How can I be sure that your reviews are real?
My reviews have been written by my hosts within the respective platform. No random person can review me without the actual context of a specific sit.
How can I be sure that you won't go through my personal stuff?
I respect your privacy and your belongings 100%. But in the interest of complete peace of mind I would always suggest that you lock away any valuables, documents, personal items etc.
Will you invite anyone into our home?
Unless discussed and agreed by you in advance - no, never. And I feel perfectly fine meeting people outside of your home.
My friends or family will share my home with you while you are there. This is ok for you isn't it?
After a few negative experiences I actually don't offer sits in shared accomodations anymore. The main reason being that responsabilities for the cat(s) are not clearly attributable. Doors can be opened or closed by someone who is not aware of access and/or safety needs. Meals can be given twice, and accidents can happen. It is impossible to assume full responsability for your cat's well-being when other people are present in your home. Petsitting platforms like trustedhousesitters.com and nomador.com discourage arrangements like that for the same reason. Nomador.com has included this aspect in their standard contract. Apart from that I don't feel comfortable sharing a place with people I don't know. It's a question of fairness. In the same way that you don't want me to bring any strangers into your home I don't want a flat-share situation imposed upon me during a sit.
How much time will you spend indoors and be available for our cat(s)?
A lot, as I would like to continue my work from your home and don't intend to sleep anywhere else. :) I don't see myself as a tourist who is looking for a place to crash after a day of sightseeing. When house or catsitting I like to lead as normal a life as possible with the added benefit of speaking another language, enjoying a new neighbourhood, eating different foods and "feeling" the culture on an everyday life level. That said I also like to visit a museum or go to a concert from time to time. But even then I would not be gone for much longer than say five or six hours. Spending most of my time indoors also means quality playtime with my host's cat(s), sometimes in two sessions per day, depending on the activity level of your cat. And of course I am always available for cuddles, regular feeding and/or medication times.
How often will you send updates during the sit?
I would suggest update intervals adapted to the length of the sit and your cat's state of health. So far, most of my hosts with healthy cats have asked to receive updates twice a week, and that worked very well for both sides. For cats with chronic but stable health conditions I have sent updates every other day. For cats with acute health conditions or end of life situations I would send daily updates. For short sits, I could also send one daily update if desired. For longer sits, I sometimes send daily updates the first days until a routine has set in. Of course you can always reach me and I would always contact you in case of any questions or potential worries. But unless there are any emergencies I don't want to send more than one daily update.
Would it be ok for you if I asked a neighbour/relative/friend to check up on you while you are house or cat-sitting for me?
The basic idea of a housesit is to give you peace of mind. If you feel that you need to check up on your sitter then I am afraid you haven't been able to establish sufficient trust. If a potential host is not 100% convinced after a first meeting or skype chat, I always offer a second meeting. (Yes, finding the right sitter can be a bit time-consuming.) However, if my references, my identity/police checks on housesitting sites, our conversations and my pledge to be in regular contact with you could not inspire the necessary confidence then I may not be the right person for you.
Would you house or catsit in a home with video camera surveillance?
Yes, if video cameras cover the outside of your home or are directed towards the entrance. If you have camera surveillance installed inside your home, please don't ask me to sit for you.
Do we need to provide any food for you?
No, I buy my own food and cook for myself. During shorter sits, some home owners have invited me to share their coffee, tea, oil and condiments, which was very much appreciated but there is never any obligation to do so.
I would like to keep up my cleaning person's regular schedule during your stay. Would you pay for her services while you are at my place?
I understand that you would like your cleaning person to continue her/his regular work schedule. Some of my hosts have had their cleaning person come in during sits and continued to pay for their uninterrupted service. That's perfectly fine with me. When having to choose between paying your cleaning person and cleaning up after myself I would always opt for the latter however. For me, the ethics of house and petsitting don't involve payments on either side (except me paying for my travel arrangements to and from the sit), but constitute an exchange of services. They are rooted in the spirit of the share economy, and in my opinion, being expected to pay for my host's commitments tends to undermine that spirit.
Can I treat you like house personnel?
No. There are a few differences between a house sitter and paid house personnel. A house sitter volunteers while house personnel are employees. While house sitters have an open ear for your needs, they are not obliged to follow instructions like an employee. Ideally, all aspects of house and pet sitting should be discussed in advance to ensure that both sitter and host are happy with the arrangement. To introduce new tasks on-sit or to talk in a top-down manner is not acceptable. Hosts and sitters are on the same level. Everything can be discussed but there is no workplace hierarchy.
How long will you need to stay in my home after I have returned from my trip?
It makes sense to discuss and synchronize our respective departure and arrival times in advance, ideally before making travel arrangements. If you would like to debrief in person before I leave your home that would be absolutely fine with me provided that I can make it to the airport/train station in time to catch my flight/train back. If you would prefer me to leave your home before your return that would of course also be possible, and at certain times this may be the only reasonable way for me to travel back. Either way, I understand that you are looking forward to relaxing in the privacy of your home after your trip and will not drag out conversations or stay any longer than you feel comfortable with.
When do I need to confirm the sit?
Please don't wait too long. A clear and early decision creates peace of mind for both sides. It would also allow me to reserve plane/train tickets at a better price and to apply in time for other sits in case you decide against me. If you confirm via trustedhousesitters.com or nomador.com you can be sure that I will block my time entirely for your sit.
Would it be ok if you slept on a couch in the study room?
Sorry but no. At my age, my back feels a bit beyond the age of couch-surfing. Most hosts have offered me their own bed or a guestroom with a real bed and a good quality mattress.
You have good reviews but I am still not sure if a sit is the best solution for me.
If the thought of a house/catsit causes you more worry than reassurance then I would prefer not to sit for you.