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Uncomfortable Booking - What do I do?

I recently had a client contact me about sitting her two dogs a few miles from me. She was definitely a helicopter mom in messages, so I prepared myself for that before the meet and greet. She confirmed the booking before the meet and greet ever happened, and I have yet to have a bad experience, so I accepted the confirmation.

At the meet and greet, the owner was okay. She was a little overbearing, rambled a lot. She showed me photos of her family/grandchildren, spent 10+ minutes talking about her deceased ex-husband, and had two of her adult children come over to meet me. The entire meet and greet was a little cringeworthy, but nothing that I was uncomfortable with.

However, at the end of the meet and greet, she lets me know that for the first day and night of my house sitting, she was going to be staying home. She would stay out of the way and would just watch to see how I did with the dogs. She also requested that I come over twice more before the stay starts (end of June) to spend some more time with the dogs. She also mentioned that her son (35-40 year old man who just moved out of the house) has a key and will be stopping by a few times during the day to check in on me.

Now I’m uncomfortable, but the request is already booked and I’m not sure how to deal with potentially declining this stay. Am I overreacting? What do I do if I want to deny this request?

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Reject anything that makes you uncomfortable. The meet and greet is for both sitter and owner (and doggo). Everyone needs to be comfortable with it :)

Lauren M.

I agree with Lauren M. Reject anything making you uncomfortable and try not to overthink it. It's far better than berating yourself after an unfortunate experience when you did not heed your own intuition!

Pierrette L.

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Deb A.

Book a Stay
Irvine, CA

It takes both of you to confirm the booking. Consider this a lesson learned that you should always wait until after the meet&greet to confirm. At this point, I'd think that if you cancelled, Rover may take some negative action on your account (definitely discuss that with them before you decide to cancel). For those two visits mentioned, they should be drop in or walk bookings.

Personally, I'd still fulfill the commitment and let her and her son see the care and attention I give the dog. Maybe they had a bad experience in the past that is resulting in their response.

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Erica M.

I agree with Deb, to Always wait to confirm a booking until after the meet and greet. Which I am sure after this experience we don't have to tell you that. =D

I think the best thing to do is tell the client how you really feel. At this point you really have nothing to lose, (you don't really care if the client cancels the booking, you just do not want to be the one who cancels) So why not tell her No you absolutely do not feel comfortable with the son stopping by, you find that inappropriate and that if she does not trust you, she should cancel your reservation and book with another sitter.
As far as her wanting to meet with you two other times, you can also always charge her for those times explaining to her that the meet and greets are free but she would need to pay for your time and charge her as a drop in visit. At this point I don' think you have anything to lose. I would be nice to the owner but I would also stand my ground and make sure I voiced my concern on anything that I did not feel comfortable with. You may have been shy at the meet and greet but now that you are not in front of her you can write down all of your concerns which make it easier to express.
Best of Luck, would love to know how it turns out.

Comments

I agree with Deb as well. I also agree Erica, you should DEFINITELY charge her for stopping by additional times prior. Maybe as drop - ins. I would state what you are most uncomfortable with in a kind and professional manner and take this as a learning opportunity. Best of luck!

Christina C.

Yes charge as a 30min drop in. I do drops for chow chows and sometimes the owner is home for them. It lets her see me interact with the dogs and gives us a chance to over details for our upcoming bookings

Jennifer M.

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Uncomfortable Booking - What do I do?

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