I just received my first 4 star review and it irked me because I gave the HO a five star overall review despite a few issues including leaving trash. I did mark down a stars but not the overall score. She said she had to clean the sink and bathroom after me. I always do a good cleaning so I was surprised by this. All of my reviews prior on this platform and AirBnB state that I left the place clean. I would not sit for this person again.
Hi @KellyK
I’ve set up a new topic for you, as you originally replied to a discussion that hasn’t received any new responses since last year.
Giving you a new discussion post will hopefully make it easier for your fellow members to find you and give you some advice and support.
Wishing you a lovely, five star sit for your next one. 
Jenny
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The cleaning of the bathroom after you might be a psychological thing maybe their way of making it theirs again possibly? Or possibly you wet cleaned and there were dry marks after you left? Either way it seems unfair, but different standards will elicit 4/5 stars so draw a line and don’t give it headspace. Life is too short I say. Best wishes.
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You can reply to their review in a nice factual way. That would be easier if they have written about issues that you can address. Perhaps you could emphasize what you did best and say you are sorry you could not fulfill their expectations in spite of… (whatever information you can give) I would suggest having someone read your reply before publishing it because it could backfire.
After that, I would just suggest moving on, it will probably have no impact on your overall chances of getting good sits. If necessary, you could offer prospective owners an explanation about this review. But I don’t think it will be necessary. 4 stars is getting more and more common and it’s still a good rating.
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This is why your own reviews should be honest, factual and unemotional. You’re irked because you made allowances and overlooked issues for this pet parent, who then didn’t apply the same courtesy to you.
Respond to the review in a calm and factual manner, then mark it down to experience. One 4 star review may hurt your feelings, but won’t impact on your ability to achieve the sits you want.
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It’s bound to happen to everyone at some point. I don’t think it will affect you lining up future sits. It sounds like you did not have a 5 star experience but gave them 5 star overall anyways. THS being the land of nothing but 5 stars has always been odd to me. I hope going forward, sitters and hosts only provide full 5 stars if it’s truly warranted
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Sounds as though the HO has conveniently ‘forgotten’ the enormous amounts of poop that animals produce, and who’s been cleaning it up in their absence.
I wouldn’t respond to their review as it will be nigh on impossible to do so without coming off as petty. If they’ve been specific in their comments about you and why they’ve rated you 4-stars, they’ve probably done more damage to their chances of finding a sitter in the future than they have to your chances of finding a sit. Onwards and upwards!
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