Hi, that is good to know. I just signed up to the forum because I’m trying to figure out how a service that requires sitters to spend so much money, on the membership and on travel without getting paid can benefit the sitters… The site bombards me with photos of exotic, expensive-looking places in often faraway countries.
Years ago, I had a good dogsitter experience with pawshake for which you do get paid but after that, I started getting clear fake requests with no photos of the supposed pets. When you object to something like that, you may find your account blocked next… I later tried to sign up again when I was in a different country. The site team kept asking me for better high-resolution shots with pets now, no matter what I did, conveying that they aren’t interested in actual experience. (I have plenty.)
I also just had my first wwoof experience, as it happens, and that too was rather disappointing. I don’t think that I will ever wwoof again. I later saw that I’m not the only one who was quite disappointed by that particular wwoof host. I must have missed that before I contacted them. I saw that there were matching Google reviews as well, so I know it’s not just me.
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Curious where you’re being bombarded by such. Most sit listings don’t look exotic or expensive to me.
Just left an AMAZING 2nd sit.
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I took a look at woof a while a go. Never joined, as so many listings seem to be social dumping and exploiting free labor. But also some that seemed friendly and searching for likeminded to live as a community together.
In my opinion many such sites of exchanges focus too much on exquisit listings while the majority is ordinary people exhanging with fellow members. In my opinion that is great - meeting likeminded across borders. I prefer smaller homes as I don’t use the space anyway and prefer not to be responsible for a bigger home.
I have only had nice sits, most hosts have been equal partners and friendly and hospitable. I’m also a member of Home Exchange, and it puzzles me a bit that more hosts on THS are more concerned about cleaning than I have ever experienced exchanging homes on HE. Strange. Would think petowners would be more relaxed in that department.
Maybe because people who choose to exchange homes are self-selecting and typically more easygoing? With THS sits, it seems like more of a necessity for many hosts, with all sorts of personalities.
For folks who really care about cleanliness and tidiness, it’s not optional, regardless of whether they have pets.
Coincidentally, I applied for a sit this morning and the host replied within 30 minutes. And I was at least the fifth applicant. I have strong reviews for pet care, but probably what clinches sits for me is how clean I leave sit homes. Like in their listing, this host clearly cares a lot about their surroundings. That’s reflected even in their occupation.
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