If you are concerned, open up a dialog with the sitter, and then if you're still unsure, reach out to rover. Consider investing in an inexpensive security camera for your front door or the like. They have dropped in price and you can keep aware of movement of people coming and going in your home.

24 hours with no reply, I archive. It doesn't keep the individual from reaching back out to me, but it also doesn't close off that spot on my calendar that someone else might take. If I have an active request come through, clearly, I take the active request and if the person that I archived comes back, it's a polite "I'm sorry, that spot is no longer available" if there's no available spot.

Do you have a local dog park? Neutral territory is really what you're looking for and you can't get more neutral than a local dog park. Dog park dogs tend to be far more socialized. Everyone at the dog park is relaxed and they get to have fun and you can talk and walk with the owner. No dog park? Meet at a local park! The owners are sometimes not so much wanting to see where you live, but how you respond to their dog, and if you have a dog, how your dog responds to their dog. This gives you the opportunity to also ask questions and they can ask questions of you.

I've had a good handful of owners reach out without pictures on their account and made months back. Even a few last second, passing through town and need someone to watch over their pet for a few hours while they have dinner, get their Peterbilt inspected, etc etc. My suggestion is to treat it like a normal owner making in inquiry, do a meet and greet. Communicate through rover only and of course, book through rover only.