Do you get background checks if they just have email verification?
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Hello @Skelty1 and welcome to our community forum, we are happy you’ve joined us here.
I’ve attached a screenshot of the website page on Trust & Safety so that you can see what checks are made at the two different levels, depending on the symbol displayed on their sitter profile.
I hope this answers your question, but if you have any further query, please let me know.
All the best, Vanessa
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Thanks Vanessa. So basic verification is really not a screening. I did secure a sitter for my dates but the couple has a basic verification. Not sure what to do?
Sherri
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I will send you a DM 
Hi Skelty1 and welcome to the forum!
I have only “basic verification” as I refuse to use a third party company that I don’t know from Adam with my personal data… Hopefully this hasn’t put any HO’s off confirming me. I would expect my 50 all 5 star reviews to give the HO’s enough piece of mind!
I also have my own public indemnity insurance that very few TH’s have. Happy to pass my Policy number to HO’s so they can verify that.
Happy to show my passport etc., to HO’s on arrival - but will not email it, text it or let a HO photocopy it.
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I am the same as @claresitsdogs and I also have over 50 5* reviews.
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I have never concerned myself with verification, I just base my choice on the sitter’s messages, profile, and reviews they’ve received and left. That gives me enough confidence that they are who they say they are. Maybe I put too much faith in people and the system, but it’s worked so far 
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Hi Vanessa. I found a sitter for my dates. They have standard verification. What does identity check and documents verification mean?
Sherri
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@Skelty1 Hi Sherri. Firstly, very happy to hear that you’ve found a sitter for your dates… that’s wonderful news.
Indication of an “Identity Check” means that sitters will have been further verified by submitting an ID document for verification by a third party company. However, as mentioned there are many reasons why someone might not progress beyond the standard level. Some are nervous of sending documents (like passports) via the internet and we have to respect that.
Verification is just one part of building trust between our sitters and owners. Their profile and experience, their references and reviews, and your own assessment as part of pre selection or pre-sit communication during messaging, or better still a phone or video chat, all combine to ensure you have both made the best choices for your situation.
We really want you to have the best experience possible and be reassured about the process of selecting your sitters. Are you feeling good about your selection or do you have any concerns? Please feel free to DM me or anyone on the team, if you want to chat about this more.
All the best, Vanessa
p.s. here’s a link to another topic in the forum with some great information about choosing sitters 
Thanks. It’s actually my daughter who is concerned about my well being. She wants to do a background check. She’s worried about liability if something happens in my condo. I’m trying to reassure her that I’m covered.
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Hi @Skelty1 it’s wonderful that your daughter is looking out for her Mum and we understand the concerns of those outside of our community who are unfamiliar with how TrustedHousesitters works and all of the process in place to arrange sitters, they think “strangers in the home”
As an owner you never lost control over whom you choose as a sitter it is an arrangement based on trust but the decision you make is an educated one built on all of the information you have about the sitter. Their reviews, verifications and the communication you have pre confirming. Not until everyone is 100% happy with the arrangement do you finalise and confirm your sitter and they accept your invitation.
I’m sending you links with information you can share with your daughter which will help inform her fully and ease her mind.
Help Centre: TrustedHousesitters
Website Blog: Blog | TrustedHousesitters.com
If it would help I would be happy to connect with her directly or she can contact our Membership Services Team.
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Hi. New to trustedhousesitters and to this forum.
We have a listing for our home seeking sitters over Xmas period. We have had one reply - who look like they are also new to the site. They look great and fit out needs and the dates required.
They have email, phone and ID verified. Given they do not have reviews or references, and are from overseas, can we ask for them to provide security/police check (not sure what it is called on this site)?
Thanks for your assistance/guidance
Hello @Roh-Moz Yes you can certainly ask them, we have been asked to provide our DBS checks before, which is the UK police check and we happily provided. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask but just be aware not all people will want to provide these.
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Hi @Roh-Moz, welcome to the forum from a fellow Aussie. I know it can be tempting when first listing but you don’t have to jump in and accept the first applicant for fear you might not get anyone else, especially when they are new with no reviews or references. References are now compulsory for new sitters and I would be suggesting to them that they need to get some.
It’s still very early to be advertising for Christmas and it’s not for a particularly long length of time. You would have more applicants I’m sure if you advertise anywhere from late July. Also consider whether these overseas applicants could deal with the possibility of a cyclone during that time.
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Hi Temba- thank you so much for this. We’re feeling quite anxious. We have a cruise booked - need to book flights and accom pre/post cruise but feeling stressed about finding housesitters… Being Christmas we wanted to lock something in ASAP so that we can finalise our trip plans.
We hadn’t thought about international travellers and understanding FNQ cyclone season! Reluctant to take down listing though… Big breath in… and exhale…
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It’s up to you @Roh-Moz but I’d hate to think of you rushing into a decision that could cause you even more stress. We’ve found on the forum that some sits booked months in advance can get cancelled a few weeks out, from either HO or sitters. That really does cause stress! I hope you’ve read up on all the advice re having a video chat before confirming any sitter. Deep breath - it’s not meant to cause you all this stress and certainly not this many months out!
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Roh-Moz,
I can absolutely understand your concern. If it’s any consolation, the first sit were were accepted for was also the homeowner’s first time using THS. It was for the Christmas/New Years time on the island of Mallorca. We had 7 international sits booked prior to leaving the US to start our first sit. We are now on number 11 in New Zealand, traveling the world and have 6 more booked.
My suggestion(but I might be bias), is to talk to the people that have applied to see if you are comfortable with them and only commit if you are. Asking for references wouldn’t be out of line.
It isn’t too early to get the people lined up for Christmas. We are already booked for this year on the island of Crete(Kind of an island theme going here). I believe the full time travelers/sitters are certainly looking at their holiday plans with many of us already booked up and the number of people looking for sitters will continue to rise.
Dan and Nan
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