin. It says that the owner doesn’t value and respect the potential sitter and doesn’t bode well for the rest of the sit. You might as well tell me I can’t use your plates or cutlery. I’m either a guest in your house or I’m not. Can’t use the only bed is definitely teh latter.
They’re welcome to sign up and put up a listing and rely on the THS guarantee is they get no applicants but I suspect they will get some if in a desirable area but they will be people less likely to treat the home and pets with respect your firend may be expecting.
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Have you passed on all the feedback to your friend @Penni? Be good to know if this changes her mind or gives her another perspective on THS. #questionsquestions
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There are some very comfy couches out there. My concern would be more that rooms that couches are usually in, living rooms not bedrooms, are often not conducive for sleeping. They likely won’t have blackout blinds, you may have background noise from electronic or kitchen appliances, clocks, the front door and beyond and, my personal nightmare, residual light from plugs and electronics. I’m not saying I’d never choose to take that kind of sit (I definitely slept on a couch in Amsterdam which came with all those problems) but geez I’d really have to want that sit and it probably would still leave me feeling meh at best about the owners unless there was very novel rationale for why the bed was off limits.
To answer this question: I saw a listing yesterday that I might have applied for. When flicking through the photos it was clear that it was a pull-out couch for sleeping on. I looked again today, and there were still no applicants.
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Probably not a good choice … even if the sofa bed is comfortable, I’d have questions like whether the curtains block the light, whether the pet is doing zooomies all night or I can hear them eating/making noise, whether sounds from the fridge are going to be distruptive etc. It’s JUST about the sofabed, it’s about where the sofabed is located.
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Ask your friend how they feel about staying in a hotel or motel. No problems with sleeping on a bed that many others have slept on?
Sure, it’s their bed at home. The concern about others in their bed is manageable.
We have pet sitters and home exchange guests staying at our home.
We have a complete suite of bedding for guests, separate from ours. Mattress protector, sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels, bath mats, hand towels, tea towels.And yes, I have very full storage cupboards. It’s worth it.
This all gets hot-washed when they leave.
This helps a lot.
You can ask your friend if this would help mitigate anxiety about sitters using the bed.
Not offering a proper bed while one bed sits there unused will reduce the number and quality of applicants for a sit.
I agree with the others who say it’s neither hospitable or equitable.
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I’m very fond of a comfy sofa snooze. Sometimes I sleep on my own sofa instead of going to bed. On my last 2 week petsit, I slept on the sofa a couple of times instead of the guest bed. I frequently crash on friend’s sofas.
I still find the idea of being compulsorily relegated to the sofa, instead of the available bed, extremely insulting. I’m good enough to look after your home and pet, but not good enough to be given a bed to sleep in? It’s downright rude.
If your friend has that level of need for privacy, then this probably isn’t for her.
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I personally wouldn’t apply as it would make me feel a bit unwelcome, and give me concerns around what else they may not like me using. Understandably at first it may seem a bit strange to have someone sleep in your bed, but I think it’s important that the sitter is made to feel they can make themselves at home, and this really doesn’t give that impression.
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Hard no on a couch for me too.
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I’m not adverse to a couch so long as the HO has slept on it multiple nights in a row as a test-drive, and then made any needed modifications to ensure it’s comfortable enough to ensure a sound night’s sleep (i.e. foam topper, good linens and pillows, room is dark and cool enough).
Matter of fact at my current sit I’m sleeping on the fold out couch in the home office area and it’s more than adequate. The HO did kindly offer, without prompting, the king sized bed.
At my last sit, I tried out the main bed and then selected the super comfy couch because the view out the window at night was delightful.
So, no, a couch wouldn’t be a deal breaker, but it needs to be specified in the listing and photographed with the setup I can expect (linens, pillows, etc.), along with the owner making it as comfortable as possible.
Another voice chiming in : I would certainly consider a couch as I am very, very low maintenance. My greater concerns are the animals’ needs, the location and cleanliness…If those meet my abilities/needs/skills, I am perfectly happy much rolling out my sleeping bag on the floor !
I don’t understand how this translates to a “lack of hospitality”. The home is clearly small and the HO has a particular preference. Hospitality comprises a far greater set of conditions, attitudes, etc. The clearly defined situation is one which any sitter can accept or refuse. I personally would turn down any sit which involved sleeping in the owners’ (or owners’ kids’ or any other regualr residents’) bed. I’d be happier sleeping on a couch or in my sleeping bag on the floor (…only if clean, of course).
@toreishi i guess we all have different standards. Even the pets have dog beds - I would never sleep on a floor.
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Ditto.
I would never sleep on the floor at a house sit. Sitters are doing invaluable work and HO’s can step it up to provide good sleeping conditions.
We personally have a sofa bed with a foam mattress topper for our sitters. We can be provided the same when we sit.
The floor? Hard pass.
A couch? Pass.
I’d say a HUGE part of the answer comes down to this: how long is the sit?
I’ve done sits that were on a Murphy Bed and a fold out couch.
Both were high-end versions however I’d say a week was about as long as that was comfortable for. ALSO where is the sitter supposed to put their clothes?
I’m guessing if the HO doesn’t want them in their bedroom to sleep, closet space might also be an issue.
The REALLY important thing is that your friend states the sleeping arrangements, other factors (space for clothes, needs of pets - if any) clearly & honestly.
If that is done, and the sit is in a highly desirable location?
They’ll be a lot of applicants.
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