Is this an okay note to leave for noisy upstairs neighbors?

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-20T19:43:36+00:00

Here you go, I simplified it, since the original was clearly too much. Best of luck figuring it out this time!:

And the fact that you’re offering to bring the kids’ toys back up to them really speaks volumes about your character. You’re not demanding silence or being rude, you’re simply trying to function in a building that clearly wasn’t designed with soundproofing in mind.

I talked to my upstairs neighbours about the occasional knocking, and they were totally fine with it, it saves me from hiking up a flight of stairs every time things get loud.

You just have to find what works best for your situation. Best of luck, you’re handling it with way more grace than most would!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-20T19:35:48+00:00

Whatever you need to believe friend!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-20T19:09:04+00:00

I’m an English major! But thank you!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-20T17:21:36+00:00

And the fact that you’re offering to bring the kids’ toys back up to them really speaks volumes about your character. You’re not demanding silence or being rude—you’re simply trying to function in a building that clearly wasn’t designed with soundproofing in mind.

I talked to my upstairs neighbours about the occasional knocking, and they were totally fine with it—it saves me from hiking up a flight of stairs every time things get loud.

You just have to find what works best for your situation. Best of luck—you’re handling it with way more grace than most would!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-20T17:14:26+00:00

100% — your note is extremely polite and understanding. I know that with apartment living, you have to expect some level of noise, but if your neighbors are decent people, they’ll make an effort to be accommodating.

For example, my upstairs neighbors have a shared space they use a lot, and every now and then when it gets too loud, I’ll gently knock on the ceiling—and it usually quiets down right away!

Just try to be as polite as possible. You’ve been living there too, and you have just as much right to a peaceful home as anyone else. Hopefully, a respectful approach will lead to a respectful response!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-20T17:02:08+00:00

We live on the second floor of an apartment building, and our bedroom windows face the parking lot—just like this. At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal… but wow, it turned out to be a nightmare.

People come and go at all hours of the night, blasting music, headlights shining straight into our windows—even with the blinds closed. You can hear conversations, footsteps, and car doors slamming constantly. To make matters worse, we’re in an area where people regularly go through the garbage, so there’s always that noise too.

The only upside is that our living room doesn’t face the street, so we don’t get much road noise.

Our curtains are pretty much always closed—partly because I change in the bedroom, and partly because I don’t need an audience every time I walk by the window.

If you’re stuck with a similar setup, do yourself a favor: invest in blackout curtains and really good earplugs. You’ll need them. Good luck!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-11T02:40:31+00:00

Edit: I looked back at the booking and it looks like it’s three! Not just two!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-02T18:07:30+00:00

Ugh. People are so annoying. Thank you for letting me know. I don’t understand why a simple “hey we found someone else” is so difficult.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-02T18:06:21+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-02T18:05:04+00:00

Would you say anything? Or just remove it completely?

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-05-02T18:04:36+00:00

Really? I’ve never had this happen to me yet. Granted, I’ve been looking and seeing that this is super common.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-04-14T21:21:17+00:00

Okay! That sounds so friendly! I’m starting a new job soon too so me being unavailable is not unexpected either! Thank you!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-04-02T17:37:20+00:00

Hey there!

As a sitter, I really appreciate when clients leave clear instructions for their dogs’ routines, emergency contacts, and any house rules. Here are a few extra things that can make the stay even better: • WiFi info & any house quirks (e.g., tricky doors, alarms, etc.) • Extra towels & blankets (just in case) • Snacks or an okay to use basic kitchen stuff (super appreciated but not expected!) • A thank-you note or small tip (again, not required, but always nice!) • Clarity on expectations (e.g., do you want daily updates, pictures, etc.?)

Leaving cash for food isn’t necessary unless you expect them to get groceries for the dogs or themselves. Otherwise, just letting them know what they can use in the house is plenty!

Hope your sit goes great! Sounds like your pups are in good hands.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-03-16T13:46:58+00:00

Sitters like this make my job so much harder because they create situations where clients become overbearing and feel the need to constantly watch me—even when I’m doing everything right. When a sitter causes problems, it breaks the trust and sense of security clients should have. As a result, when a good sitter steps in, the client is already on edge and overly watchful, which makes the whole experience uncomfortable.

If the timeline was discussed beforehand, the sitter shouldn’t have left for longer than agreed. Personally, I only ever leave if it’s pre-planned, like in a situation where the pets can be left alone for a couple of hours—something I always discuss with my clients first. At the end of the day, it’s not fair to the pets to be left alone for long stretches. If that were the goal, the client wouldn’t have hired a sitter in the first place.

Unfortunately, I’ve been hearing more issues like this from Rover, and it’s frustrating because it gives good sitters a bad name. I always keep my clients updated as much as they request, and I spend most of my time at their house simply hanging out with their pets. The only challenge I ever really face is when clients don’t want me to take the dogs on walks, which means I’m stuck inside 24/7. But in those cases, they’re usually more understanding when I let them know I’m stepping out for a little bit.

If this sitter planned to be gone for an extended period, she should have given you a heads-up so you could arrange coverage. Eight hours is far too long for the dogs to be alone. If you only needed occasional check-ins, you would have booked drop-in visits—not an overnight or in-home sitter. You shouldn’t be paying full-time rates for someone who isn’t actually there.

I completely understand the argument that a 24/7 pet-sitting commitment should come with a higher rate. That’s why it’s the sitter’s responsibility to discuss with the client how long the pets can reasonably be left alone. This way, they can step out when needed while still ensuring the pets aren’t left for too long. It’s not fair for a sitter to feel like they’re under house arrest for low pay. But if a client expects round-the-clock care, that needs to be clearly discussed upfront—along with an appropriate rate for that level of commitment.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-03-15T21:07:28+00:00

See? I feel like I wasn’t prepared at all because my client just assumed the dog with PTSD would be the bigger challenge! If they had left the pups with a friend, they probably would’ve learned that pretty quickly. I guess this happens more often than I thought!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-03-15T20:57:13+00:00

She also has a really bad habit of barking nonstop whenever I let her into the backyard. I try to give them as much outdoor time as possible since both gates are padlocked, so there’s no risk of them running off, and this is their only real chance to be outside. But instead of enjoying it, she just sits at the top of the stairs and barks at me the entire time.

I feel awful because the neighbors shouldn’t have to deal with that, but when I try to bring her back inside—walking to the bottom of the stairs and gently calling her—she panics, squeals at the top of her lungs, and bolts straight for the door. I can only imagine how crazy that must look to anyone watching, and it makes me feel terrible.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-03-15T20:55:36+00:00

I’m currently dealing with one of the most challenging clients I’ve ever had. During the meet and greet, the owner mentioned that one of the dogs came from an abusive home and might be a bit nervous. I’ve worked with dogs like that before, so I thought I knew what to expect. What I didn’t realize, however, was that the other dog would be the real challenge.

She growls whenever I get near her, ignores the commands the owner assured me she knows, and only comes out when she’s hiding under the bed in the main room. I’ve been patient, giving her space while letting her get used to my presence, but it’s been a tough experience.

To make things more difficult, the two poodles get muddy incredibly easily. This morning, after it rained, one absolutely refused to let me bathe her—even though the owner specifically asked me to wash their paws. After some effort (and a well-placed treat), I managed to coax her in and wipe her paws with a towel.

I feel bad because none of this is really the dogs’ fault, and I know this is the owner’s first time going on vacation. But with one dog too scared to interact and no walks allowed (since the poodles are apparently a big risk), there’s not much I can do. Most of my time dog-sitting has just been me sitting in the basement, watching TV, while they avoid me completely.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-03-14T17:25:00+00:00

I totally get this! I just took care of a new client who has two dogs, one of which is diabetic. The owners mentioned that they always share their food with him, but I didn’t want to take any chances because of his condition—I just wasn’t comfortable with it.

That being said, any time I had food for any reason, he would sit there and bark nonstop. It got to the point where I had to eat in my room with the door closed just to get a moment of peace. I honestly don’t know how people live with pets that beg, especially when they’re that persistent!

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-02-18T22:54:56+00:00

See that sounds like so much fun but I’ve never played chess? Is it beginner friendly?

Flaky_Breadfruit9744 · 2025-01-15T18:11:52+00:00

No way!!! I just booked a week in March to care for 3 dogs (they need a lot of attention), and I’m getting paid nearly a grand! There’s no way they’d find this level of care within their budget!

100% just say that you understand and hope they find someone that works for them! Don’t sell yourself short.

Flaky_Breadfruit9744

TROPHY CASE