You can always contact the support teM to say you’re not happy with the incorrect review from the host. They can alter the rating I think.
I am guessing here but were there presit issues? Like did you contact her because you weren’t sure when she wanted you to arrive and then you couldn’t arrive exactly when she wanted? If sounds like maybe something wasn’t communicated and then either the the homeowner reached out and there was some difficulty or you reached out because of their lack of communication. Likely this was resolved enough before the sit for you to not mention it and give them grace with your review, but they felt like it was a fault on your part. In any case, leaving the conclusion, implication out, you could simply write about what happened and allow others to draw their own conclusions.
What’s that got to do with it?
I agree, that’s so weird, ‘check in regularly pre-sit’? There is a handover, a welcome guide. Then just go on your holiday. It’s not that hard and doesn’t require so much micro-management.
Sometimes you just have to shrug and let stuff go, and have faith that karma will sort things out later.
Thought this was odd as well. Only thing I could think was that the sit was confirmed a ways in advance, and there was ambiguity or confusion about arrival date/times.
I do make a habit of touching base with hosts a few weeks out from my sits to reassure that I’m definitely still coming, & reconfirm arrival plans. If I’m flying or coming from a different country, I also tend to check in from my final flight and/or touchdown so they know nothing went amiss with travel plans.
Perhaps the host was anxious because they didn’t hear anything post-confirmation of the sit?
Yeah. Even in advance, both sides check in with other periodically. No idea why that’s an ‘issue’ as this HO seemed to think.
If they are new, maybe they expected more confirmation from the sitter. But really we both just check in a few weeks prior to the sit. Or if there is any news to share. Otherwise everyone stays on their happy path. Doesn’t need constant, regular, check-ins.
I certainly wouldn’t apply if I came across this sit.
But really post-confirmation - what is there to say? We booked our current sitters last November. We did the video chat, exchanged the welcome guide. Confirmed. The sit is now (April). Are they supposed to message each other weekly - ‘hello, still alive here. You?’
We messaged again when our plane tickets were booked. As did they. Otherwise, we chatted a few weeks prior to our sit and they definitely let us know when they arrived in the US safely. A week before they sent us their train ticket information and we confirmed we could pick them up (train station is only 10 minutes away).
Just puzzling…
We all have different experiences that color our decisions. I am glad all your first time hosts have been good experiences for you. Doing this only three or four times a year I would rather find one with reviews on both sides I can read.
Exactly. You “not knowing” a sitter who would apply for their sit has nothing to do with it either, from a statistical perspective considering that sitters comprise about half of the 250k member base of this platform.
I made no claim of how many sitters would, or would not, be interested in this homeowner’s sit. Merely that none of the ones I knew would be interested in a sit with a homeowner who reviews like that.
(Edited to comply with the Forum Guidelines)
That is totally an assumption on your part. THS never shares any kind of membership breakdown information. And even that 250k number has had its own controversy in the past.
THS is claiming 280,000 members on the website home page. There’s no breakdown of the # of sitters or owners publicly available.
Ask the HO for clarification, perhaps she made an error, you’ve got nothing to lose and if she then thinks she made an error she can ask the support team for help, as long as it’s done quickly.
Before you respond to her review, I’d pop a whatsapp message directly, and say "could I ask what the reasons were for the 3 x 3 star ratings you gave me, so that I can improve for my future sits. Help me to understand so that I make sure it doesn’t happen again with "I recommend checking in with her regularly ahead of her visit and during her visit to make sure she understands expectations, like arrival/departure times, feeding procedures, house keeping, etc.” and if you want to add… I’m really sorry I let you down to the end of it, and maybe she’ll change her score.
Then, depending on what she says, for example if she didn’t mean to hit 3 stars, you can say to her to contact the support team quickly to change the score.
It just sounds very weird, she said you cared for her pets really well, and left the house spotless. I’m confused, her end comments contradict what she said earlier, apart from the arrival/departure times.
It’s a figure of speech. I totally got what she meant. Don’t take things so literally.
And until very recently that total number referred to the number of pets on the site (which presumably included only homeowners data). Regardless, we have not known the breakdown previously and I don’t foresee that information being shared ever.
I totally agree with @Cat-ophile and wouldn’t apply for this sit after reading the review she left for you. As a first time host, there’s now a risk she won’t get to host a second time!
It’s worth responding to this review in a calm, unemotional manner and put the onus back on them, with something like:
I’m happy to know you’re pleased with the extra-special care I provided for (name), that I supplied you with regular updates with photos and that I left the house ‘looking spotless’, since I always do my utmost to ensure sits run smoothly (as my many other reviews will testify). After fully complying with your sit responsibilities as included in the listing and specified in your Welcome Guide, t’s therefore baffling that you have left this rather contradictory review. Nevertheless, I’m genuinely sorry to learn through this review that this first experience for you on THS has left you less than completely happy.
Yes, forget about the poor review…AFTER responding much as I did (with subsequent success in garnering sits!): “ thank you for the feedback. I am glad you were pleased with the lovely ——‘s care.” Done! And of course I agree with the wise forum posters that this HO surely shot herself in the foot by her nonsensical rating system. Oy! Carry forth, it’s over and done.
It is really frustrating when the HO has an attitude. I got 4 stars when I “cleaned too well”. You just take your time and respond.
On my second sit, in an RV, they gave me 4 stars for self sufficient when the power went out because there was a rip in the main power line, didn’t know and I called the technician.
I thought for a minute we were talking about the same HO as I have just had a similar experience. Having received over 100 5 star reviews the HO selected me because of my experience. Both animals needed daily medication and despite being reassured during the pre-acceptance video chat that their big dog walked well and didn’t pull on the lead, walking the dog turned out to be more like a daily tug of war. The review said that I had cared for the animals and home well and then gave me 4 stars for reliability, organization and cleaning. This was a HO that required (no demanded) photos every day and a detailed update message. The house was left a lot cleaner and tidier than when they left to start their journey. There was no space in the food cupboard or fridge for my food and I had to request some hangers for my clothes which I then had to hang on the back of a door as there was no wardrobe space. I realised during my stay from post it notes to herself around the house that she was dealing with a high level of anxiety and her dealing mechanism was to control as much as she could both of her own behaviour and responses and, it seems, of other people. It was an exhausting sit and I have no doubt any future prospective HO’s will be able to read between the lines of the mixed and confusing review. I’m sure the same will happen with you.