I think it’s important to build trust with the homeowner before and during the sit by focusing on their needs and expectations. I always read their listing carefully for clues to what is most important to them. For most homeowners, it’s about the quality of pet care you can provide. Your reviews and profile will tell them a lot, but how you respond to them in your messages and video call will help reassure them.
I look for (or ask for) what method of communication works best for them. This benefits me as well. Some people don’t check the site often, and won’t respond to messages, but are quick to respond via text, email or What’sApp.
When meeting the homeowner at the start of the sit, I let them take the lead on what they want to share and show me. I have a checklist in my mind of questions and if they don’t mention a topic, I make sure to ask. Small details like where they keep the cat carrier in case of the need for a vet visit, how frequently they give treats or where the pet is or isn’t allowed to be in the house are helpful for me to know as well as being useful for building trust.
I also make sure to frontload communication, photos and videos right from the start once the pet parent leaves. When they see that their pet is happy and I’m there taking care of it, they can relax and focus on their travel. I usually send a photo within the first hour, and several more the first day. You can always send fewer if they don’t seem to like it, but most pet parents are very happy to see their pet during their trip.
What things do you do to build trust?
3 Likes
As HO we really want to know in the first few days how our cats are adjusting to the change in their surroundings, meaning us being replaced by other people. We are anxious to know if input and output is normal. 
After the first few days we don’t expect messages everyday, just a picture or two once in a while. This not only serves to show that everything is Ok with our cats but also that everything is Ok with our sitters. These messages can eventually become very meaningful. On a sit a few years back our sitters made a little video with a catchy tune showing “a day in the life” of our cat, a previous one who was older. A few months after the sit we had to say goodbye to her and this little video really helped us cope with the loss, seeing her happy and going about her day. 
9 Likes
I build trust by being reliable and by keeping to my word and explaining when things go wrong.
If you don’t mind me saying so @ChristineDun, you make it sound like a job where you are the employee and have to deserve being kept on whereas it’s a mutual exchange.
5 Likes
We’re with @Alicatorze, if there’s a need to build additional trust after an application, checking reviews, references and a video call then we’re not the sitters for that HO. Iron out things like how many updates/pics etc and the method of comms during THS sit so you’re all on the same page and off you go. You have to trust the hosts @ChristineDun that their pets behave as stated, the house looks as expected & the responsibilities were true and full before you committed. #goesbothways
8 Likes
@ChristineDun we ask the hosts how often they would like updates ( with a maximum of 1 a day ) .
All hosts are individuals and have different requests . From daily , every other day, twice a week , once a week , to please don’t send any updates we are having a digital detox .
Whilst some hosts love a frequent update to see how their pets are getting on . Many others have chosen us as sitters so that they don’t need to think about home while they are away - they already trust that everything is ok and that they will be contacted only if there is a problem . These hosts would find updates an unnecessary disturbance to their holiday .
Best way to earn trust is to listen to what the hosts asks and respect their wishes.
9 Likes
It’s very important to us that we build friendships through Trusted Housesitters. We’re not doing this for quantity, but for quality. I’m pretty good at making connections and building relationships, and after the dogs, that’s the main reason we use THS. One doesn’t work without the other.
That means I really need to like the people during the video chat and through the messages they send, otherwise, no matter how adorable the dog is or how amazing the house might be, it’s not the right fit. I exchange more than 1 or 2 messages with homeowners before confirming a sit. Homeowners who are simply looking for someone to watch their pets and nothing more aren’t what we’re looking for.
And while that may be what most HOs primarily want, my lifelong experience has given me a good sense of whether the people sitting in front of me on the screen have the potential to become friends. More often than not, we manage to build that kind of connection. Of course, not everyone becomes a close friend, but we still exchange messages now and then and keep each other updated. Others have become good friends whom we visit even outside of pet-sitting, regardless of whether they need a sitter or not.
Beyond that, we also want to have a good time, and humor is an absolute must for us. Humor plays a huge role in building both trust and affection. You can tell so much about a person by the way they joke and laugh, and I truly believe that shared laughter creates stronger connections.
That’s why the trust aspect is naturally covered, I always approach people with an open heart. And just like dogs can sense when they are liked, I believe people can feel it too.
3 Likes
I build trust by my communication - for instance sharing travel dates/ times, confirming my arrival the week before (if agreed long time ago) etc.
During sit I usually send a photo and/ or message daily at approx same time (afternoon) for the shorter sits up to 1-2 weeks. For longer I would do it the first days and then maybe a couple of times a week. It is good to communicate what the pattern will be, so they don’t sit and wait for something that won’t come.
Personally, if I trust someone and I’m on holiday I would prefer to not have multiple messages a day, as it would make me not being present in the place I am. This is a preference for me, others could think otherwise, of course.
3 Likes
Love your last paragraph.
1 Like
Yes to everything you said and especially the last sentence.
1 Like
I agree about your last sentence @Garfield. I also don’t want to be sending multiple messages a day: I want to be enjoying housesitting, looking after the pets and exploring the local area.
Nothing unusual, but it works:
“She exudes warmth, genuine caring, and trustworthiness. And, her 10 days with us supports that impression.” (From a review.)
Hosts usually love how communicative I am, among other things.
I reply promptly to all messages, starting from the outset. I’m also very comfortable with video chats.
I ask for welcome guide info well ahead of sits and read them immediately, ask Qs if needed. I also check where emergency shutoffs are for utilities.
I’m good with their pets and send plenty of updates. Like I woke to find this cat sleeping on me. I’m writing this comment with her still atop of me. 
Her human says: “You must be very special for Maddie to be sleeping with you!”
I don’t mind sending plenty of updates. If you looked at my camera roll, you might think I’m a pet stalker, because I take so many pictures of them. I adore pets.
4 Likes
It is a mutual exchange, but in my opinion the homeowner has more to lose and deserves some effort on our part to help them rest assured that their home and pets are in good care. Of course I communicate with the owners about how frequently they would like to hear from me, but every owner I’ve ever sat for has been very pleased with receiving updates. Yes, it naturally tapers off later in the sit, but I also find even more things I want to share as I get to know the pets better.
I do view it as a job, but since the pet owner doesn’t really have any recourse to change anything once they’ve “hired” me, I’d like to make sure they are happy with my “work.”
But you haven’t been “hired” @ChristineDun as there is no payment allowed on THS or any kind of contract, and it additionally isn’t “work”, it’s a voluntary exchange. Dangerous positioning as a sitter IMHO but your call. #getthebalance
4 Likes
My view on trust is that everyone including me is trustworthy until they do something that shows they aren’t: trust is lost not gained. Doing things over and beyond just to try to build trust might ironically engender a feeling of lack of trust in the other person’s mind. A sort of ‘what have they got to hide if they’re being so perfect?’
1 Like
If you show people that you consider yourself less important than them, they will often treat you as such.
4 Likes
