I am very experienced with cats but new to this platform and I just had my first sit. I have noticed that reviews of homeowners I have seen all tend to be overwhelmingly positive with few details.
I wrote a long, detailed review that I wanted to provide constructive feedback to HO and provide info to sitters. I agonized over it. I do NOT want to jeopardize these cats getting another sitter
I gave 5 stars overall but 4 for communication and 4 for listing accuracy, which I think is still a good rating, but maybe this platformâs culture does not?
Along with a lot of positive comments, I mentioned that they had changed the schedule just before the sit but we discussed it and they were flexible. I mentioned more detail in the welcome guide would be helpful and I had to text a lot of questions which were always responded to promptly and helpfully. (I did not put this in the review but they left out lots of details such as how much wet food I was supposed to give, where to put scooped litter, where to find plastic bags for litter, water details, etc). I mentioned that the house was near a highway and there was some traffic noise but easily blocked with earplugs. I also mentioned that they had external cameras which is allowed but wasnât in the listing â I put this in after I read about cameras on this forum.
They responded and explained the schedule change and how cameras provide security and said they would update the welcome guide.
Was this 5 star review with feedback unfair? Will I hurt these catsâ chances of another sit? Did I provide helpful info to other sitters? HO has four or five other reviews that are all 5 stars across the board and all positive.
The long detailed review is great, especially helpful in understanding why you removed stars. I get really annoyed when sitters dock stars but then the text gives no indication of why. That is helpful to no one.
I think docking a star for listing accuracy is fair since they neglected to disclose the external cameras.
Iâm not sure the 4 stars for communication is fair if they discussed the schedule change ahead of time, it was relatively minor and agreed by both sides. I personally wouldnât dock stars for the welcome guide but good to mention it and hopefully they add the info in the future.
No one is completely perfect (Iâm sure they probably had some minor quibbles with you as well) so some leeway is fine on both sides. But significant oversights do need to be called out.
I write long detailed reviews. Itâs incredibly helpful to put context/colour to 5* as it might be 5* for me but not for others. My own detailed reviews give information thatâs in addition to whatâs in the listing. Eg on our current sit- itâs an upside down house with lots of stairs/steps/terraced gardens etc so wouldnât be suitable for example for someone with a dodgy knee. This doesnât make it not a 5* it just needs extra context for future sitters. On another sit also 5* it required you to do long 2 hour dog walks which suits us but again isnât for everyone so I described the terrain.
Thank you! The change in the schedule would have impacted me a lot and was opposite of what was in the listing when I applied (so listing accuracy). They didnât really discuss it and I had to go back to them twice to point out that they hadnât told me this before. I docked for that and the lack of detailed instructions together, but perhaps I should have just given 5 stars for communication. I am really uncomfortable with the rating system. I would think four stars was a good rating rather than a dock. And I gave 5 stars overall!
5* is where I begin then to dock a star there has to be a significant failing that I can easily describe in the review. Eg I docked a star for a 5mth puppy for âbehavourââ but stated that the sit would certainly improve as the puppy got older and if training already in place continued. I described the several wee incidents but described success for the puppy using a bell to ask to go out to wee. I also described the puppyâs poor sleep pattern again suggesting this would improveâŠ.
If it was significant change in schedule then sure, do what you feel is best, though it sounds like it was worked out pre-sit, and they promptly replied to all your questions during the sit. To me communication means just that - you are communicating promptly and respectfully. But as long as you clarified in the review then itâs fine.
Just know that many HO (myself included) do look at how sitters review prior HO. So if you come across as overly nit-picky, that may dissuade other HO (especially if 5 other sitters before you didnât note any significant issues). So I would stick to very clear issues (like the undisclosed cameras).
I think mentioning the freeway noise is helpful especially if you needed earplugs for it indoors.
I donât think your review will impact their ability to get sitters for their cats so I wouldnât worry about that, but again just note your review reflects on you as well so consider the critiques carefully.
The sitters reviews from other homeowners usually show the dates they sat for them. Click on the HO profile (this may only work on the desktop version not the app, or the other way around - canât recall which!) and it takes you to that HO profile. Scroll through that HOâs reviews until you get to the dates of the sitter you are considering and you can see the review they left.
I wouldnât worry about it, especially if they left a response saying they woud make the updates. Some sitters would have let this go as a lot of grace is offered on both sides and the review culture is mostly 5 as the default, but there is nothing wrong with pointing out the faults that could easily be fixed.
I sit and host. A few months ago I saw a sit that was somewhat appealing but a couple of sitters had written about issues with cleanliness in the house and also some pet behavior issues. I still would have gone ahead and applied but then I saw the overly defensive and nasty reply by the homeowner and I just thought, âNope.â Iâve had similar reactions to homeowners pointing out something the sitter did that wasnât great and the sitter overreacting.
So if I saw your â âear plugsâ and other critiques, and the homeownerâs response it would not in any way turn me off to the sit. Changing the schedule is a big deal especially if this was casually done. In the future if this happens, even if they both agree, the schedule shoud be changed officially. With the new âbooking feesâ this could be a nightmare, but I think changing it officially makes it clearer to homeowners that they could lose the sitter and have to start from scratch and that this shouldnât be done frivolously.
@ILuvCats I think you did an excellent job of writing your review. As youâve mentioned itâs your first review, I want to suggest to you to remember that both hosts and sitters are equal in this situation. Keep in mind whatâs required of each of you and make sure you are provided with whatâs needed.
Iâve been a sitter with TrustedHousesitters for 10 years. I make sure I have a thorough welcome guide and expect it soon after Iâm confirmed, regardless of how far away in time the sit is. I confirmed a sit last month for June and the owner sent me the welcome guide the next day, without prompting from me. I want to make sure thereâs nothing in it that needs clarification, especially if it might alter whether or not I would have taken the sit. Same with an owner changing any dates or times for arrival or departure. Remember itâs a negotiated agreement between equals.
I hope you enjoy your future sits, and learn to be a bit more assertive in the lead up to them. For example, when arriving at a sit, or on a sit, donât assume you have to do anything more thatâs asked of you. If youâre OK with it then fine - and Iâve done many extra things - but if youâre not, then state that. Your value should be respected by owners.
Hi @ILuvCats, itâs clear that youâve put a lot of thought into your review, and thatâs something to be really proud of. Offering constructive feedback, while maintaining a positive tone, helps future sitters and homeowners alike.
The 5-star rating with detailed feedback, especially around things like communication and listing accuracy, seems fair and thoughtful. Your review isnât about pointing out flaws; itâs about offering transparency and practical suggestions. As youâve already seen, homeowners often appreciate knowing what could make the experience smoother for future sitters, and your suggestions (like updating the welcome guide) show a proactive approach.
Regarding the cameras, itâs great you mentioned them after reading the forum and considering whatâs allowed. Including information about the schedule change, the noise level, or areas where the listing was a bit sparse gives other sitters the full picture, without being overly critical.
Ultimately, the tone of your review is balanced, and I think any sitter reading it will appreciate the heads-up. If anything, it shows that youâre a conscientious sitter who values clear communication and detailâand Iâm sure that reflects well on both you and the homeowners. No harm done to the catsâ chances of another sitterâjust helpful, honest feedback.
Well done @ILuvCats on your first, very well-thought-out review. It is very balanced and recognises both positives and where improvements could be made. And, the homeowners are appreciative of what you have raised which is great.
I, too, tend to write lengthy reviews and have docked a star off some categories but given an overall 5* with explanations given.
Iâm sure these cats will enjoy having other sitters to care for them.
On the sitterâs profile, you click on the reviews they have received and you will be sent to the HOâs listing. You have to do that process for every sit. If the HO is no longer active you wonât be able to see their listing.
I agree with @temba. You did well with your first review.
I think your approach is great, and a factual and transparent review os good also for the host. This will give them applications from sitters that are good matches - maybe sitters that think things mentioned is okay, or the host/ sitters might talk things through pre-sit so that both parties disclose and/ or agree on things before the sit, sp neither of them have «surprises». Good matches with transparent expectations will more likely lead to a good sit and also good reviews as a result.
You did just fine! I find it hard to criticize someoneâs home hosting style, especially the way THS has it set up. But itâs helpful feedback for others and for the hosts
I thank you for doing that. I also think it is smart to do both: send private info on how to improve (only after they review you so they donât take it out on you if they donât like what you say) and write a review that f.e. tells about the noice level. If they did not want it on a review, they should have written it in their profile
A negative review is not good for a host or a sitter and accomplishes nothing positive that cannot be done in a private communication. A negative review will likely decrease potential sitter applicants or accepted applications to a sit.
So, if previous reviews for the 2 THS sitters youâve hosted and been dissatisfied with had disclosed problem issues, this wouldnât have benefitted you?
Factual and fair reviews can be helpful for both sitters and HOs to determine a good match. It sounds like what @ILuvCats has written is both balanced and considered, which I applaud .
It would have but they didnât so I wasnât. Took me a minute to figure out how things really work around here, and Iâve found that generally speaking, reviews cannot be trusted although they may give a general idea if the person can be trusted in your home, but thatâs about as far as it goes. I expect if the person was REALLY bad, they wouldnât have multiple 5 star reviews nor would I leave one for a sitter that was completely over the top. But if itâs a matter of me docking a star or two for a 5 star sitter with an unblemished record who left my place a smelly mess with a few dead plants but took good care of the pets in general, then no, Iâm not going to be the bad guy and warn the community for all the reasons I mentioned, most of them self serving to protect my host profile, as many hosts have done before me.
Please note that only one of the two sitters was bad. One was excellent except she failed to secure an umbrella as advised in the WG and during the handoff, and it blew over and broke and she didnât offer to replace it.
Iâm afraid itâs taking you much longer than that. You still donât get it.
You seem to master quite well logical reasoning but, on this occasion, your reasoning doesnât work. These two statements contradict each other:
You canât say that a negative review accomplishes nothing and then admit that you would have benefited from honest reviews.
You often complain about people acting out of emotional reactions and it seems to me that your insistence in not writing honest reviews doesnât come from logical thinking but out of resentment towards HOs who donât leave honest reviews, thus contributing to perpetuate a system you admit you donât like
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