@Michelle yes @Angela_L is right with that and a strong profile with references along with good and speedy communication is key to happy sitting. I have just replied to @Els and you might want to have a look at what is said there about running all conversations through your THS inbox as it gives you a accurate record of whats been agreed. When I feel comfortable with the HO who had locked me in, I will give my mobile number and sometimes my email but I always back up anything said on those to my THS inbox eg āā¦it was nice talking to you by phone and we have agreedā¦ā When you are looking at sits be realistic about what you take on eg can you manage a big dog that might pull on the lead? Do you really want to take on 20 cats? What is it going to cost to get to and from the sit and if I have sits back to back will I be able to get between them in good time for a decent handover? I could go on but there will be lots of other sitters to chip in. Welcome to the forum and DM anytime if you want a sitters perspective. All the best.
Hi Thanks so much for the communication.
My friend wants to do a reference but I have only looked after her house and plants and not pets so she cannot give me stars for that.
She canāt seem to send as she canāt put stars on the pet section??
Can you help?
What is THS box? Sorry you have to explain, getting there but a bit slow.
Does THS been Trusted house sitters?
Thanks Angela
Hi Thanks so much for the communication.
My friend wants to do a reference but I have only looked after her house and plants and not pets so she cannot give me stars for that.
She canāt seem to send as she canāt put stars on the pet section??
Can you help?
What is THS box? Sorry you have to explain, getting there but a bit slow. is that Trusted house sitters?
Hi @Michelle THS is an abbreviation for TrustedHousesitters ā¦ apologies for that ā¦
Your referee should have the option to just leave pet care blank, are they getting an error that wonāt let them?
The other option is for the referee send us this info to support@trustedhousesitters.com If they are experiencing difficulties with providing a reference and Membership Services will be more than happy to manually upload it for you.
In order for them to do so, can you please provide the following information.
-
Reference type (personal, character, house/pet sitting, job or landlord)
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Members name (your name)
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Members email address (one linked with the TrustedHousesitters account)
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Their written reference
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A star rating for the following categories out of 5 (with 5 out of 5 being the highest)
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Organised, Reliable, Self-sufficient, Tidy, Pet Care.
Iām also going to send @Katie_Mc your details and she will look into this also.
Angela,
Thanks for that. I am changing my profile pic and will not put my email or mobile unless I feel comfortable with them!!.
Iām so sorry,
What or where do I find my email account with you? I know my email account but not sure the members
It just lets me log in?
I will email my friend, she has written one but she needs to do the rest!.
Thanks again.
Michelle
@Michelle THS box is your Inbox for conversations between you and HOs. The tech people will help you with the reference query or contact @Angela_L . cheers
thank you very much
Hi Angela,
I hope you are doing well.
I am sorry, I am having a hard time with the website. I am not good at doing things like this. I am trying and making changes. So bear with me. I got feedback from one of the HO and they said that they were scared that my husband had an allergy. I remember writing that but thought that I deleted it and have been trying to find out where I wrote it and delete it as he would not be coming along to the house sit. Please could you help me find it or even better, delete it for me?
Secondly, one of the referees, I want to delete. Can I do that? I asked her to only give feedback on the pet care not a character reference but initially she said yes and then said she wanted to keep it as that. So, can you delete her? Or do I have to keep her on there?
Many thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Michelle
Hi Michelle, just a quick note before @Angela_L is back on line to continue your conversation. Iāve just deleted the full name of your referee to maintain her privacy her in the open forum. Just in case you wonder where itās gone 
Thanks Vanessa,
I am getting there but still making mistakes.
Is it important that I get 5 starts? I havenāt got five stars from everyone? I still want my referee to be delelted.
Thanks again.
Michelle
Hi again Michelle, no worriesā¦ we all make mistakes Youāll soon get the hang of finding your way around Iām sure.
Around the issue of references we have to maintain the integrity of the review system, so itās not possible for members to delete these themselves.
In the case of any queries around references, reviews or feedback, our members (sitters or owners) need to discuss specific cases with membership services. The best thing now is to email them and see what advice they can give you - they are a great team with years of experience in helping our new members. The email is: support@trustedhousesitters.com Good luck and we hope you are soon reporting back to tell us about your first sits with TrustedHousesitters!!
Hi Michelle no need to apologise we are here to help one another and thank you @Vanessa_A I will take a look at your profile again ā¦
I have DMād you again ā¦
None of us should ever forget that we all started in the same place ā¦ at the beginning!
We will get you there. 
@Michelle hello and welcome to the forum! I am a sitter and have been with THS for about three years; there are other sitters who have been around for alot longer. Just to let you know that we all started where you are now and we are always learning! Get in touch anytime if you want to ask something no matter how small or large. Most of the people working for THS either have animals of their own or (as in the case of @Vanessa_A and @Angela_L ) have a huge amount of experience of being a sitter and of all the sites I have seen involving pet and house-sitting, I think you have landed at the right one! Enjoy travelling by looking after animalsā¦you will make some great memories!
Hello, does anyone apply for multiple sits for the same dates? I am applying for sits for Summer 2023 to fit around already confirmed sits. As we (I sit with my husband) are nomadic now and rented out our home, we like to be sure we have somewhere to live whilst in the UK. We are open and honest about our nomadic status on our applications. We are lucky enough to be invited back for sits as we have bonded so well with the HO and the pets. I recently had to let one sit go as the HO needed confirmation asap and I was waiting for a previous HO to get back to me. I also missed out on applying for a sit in London that was perfect as I was reluctant to make another application for the same dates as others I had applied for, then the status suddenly changed to āreviewing applicantsā which at the time baffled me. I understand that now, once the HO gets 5 applicants, this happens.
Would love your opinion as sitters and HO on this please.
Hello Coral,
I would strongly suggest that you do apply for multiple sits. Statistically speaking, itās unlikely that both would accept you at the same time but I would make sure you immediately remove your application in the other sit when you accept one to prevent any issues.
Dan
Hi @Coral as @Danandnan says yes apply for multiple sits but only accept one of course and keep other pet parents/owners fully informed as to your choices .
Even though there are two of you itās prudent to allow yourself flexibility between sits just in case of ālifeā getting in the way ā¦ Having āsatā full time for six years without a base, being flexible, having a Plan B and being a diligent communicator made our housesitting lifestyle more manageable and far less stressful.
Yes. On my last trip to California starting Dec. 20, there was another sit that started a week earlier, meaning Iād get to stay longer, but they ended up going with someone else for whatever reason. But I still had my Dec. 20 as a backup and it all worked out.
Yes, I do - same as Martin as above
Yes indeed if I find 2 or more that interest me, but I always commit to the first one who makes an offer following the normal communication process.
and I love the comment by Amparo
I say and do, apply apply applyā¦then I get to choose. I imagine the same would be for an HO inviting, invite, invite. invite.