Yes, I agree. I would try to assume that the sheets had been laundered - stained, but not really dirty.
But I might want to leave anyway, and sleep elsewhere.
Yes, I agree. I would try to assume that the sheets had been laundered - stained, but not really dirty.
But I might want to leave anyway, and sleep elsewhere.
@IamwhoIam Welcome to the forum! It’s such a pity that you arrived here to lament the state of the home. But that is exactly how I landed here too in June 2022. We were on our 25th sit then, and I couldn’t believe the house could have been left for us in such a state. Up until then, every house was very clean for our arrival. I came here to see what I could do. Turns out it’s not that uncommon, and that there is hardly anything you can do about it. THS suggest to take photos and notify them, but most sitters know they just need to get on with it, so they clean what they need, and just live in that small space for the rest of the sit. There are a lot of threads about it. If you type ‘clean’ in the search bar, you can see what others have said. Good luck.
That sounds a bit grim but your only solution now is to clean the rooms you need to use and make the best of it. Might be useful to reach out to support and ask their advice & also give an honest review once the sit is over
for future sitters . Did you do a video call before the sit? If so, how did the house look? Have they had sitters before? If so, did they comment on the state of the house? Hopefully the pets are lovely & the location good to make up for it ![]()
PS it’s not normal for houses to be dirty but it’s also not uncommon so it’s something to look closely at in their sit photos and maybe talk about cleaning during the video call. Hope it improves.
Or did they not give a review?
This is something you can see this in the app. In the web interface, THS keeps this hidden.
I don’t know if it’s that so much as we’re all used to our own dirt, and sometimes it builds up slowly so we don’t notice. But when we view someone else’s things, we notice their dirt.
Someone mentioned above opening a silverware drawer and finding crumbs. I’m a bit of a freak when it comes to cleaning and decluttering food prep storage spaces, and I regularly clean out my silverware drawer, taking everything out, washing the little holders and wiping the drawer itself, etc. But when I read that, I went and took a look. Guess what? There were some crumbs! ![]()
I just found a housesit where almost all the non-pet photos are clearly from the condo development’s sales website. Professional-quality shots showing completely empty kitchen and bath counters, etc. One is a view of a laundry closet, and you can clearly see the room beyond it is unfurnished. I guess maybe the charitable conclusion is that she doesn’t realize that’s not providing a realistic picture of what sitters would be walking into?
Yes me too, as regards finding crumbs in my cutlery drawers BUT there is/are only a few not enough to make a sandwich! We all live in our own way but I do think HO should be asked ‘is your home clean enough’ and ‘do you have spare sheets as the sitter will want to change the bed(in 3week sit). I think HO should be given a basic checklist to think about when they register just to be sure they think about other people’s views. Although I think I am clean I would defo clean before visitors especially is they were staying over. We remain friends with some of our HOs and stay in touch and revisit each other.
We all have different standards and therein lies the issue, look closely at photos and ask questions and be honest in reviews please then other sitters will k ow what they’re getting.
From silverdog
If I wanted to live exactly like I do at home, I’d just stay home, LOL.
I try to stay flexible and don’t expect everyone to have the same cleanliness levels, etc. But some places simply are gross and that’s not OK if you’re going to invite people to sit and the accommodations are part of the exchange. Because no one is thinking, oh, let me go sit in someone else’s filth.
A few crumbs in a cutlery drawer don’t put me off. But I don’t want to worry that all the cutlery is suspect, because I put my hand in and there’s sticky stuff on the cutlery, as if it might not have been washed or been washed well. It’s not a dealbreaker, but geez, what do you clean if not the utensils you put in your mouth, I wonder.
Right? Although this is making me look crosswise at the utensils caddy next to my cooktop…how long has it been since I emptied it completely lol…
goodness, as a HO/PP I can’t believe the things I read here about how houses are left. It seems really weird to me as even if I were totally lax about how we lived when alone I’d certainly tidy and clean for guests which is what the sitters are. Actually they are more than guests as they are offering us a service which is to care for our animals in exchange for staying in our home.
I’d be deeply unhappy if my animals weren’t cared for properly by a sitter so the other side of the exchange coin should be that the sitter is also cared for properly. Clean and tidy house, nice bedroom, treated like a welcome addition and not an unpaid servant! No expectation that cleaning items should be bought or anything that is to do with the upkeep of either the house or the pets. I don’t expect that from guests in our house why should I expect that from sitters.
The only difference is that, apart from the first night if sitters are staying over therefore we are hosting them, we don’t provide food. We do always say to use the staples which are an essential in any kitchen but assume the main food stuffs will be the sitters responsibility through their stay.
I find the forum fascinating!
Although this is making me look crosswise at the utensils caddy next to my cooktop…how long has it been since I emptied it completely lol…
Haha, same!
LOL. There was this thread about cutlery drawers that made me laugh, because apparently there’s disagreement about the “right” way to order one. Personally, we have a bunch of drawers for cutlery and cooking utensils. The trays that have worked best for us are rubber-coated wire ones, because they’re strong and have plenty of holes for crumbs or other debris to fall through. So you can just pick up the utensil tray and wipe the drawer. If you’ve lined the drawer with something water resistant, it’s even easier to wipe. And you can easily wash the trays if you want to.
Thank your for your Feedback. Yes of course, I cleaned the kitchen and did the laundry. Sink and toilet disinfected. But the shower…
Thanks for your understanding ![]()
Thank you for your message. The photos were wonderful. The house clean and tidy. But of course there was no photo of the toilet or the shower. And what sticks here has certainly been created over the years, not just since yesterday ![]()
Now it’s only two more nights, then I’ve made it. And the next experience will be great for sure ![]()
The reviews are only about the wonderful dog ![]()
It’s unfortunate, but you MUST read between the lines, and check for omissions. At least nobody can tinker with their own review once posted.
If the review of the HO doesn’t specifically say “CLEAN” and “WOULD COME BACK”, “RECOMMEND THIS SIT” or something similar, pass.
If the review of the sitter doesn’t specifically say “MY HOUSE WAS CLEAN” and “WOULD WELCOME BACK”, or something similar, pass.
Also read extremely negative reviews with a skeptical eye, and give a missing review the weight it deserves.
Thanks, that’s very helpful! It’s my first sit, the next one will be better!
I often gush about my sits when I give feedback, but I almost never say “would come back”. Not because I don’t recommend the sits, but just because I don’t often go to the same place twice.
That’s understood, I should have also included “recommend this sit”. Will update the other post.
How does that help the pet?
Not providing a review prevents the next sitter from making an informed choice. While you may be willing to suffer through disgusting conditions, another sitter may bail. And the pet is then without a caregiver.
Leave a review…be kind but truthful.