I have been getting many requests from people who just want to have a sitter they can turn to in the future - - I mean many months from now. The Meet & Greet goes really well and they say they definitely will book with me when they need my services but are "just looking" at this time.
Connie -- I have had this situation pop up a few times. Luckily, every single person that has done this has returned, either for last minute stays, single over nights or long term stays. The way I see it is this:
If you're still enjoying peak business volume, you may want to consider asking about planned needs when the pet-parent asks for the meet & greet. I've done this before when I really needed to focus on taking care of the paws I had already committed to, without adding meet & greets to my busy schedule.
If during the meet & greet, there is a good match between you and these pet-parents dog, you may suggest a day care visit (or a few day care visits spread out over time) before their planned trip, so the dog can get more settled in and see that his/her parents come back. This also helps the parents adapt, knowing the level of service the sitter provides, and of course the sitter gets to know the dog better before the long stay too. In my opinion, it's ideal if you have that opportunity to ensure the right match.
I have gotten several of these. I am happy that they are planning ahead for their future needs. I just archive their request under "owner changed mind" or now I see that there is an "other option".
I also get clients that want a last-minute stay with no M&G. No M&G = no stay.