I am paranoid about meeting a stranger. This one man wants to meet in his home, but I obviously am tentative. I know for a fact that this isn't safe, just because I don't know the client. I think I've seen to many movies. What do I do? This is my first meeting through Rover.
It's normal given the circumstances. Hopefully, you'll find that most pet owners who invite you into their homes are just looking for the right person and show you where everything is that you'll need.
I'd suggest: Let the dog owner know ahead of time that you'd like to bring a friend with you. If there's any chance that person will care for the dog with you, it's easy to explain the introduction. Otherwise, you could nicely state you had plans with this friend for that day, so you'd like them to accompany you. If for some reason, this is met with resistance, I'd suggest your friend could wait in the car or nearby outside. And always start a M&G outside with a short walk. You can then end it early outside if your instincts tell you something is not right.
I would like to Add my vote to this answer
Not in the least. In fact, it shows very good judgment on your part. Go with your gut. If something seems off, then definitely take precautions just as you are. Also, I assume the client is either requesting dog walking or drop-in visits/housesitting from you. Otherwise, there is no reason to meet at his home. You also might want to check with Rover to see if he has booked any other sitters and is a bona fide customer.
P.S. I took a look at your profile. You might want to remove one of the photos (i.e., the one with the cleavage). While at the client's home, you and your friend should take a careful look around, seeing if there is anything kind of unusual and, at a practical level, you could always check online about the presence of convicted sex offenders.