I was just wondering if there is some sort of check on the owners as well, my family has expressed some concerns about me meeting with pet owners and not knowing much about them.
Background checks are only required for sitters and not the owners, but many sitters wish they did.
When I started Rover, I always brought a male companion with me, and I would inform the potential client that I will be bringing a person with me. No one has ever had a problem with that. I didn't feel safe meeting a person in their home while I didn't even know their last name or what they looked like. It's a weird situation. Now, they usually come to my house for a meet and greet, and I feel way safer.
Building off of what Lenna said, I'd recommend telling someone, such as a partner or family member in confidence where you're going to the Meet and Greet. I always write down the address in my planner back home. It's also good to ask questions on the platform before meeting, sometimes the responses from the client can tip you off if something's amiss (examples include they aren't giving much information about their pets/being vague about services). There's been a few posts about scam requests, good idea to watch out for oddly phrased sentences and lots of spelling errors. Best of luck and trust your gut!