Frequently asked questions

<p>We are currently in the testing phase and everything is free. </p><p>In future:</p><p>Wisp will be free for people looking to find help.  Just sign up and start searching. </p><p>For people looking to list their services you can list one listing for free, i.e. if you only want to list as (for instance) an au pair or only as a tutor you can do so for free.  The next two listings will cost you a total of R50 per month.  Therefor you can list up to three services for a total of R50 per month.  For R100 per month you can list as many services as you want to. </p><p>You can cancel your subscription at any time.</p>

<p>Wisp is a marketplace and its purpose is to match service providers with people looking for help. Wisp is not an agency and does not verify individual users of the service. Instead, we aim to provide you the necessary information to make an informed choice. Users can build up verified and non-verified reviews over time. Wisp members are responsible for verifying and interviewing potential service providers.  Wisp does not get involved in dispute resolution.</p>

<p>Anyone who enjoys working with people or animals and have a skill to share or time to give. </p><p>Do you have free time and enjoy working with children?  List your services as a babysitter or signup to help someone with homework in the afternoons.</p><p>Are you reliable and love animals?  Why not become a pet sitter or house sitter or take the neighbour's dog for a walk?</p><p>Are you acing your university subjects while other people are struggling?  Help them by becoming a service provider on Wisp and earn pocket money while doing so!</p><p>Are you a good soccer player / tennis player / chess player etc. etc?  List your services to teach these skills to the kids in your neighbourhood.  Somewhere there is a child that would love to have someone to kick a ball with - you can help that familiy out and earn some money on the side!</p><p>Are you a retired teacher?  So many kids needs help - why not sign up as a tutor for the subjects that you love?</p><p>Do you have a lot of patience and empathy and enjoy other people’s company?  Why not sign up to be a companion for someone who needs some company and help with daily tasks?</p><p>There is also a category for holiday clinics or activities – if you run a holiday clinic (any time of holiday activity for children) you can list it on Wisp.</p><p>Basically anyone trustworthy, helpful and friendly that has time and skills to give can use Wisp to market their services and add to good vibes in your community.</p>

<p>Simply sign up and follow the prompts to create your listing.  You can create as many listings as you want. </p><p>You will need to know and have the following before you start:</p><p><strong>What you will call your services? </strong> This can be as simple as Sarah’s babysitting services or John’s soccer lessons or even something more generic like Pawsome Pet Grooming Services – the choice is yours!</p><p><strong>The rates that you will charge for your services.</strong>  There are two options here - you can charge per hour and/or create a package of a few repeat services.  For some services it would make sense to have both options and others only a package.  I.e. a package can be 10 music lessons at a specific price or and 1 x overnight stay for pet sitting at an applicable rate per night.  Au pairs for instance would typically charge an hourly rate.</p><p><strong>Know when you will be available to provide these services as there will be a calendar on which you can specify your general availability.</strong></p><p><strong>Have a photo(s) for each listing.</strong>  The photo can be a photo of you or a photo of you giving your service or photos / scans (the CamScanner app is good for this) of your certificates and qualifications (if relevant).  You will have the ability to add a few photos.  You are welcome to add photos of anything else that you think are relevant.</p><p><strong>Other optional information:</strong>  You can add videos, YouTube URLs, social media links and PDFs explaining your service.</p><p> </p>

<p>When you sign up for the first time you have the option to either create a new listing or start browsing.  You can also create more than one listing.  Select create a new listing to get started.  <em>Note:  You have one PROFILE (which includes information about yourself that will be displayed with every listing) and can have as many LISTINGS (i.e. au pair, tutor etc.) as you want.</em></p><p><strong>Step 1:  Add a Service:  Provide basic information</strong></p><p><strong>Give your listing a name</strong>.  You can be as creative or straight forward as you want – the choice is yours!</p><p><strong>Choose the listing category</strong> (i.e. tutor, pet services, sports coaching, cultural lessons, house sitting, au pair, companion or holiday clinics and care) for which you want to provide such services and provide a detailed description of what your services entails.</p><p><strong>Decide whether you want to bill hourly or sell packages.</strong>  You can do both if you want to.  An example would be tutoring services at say R150 per hour or a package of 10 tutoring lessons for say R1,200.  To add a package, click on “add package” and provide the relevant details.  <em>(NOTE:  It is currently still set to $s.  We are busy integrating a payment processor and it will only become Rands in a few months’ time.  For the purpose of testing, you can equate a $ = Rand.  No real payments will happen at this stage.)</em></p><p><strong>You also have the option to add images, a video or a YouTube URL for your listing.</strong>  These are optional and you can continue without adding this information.  You can always add this later.</p><p><strong>You must have at least one image for this listing to proceed to the next step.</strong>  Select a photo and press “crop” to save.</p><p><strong>Press the “go to details” button for the next step.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Step 2:  Next step = Add more details</strong></p><p>Here there are preset custom fields to be completed in relation to the category of service you are offering.  People looking for services will be able to search on these fields.  <em>(Do let us know if you think there are fields that we should add that would be helpful for a particular type of service!)</em></p><p>You can also add your cancellation terms in here, if any.  You can leave this field empty if you want to.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Step 3:  Set your availability</strong></p><p>First set the days and specific time slots on which you want to offer your service.  Click on the plus sign to add your availability once completed.  If there are specific days which you are unavailable you can set those here as well.</p><p>You can now either publish your listing and it will go live, or save it as a draft to continue working on later.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Step 4:  Complete your personal profile</strong></p><p>Your profile will be displayed with each listing.  To update your profile, click the drop-down menu on the top right-hand corner by your name, select “Dashboard” and then select “Settings” on the left-hand side of the screen.  The following information is important:</p><p><strong>Add your name, surname and telephone number</strong> (your telephone number will not be displayed).  <strong>Here you can add your “bio”.</strong>  A bio is a summary of who you are, including personal interests, hobbies, and passions alongside professional details.  The bio can be creative and reflect your personality. </p><p><strong>Select your time zone from the list</strong> – select any time zone that says (SAST) or GMT + 2:00 (<em>Note: this function is not working 100% yet.)</em></p><p><strong>Deselect remote as you will render your services in South Africa.</strong>  <strong>Enter your actual address </strong>(only your general area will be displayed on the website and not your actual address) and select how far you are willing to travel to give your services (this is the radius setting that is used in the search bar).</p><p> </p><p><strong>Step 5:  Add remaining information such as any social media links, your education and your experience (this is part of your PROFILE).  </strong></p><p>NB:  Do not turn off email notifications.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Congratulations, your profile is now complete and you are ready to launch your services!  <em>(Note:  we are still in testing phase and technically the listing will not be active yet)</em></strong></p>

<p>Select Dashboard from the drop down menu in the top right hand corner.  Then select Settings from the menu on the left of the screen.  There are several tabs where additional information can be added.</p><p>Profile tab:  Here you can add your “bio”.  A bio is a summary of who you are, including personal interests, hobbies, and passions alongside professional details.  The bio can be creative and reflect your personality.  You can also set the timezone here as follow:  Select Windhoek for South Africa’s timezone.  Lastly, you can enter you address here and how far you are willing to travel to give your services.  This is specified as the radius. </p><p>Social tab:  Here you can enter all your social media links, as well as a link to a Youtube video.</p><p>Addresses:  If you work from more than one address you can add your alternative addresses here.</p><p>Experience:  You can add your education as well as experience here.</p><p>Notifications:  You can turn email  notifications on or off here.  Please keep it turned on.</p>

<p>Make contact with that person by using the “send message” button.  Ask them about their qualifications, experience, any other information that is important to you as well as what is included in the services that they are providing.  If applicable arrange a telephone interview or a meet and greet to see if the arrangement can work for both parties.</p><p>You are of course welcome to simply hire them without speaking to them first.  When you click the “hire” button you will have the option to describe what you expect from the service.  The service provider can in turn either accept or decline the request.</p>

<p>Get as much detail around the services that are required and be as detailed and honest about what your services entail.  If both parties understand what is expected of them it is more likely that you will end up with a happy and repeat customer.  Confirm pricing and the time of the services and accept the booking. </p>

<p>Yes, you can post a request listing exactly what you are looking for!  Click on “Dashbord”, then go to “Requests” and click “Created by me” and click “Add new” to create a custom request. </p><p>Service Providers can now apply for this position.  You can also copy your request and post it via email or whatsapp groups and the link will take interested people back to the request in Wisp.</p>

Please contact us and let us know which service category of fields you would like to have added. If there is sufficient demand for this category we will add it for you.

<p>There is no specific list of requirements for an au pair.  Typically, as a minimum, an au pair will have a car and be able to help children with homework.  Generally speaking, the family looking for help would be able to discuss their specific needs with an au pair and the au pair can in turn decide whether or not the job is for them.</p><p>Some families may only need an au pair as a driver and on the other end of the spectrum some families may need an au pair to be a stand in parent.  Each au pair role is likely to be different and tailored to the specific family’s needs. </p><p>Au pairs typically work from Mondays to Fridays and gets paid an hourly rate.  They could also work based on a monthly salary if so negotiated.  The au pair will communicate their expectations around minimum earnings and/or hours depending on their experience and financial requirements.  Au pairs are often available for babysitting and childminding after hours as well.  Au pairs can charge anything from R60p/h to R140p/h+.  Some only have capacity to work a few hours in a week and others would like to work as much as possible.  Au pairs get reimbursed for petrol based on the distance travelled measured from your house to and from the various activities.  The cost per km is typically between R4 and R5 per km.</p><p>Their qualifications and experience may, but does not have to, include the following:</p><p>•          minimum of matric and up to degree level</p><p>•          valid driver’s license</p><p>•          first aid course</p><p>•          experience working with children formally, but sometimes experience was gained looking after friends and family’s children</p><p>Au pairs typically help with the following:</p><p>•          Driving children to and from activities</p><p>•          Homework and school projects</p><p>•          Keeping younger children busy and cleaning up after them</p><p>•          Helping older children prepare for exams etc.</p><p>•          Errands, shopping and food preparation when required</p><p>Au pairs generally do not do domestic work other than light cleaning / neatening after playing with younger children.</p>

<p>As a house sitter, your main tasks revolve around keeping the homeowner's property safe, secure, and well-maintained while they're away. This includes duties such as ensuring the house is locked up tight, collecting mail, caring for pets, and maintaining a clean and tidy living space. You might also be responsible for basic maintenance tasks like watering plants, light cleaning, and handling any minor repairs that may arise. Throughout it all, communication with the homeowner is key, as you provide updates on the status of the property and adhere to any specific instructions or rules they've provided. Essentially, you're the guardian angel of their home, giving them peace of mind while they are away.</p>

<p>Pet sitters, dog walkers, and pet boarding providers play a vital role in caring for animals when their owners are away. For pet sitters, the expectations usually involve visiting the pet's home to feed them, provide fresh water, administer medication if needed, and spend quality time playing and interacting with them. They may also perform basic house-sitting tasks like bringing in the mail and watering plants.</p><p>Dog walkers typically take dogs out for walks, providing them with exercise, mental stimulation, and bathroom breaks. They ensure the dogs are safe, leash-trained, and properly socialized during outings. Additionally, they may reinforce basic obedience commands and clean up after the dogs.</p><p>In pet boarding situations, providers are responsible for the round-the-clock care of pets in their facility. This includes feeding, exercise, and administering any necessary medications. They create a safe and comfortable environment for the pets, often offering playtime and socialization with other animals. Communication with pet owners, including updates on their pets' well-being, is crucial to ensure peace of mind while they're away.</p>

<p>Tutors lend valuable academic support for children and students from all school-going ages up to university level – either individually or in small groups, and across a wide array of subjects. Tutors often have a specific area of expertise, with a passion and skill for transferring knowledge in an age-appropriate manner, and often in line with the school or other curriculum.</p><p>Tutors typically have a background in education and/or have a proven academic track record and ability to work with children and students to improve their results.</p><p>Tutors can present classes individually or in groups, at the child or student’s home or at a specific venue.  Tutoring costs can vary significantly from as little as R100 per hour to as much as R500 per hour depending on the number of children in the class, the difficulty of the subject tutored and the experience and qualifications of the tutor.</p><p>The outcomes of tutoring can be anything from improved grades in a specific subject, assistance with specific learning difficulties such as reading, writing, spelling, comprehension, as well as helping with summaries, teaching study techniques etc.</p>

<p>The services provided by a companion can vary widely depending on the context and the needs of the individual they are accompanying. Some common services that a companion may offer include:</p><p>Companionship, conversation and emotional support: One of the primary roles of a companion is to provide friendly conversation and companionship, helping to prevent feelings of boredom and isolation.</p><p>Social engagement: Companions may accompany their clients to social events, outings, or activities, helping to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.</p><p>Assistance with daily tasks: Depending on the needs of the client, companions may assist with tasks such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, or transportation.</p><p>Medication reminders: Some companions may also help remind their clients to take their medication on time and ensure they adhere to their prescribed medication regimen.</p><p>Recreational activities: Companions may engage in recreational activities with their clients, such as playing games, going for walks, or pursuing hobbies and interests together.</p><p>Personal care assistance: In some cases, companions may provide assistance with personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.</p><p>The qualifications required for companions can vary depending on the specific role and employer. In many cases, formal qualifications may not be required, but certain skills, experiences, and attributes are often desirable. Some common qualifications, skills, and attributes for companions may include empathy and compassion, good communication skills, patience and understanding, trustworthiness and reliability etc. </p><p>While companions may not be required to have formal training as caregivers, basic knowledge of personal care tasks such as assisting with bathing, toileting, dressing, and grooming may be beneficial in some roles.  Some employers may prefer candidates with relevant training or experience in fields such as healthcare, social work, or caregiving.</p>

<p>To start off with it is very important to accurately represent your experience and skills on your wisp profile.</p><p>Good service providers exhibit the following characteristics:</p><p>Clear and Prompt Communication: They maintain open and honest communication promptly responding to messages and regularly providing updates to the client if the job requires it (i.e. house sitting or pet sitting).  They make sure they understand the clients’ needs and provide as much detail about the service that they will be providing to manage expectations on both sides.</p><p>Reliability: They show up on time and aim to provide a great service every time.  They communicate long in advance if they cannot do the job anymore and rarely cancels on a client.</p><p>Experience and Expertise: They possess the necessary skills and experience to do the job well, whether it's childcare, tutoring, pet care, or house sitting.</p><p>Flexibility: They are adaptable and willing to accommodate the unique needs of each client where possible.</p><p>Empathy and Compassion: They demonstrate empathy, understanding, and compassion towards both clients and the individuals or pets in their care.</p><p>Positive Reviews and Feedback: They have a track record of positive reviews and feedback from satisfied clients, demonstrating their reliability and effectiveness in their role.</p><p>Initiative: They take initiative to anticipate and address the needs of their clients proactively, going above and beyond to ensure a positive experience.</p><p>Continued Learning and Improvement: They are committed to ongoing learning and improvement and seeks out opportunities to improve their skills.</p>

Yes, you can be both. In order to be a service provider you need to create a listing for the service you would like to provide.

<p>Each user may collect verified and unverified reviews.</p><p>Non-verified reviews may be collected at any time by users and non-users.  To request a review go to “Dashboard” then “My Listings”, click on the specific listing for which you are seeking a review, scroll down and click on “Ask for reviews”.  This will bring up a message box to email someone to request a review.  You can request as several reviews in one go - simply enter all the relevant email addresses into the address line.</p><p>Non-verified reviews may be requested by users – they may attach their email address book or post on Facebook, Google, or Twitter to request reviews.</p><p>Verified reviews are received after a booking occurs through the marketplace and will have a check icon next to the reviewer’s name.</p><p>All reviews contribute to the users overall rating.</p><p>Service Providers and Service Seekers may both collect reviews.</p>

<p>There are currently no subscription fees - once this is live you will be able to easily cancel your monthly subscription.</p>

<p>This function is not live yet.  You do not have to enter any credit or debit card details at this stage.</p>

<p>Anyone aged 16 and older can list their services on Wisp.  Be sure to get your parent’s permission if you are still under 18.</p>

<p>Welcome to www.Wisp.today, your go-to platform for connecting individuals seeking services with skilled service providers. Our community thrives on trust, respect, and clear communication. To ensure a positive experience for all users, we've outlined the following guidelines:</p><p><strong>Accurate Representation:</strong> Service providers are expected to present their profiles, skills, and experiences accurately. Misrepresentation of qualifications or abilities is not tolerated.  Service providers will be banned from the marketplace should they be dishonest.</p><p><strong>Professional Conduct:</strong> We encourage all users to uphold professional standards in their interactions. Prompt communication, respect for appointments, and adherence to agreed-upon terms are essential.</p><p><strong>Establishing Trust:</strong> Trust is built over time through user reviews. Initially, unverified reviews will provide insights, and as trust develops, verified reviews will enhance credibility. While we facilitate connections, we do not act as an agency and cannot verify the accuracy of information provided.</p><p><strong>Disputes:</strong> While Wisp encourages accuracy and allows profiles to acquire verified ratings over time, it's essential for service seekers and providers to communicate expectations clearly. Utilize our in-app messaging system to discuss details and ensure a mutually agreed upon arrangement. Disputes should be resolved directly between parties involved.</p><p><strong>Non-Discrimination:</strong> Discrimination of any form is strictly prohibited on our platform. We promote inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, religion, or other characteristics.</p><p><strong>Building Community:</strong> We encourage service providers to engage with each other, share insights, and support one another. Collaborative efforts foster a vibrant and supportive community.  Feel free to contribute to our blogs posts if you have experience to share!</p><p><strong>Fair Pricing:</strong> While Wisp does not set pricing, we encourage transparent and fair pricing practices. Service providers should communicate their rates clearly, and service seekers should verify costs before booking.</p><p><strong>Continuous Improvement:</strong> We value feedback from our community to enhance the platform's functionality and user experience. Please share your suggestions and concerns with us to help us grow and improve.</p><p> </p><p>By using Wisp you agree to abide by these community guidelines. Together, we can create a thriving and supportive environment for all users.</p>