We’re excited to share an update to the sitter experience with the rollout of a new feature that enables providers to set their traveling service area based on the actual distance or travel time it takes to get to the destination.
Our new Traveling Service Area Controller represents a meaningful improvement and the response from sitters has been overwhelmingly positive with providers sharing their appreciation for the added flexibility this update brings to how they manage their businesses.
What’s changed
For services that require sitters to travel, including house sitting, dog walking, and drop-in visits, sitters now have significantly more control over where they offer care:
- Custom service areas: Sitters can define the specific areas they’re willing to travel to using real-world ground distance or travel time, rather than an “as-the-crow-flies” radius.
- Service-specific coverage: Each traveling-based service can now have its own service area, replacing the previous shared preference across services.
- Flexible shapes and centers: Sitters can create different shapes, sizes, and center points for each service—making it possible to offer one service close to home and another near a work location or frequently visited area.
- Transportation-aware setup: Preferences can be tailored based on how sitters actually get around, helping ensure requests better align with real availability.
Why this matters
This update gives sitters greater control and precision in how they manage their businesses, allowing them to say yes to the requests that fit their lives and no to those that don’t. At the same time, the marketplace benefits from more accurate matching between pet parents and sitters, driving stronger matches and bookings through better-aligned requests.
We’re excited to keep building tools that empower sitters, improve matching, and make the Rover experience more seamless for everyone!
