Dry or very short reviews from HO - I get a bit upset!

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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Hi folks! It happened 2-3 times that I got quite a dry and short reviews from a HO, although they gave me 5 stars overall. In my opinion everything went well with these sits. I can’t help it but I feel a bit upset about it. Especially the last HO - I checked out the other reviews he gave and they were definitely more enthusiastic.

I know they are allowed to write whatever they want, and they did not write any bad things at all - but still, I am a bit upset/disappointed, because I feel like i did a great job and it also worries me that future HO will read it as “she is only average”. Have you experienced that and how do you deal with it? Thanks!

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It could either be that they are polite and in reality there were some minor flaws and they nevertheless gave you a 5*, or it is what it is and it is more that the reality didn’t match the expectations you had for a review. I have only gotten reviews on the shorter side, all being 5* overall. I think perhaps sitters in general write longer and/ or more enthusiastic reviews, and hosts more often tend to write more «it was all good. The End»-type of reviews. With ofc exceptions both ways.

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@Garfield is right, sitters tend to write longer reviews as we have more to discuss/mention. Many HO write a brief paragraph and to me that’s okay as long as I have 5*'s and it mentions happy pets and left their home clean. Those are the important parts to any future HO reading the review.

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Just some more thoughts to add, Sometimes I find a difference when you build a relationship with the HO. I go out of my way to build a relationship since I’m going to be caring for their precious pets. Even prior to the sit i communicate with them via texting etc. I also prefer to meet them ahead of time. I believe in going above and beyond. For me personally it’s equally important to build on the relationship. Most of my reviews the HO’s have written more than a paragraph aside from a couple. Also, some people just don’t like to write. As long as yiu have 5* you’re in good shape.

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If the hand-off was brief and there was not much communication leading up to the sit and then all went well, it can be a struggle for the HO to find much to say in a review. The sitter is having an ongoing relationship with the owner during the sit simply by living in their space and caring for the pet(s) so they have more to say about the experience.

And I don’t know what it’s like in th US or UK now but in France we are constantly asked for reviews from the garage that repaired our car, the gardening or DIY store where we made a purchase — basically any any establishment we entered that managed to get our email address. Review fatigue is real!

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I’m on the same wavelength as you; as a sitter, I make it a priority to get a good read on the homeowner’s personality and preferences, and adjust my behavior accordingly.

Some owners want daily or even multi-daily photos and updates on their pets, and I happily accomodate them. I’ve sat for others who are more laid-back, or eager to be getting a needed break from their every day life while they are on vacation; for the latter I give just enough updates and photos to reassure them that “all is well on the homefront”. The best way to know the home/pet owners personality is by communicating beforehand, which includes outright asking them specifically “how often would you like updates?” or “Would you like me to wash the bedding the morning I leave and re-make the bed, or just strip it?” I’ve never found owners to be annoyed with the questions, and it just makes everything go more smoothly.

Also, and this is just my personality, I enjoy going above and beyond for sits where the owner was super nice, or hospitable, by replacing essentials I’ve used up (like toilet paper, handsoap and tissues), and I usually leave a little gift for any sits over a week long. Not saying everyone has to do this, I do it because I want to, because I’m so grateful for the opportunities being a sitter has given me. I’ve stayed in the most beautiful homes with breathtaking views while enjoying the company of so many precious pets because of THS, and it takes both sides (sitter and owner) to make the magic happen.

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Thanks for the replies!! I think it’s also cultural. I have the feeling the Americans write much more enthusiastic reviews than for example Europeans. I find it upsetting nonetheless when someone gives me 5 stars everywhere and just writes “Thank you for taking care of the pets!” and nothing more. Especially as this has been a rather difficult sit, with one of the dogs constantly peeing around the house. I mean - that’s just lazy and zero effort - can’t they just check other reviews and adapt to the style. But yeah, there is nothing we can do about it.

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The making an effort-bit may explain the peeing.

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I check hosts’ reviews for sitters before pursuing a sit. If they’re stingy with appreciation, I skip them. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll find a great match, but communicating well and building rapport can help.

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I hope your review of the pet was honest and you warned future sitters. Some people just don’t want to bother but a short review is better than no review at all.

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@lalalein94 I can understand how you feel having experienced this . It stands out as the host had left glowing reviews for previous sitters . The review we received was all five stars but just a one liner . We were disappointed at first . However , we later found out that the host was going through some severe personal stress with serious illness diagnosed on return from their holiday . Despite the circumstances they had taken the time to give us a review by the deadline . This puts the one liner review in a whole new light and we appreciated that they took the time to submit a review despite their challenging circumstances they were going through .

The review still stands out as different amongst the other reviews we have received and it’s only us and the hosts that know the reasons why it’s this way .

When this happens we reminded ourselves that we didn’t join THS just for reviews -

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Warn about owners giving dry reviews? That’s not possible with the new review system. In case you mean the peeing I did not mention it, because i wanted to be nice, but now I regret it!

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Your responsibility isn’t to be nice in reviews. Your responsibility is to be honest and warn other sitters so that they aren’t put into a bad situation like you were. You can be both honest and nice at the same time. Please do better with future reviews as we sitters rely on you to tell the truth.

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@lalalein94

If it was a couple you sat for, could it not be the case where HO 1 usually wrote reviews but on this occasion, HO 2 wrote it and they are more concise with their words.
Either way though, i certainly wouldn’t be getting upset by it

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Yes we noticed this early on in our sitting and we make a point of telling the homeowners that reviews are our currency and are valuable and important to us. We explain how much we would appreciate a longer detailed review and it helps us secure future sits and future HOs can clearly tell we are diligent trustworthy sitters and it makes us more likely to secure future competitive sits. I usually give people a few pointers on what to mention. We haven’t had a problem since.

I think many HOs don’t grasp the importance and significance of the reviews for sitters. Everything went well and they want to just move on and forget to spend 5/10 mins to write up the review and generally can’t be bothered. Now I’m picky enough that I don’t apply for sits if homeowners leave one sentence reviews for sitters. If they can’t make the effort on that then I doubt their ability to make the effort in their own home :face_with_peeking_eye:

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I hope you mentioned that in your review!

Edit: I now see you did not mention it. That is the kind of thing that I would be disappointed about (and “a bit upset” about) when I was the next sitter there :frowning:

Were you really more upset about the length of the review than about the dog pee?

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I think all home hosts are different, some are happy to gush in a review, others are more to the point. As long as the gist is positive, take them all as a compliment.

Here is an example of two of our reviews - Both had exactly the same service from us.

One could be viewed as a bit cold, one could be viewed as a bit over-the-top.

We are equally happy with both.

Review one -

Reliable couple who kept the house and garden neat and tidy. Good communication throughout the stay. Cats were happy. Thanks guys!

Review two -

We are extremely delighted to leave this 5-star review for Colin and Karyo, who recently provided their house-sitting and pet care services to our family during our vacation. They both demonstrated immense care, passion, and professionalism in looking after our beloved pup, Sana, and our home. Firstly, Colin and Karyo’s level of organization was nothing short of impeccable. Every detail was well taken care of, from ensuring our home was maintained, to keeping Sana’s schedule in check. Their attention to detail and structured approach to their duties allowed us to enjoy our vacation worry-free, knowing our home and Sana were in capable hands. Secondly, their manner of dealing with Sana was heartening. They managed to quickly form a strong bond with her, treating her with love and kindness, as if she were their own. Their empathy and dedication towards Sana’s well-being were clearly evident, making it evident that they don’t just view this as a job, but as a passion. One of the highlights of their service was their thoughtful and engaging “pup-dates.” They consistently updated us with charming photos and delightful anecdotes about Sana, making us feel connected and involved, despite the distance. The “pup-dates” were not just updates, they were stories that brought smiles to our faces and reassured us that Sana was enjoying herself as much as we were. Our gratitude towards Colin and Karyo for their outstanding services is immense. They have gone above and beyond in their duties, showing professionalism wrapped in a warm, friendly demeanour. It is with absolute confidence and enthusiasm that I recommend their services to anyone seeking high-quality house-sitting and pet care services. To anyone reading this review, rest assured, with Colin and Karyo, your home and pets are not just taken care of, they are cherished. Here’s to more happy vacations, knowing Colin and Karyo are there to lend a helping hand. Thank you, Colin and Karyo, for your stellar services. We look forward to having you again in the future.

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Let’s face it, there’s not much they can write about unless something negative happened.
Communication- good.
Pet care - excellent
Left the place clean and tidy.
Lovely people will have them over again to look after Fido.
Sitters on the other hand have an obligation to give a detailed description of the pets, home, surroundings, hosts etc as a courtesy to would be potential sitters. I use previous sitter reviews to help get a true picture of the sit.

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Without wishing to give you a hard time @lalalein94 the key thing out of this thread is that YOU didn’t mention the dog pee in your own review. Your hosts were honest in theirs and you weren’t. #youliveandlearn

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Yes you are right, i will mention it the next time. But what do you mean by “they were honest”? They did not write anything bad, but as everyone I would appreciate are more detailed and warm review, especially if I did not do anything wrong and even had to face these peeing-issues.