Good point from @PVGemini on now writing the feedback. Doesn’t all have to be bad but flagging the dog for future sitters would be really useful. The HO can’t alter their review now.
Brilliant - yes. Sitters are not created equal. With our track record, we refuse all additional duties such as lawn mowing or pool cleaning etc. although I know some sitters will do this. Watering plants is fine, but garden work is not. For us, if you want gardening - hire a gardener. If you want an employee - offer payment. If you want a cleaner - pay for one. If you want a great sitter for free - consider the experience of the sitter in your home and ensure you make it an enjoyable exchange for their free services, which you are lucky to receive for free and are not entitled to receive for free. The moment I feel the attitude of being treated like an employee… I am disinterested. There are so many sit opportunities on and off this platform and my time and energy is important to me. Respect is not optional.
4 Likes
Agree! This is such an important point you are making. An employee gets PAID. There is not a contract to work for the owner. It’s an exchange agreement based upon generosity and trust, not an employer-employee relationship or dictatorship for that matter lol Most owners respect this. Some simply act entitled in inappropriate ways…unfortunately.
2 Likes
@petlover If you have now received your 5* review (hopefully nicely worded too) you have nothing to lose by writing honest feedback now. It would be very helpful for future sitters. Do not rely on THS to intervene- I don’t think they can force the hosts to change anything on their profile, only encourage it. Thats why reviews and feedback are so important. We are the ones ‘on the ground’ so to speak, having the real experience. Its down to us to share our experiences honestly. THS just brings us together. If the host doesn’t like your feedback they can reply on it on their page. But they can’t respond further on your page as they have already given their review. You can safely now break the pattern of no feedback for that host and let future sitters know the truth.
3 Likes
I wonder what the proportion is of sitters is that will see this. I was always using the web interface where this is invisible. It was only on this forum that I read about the extra functionality in the app.
Even many ordinary users of the app may not realize what huge red flag this really is.
Pietkuip,
I agree with you. We didn’t appreciate that it was a red flag that three out of four sitters before us hadn’t left a review. I’m sorry to be selfish, but it seems that unfortunately retaliatory reviews are allowed to happen on THS. Building up our profile so that we can get desirable sits is very important to us, as much as we’d like to help other sitters avoid what we experienced on this sit.
We will however follow up with THS about this listing if we don’t see any changes disclosing the issue.
Starsitter,
We also turn down sits requiring more than taking care of the pets and cleaning up after ourselves. Some of the listings I see want an awful lot of free work. Maybe some are willing to provide it. As long as it’s disclosed, I don’t consider it a lack of respect, but we still won’t apply for sits that require lawn care, heavy cleaning, or duties behind standard routine home and pet care.
1 Like
Are you sure the homeowner can’t alter their review now? Could they make retaliatory comments on our review if we said something they didn’t like?
Hi @petlover they definitely can’t change their 5 star review. They could add a comment at the bottom of your feedback but if you word it well then I don’t think that’s an issue. Keep it factual and unemotional. If you need to check with someone why not talk to support first to make sure you’re covered? Best of luck (we’re on a tricky one right now so feeling your pain 
)
@petlover if you already received the review from them, you can safely write your honest review and give it the 1 or 2 stars it deserves. They can’t edit the stars or feedback they already gave you. The only thing they can do is comment on your feedback but that only shows up on their profile. Please warn and save future sitters like me. Like @Cuttlefish stated, just word it nicely but get your point across
2 Likes
I appreciate the detail of these questions, thank you!
1 Like
@suzydawg I love “have any previous sitters mentioned any issues or concerns while sitting for you? If so please describe.” That’s one I will have to start asking
1 Like
I’m in a similar predicament. Following.
Can a HO change their review after the original was submitted? I’m worried to give a truthful review in case it backfires and they change their review once I review them.
This is a good question. I am not sure. I’ve been told that all they can do is write a response to your review. This still concerns me though, as I prefer not to have any negative comments about us on the THS website.
They can only write a response to your feedback @Travelgirl1111 - they can’t change their review once posted. Be truthful, non emotional and specific and it can only help your future sitters. Good luck 
1 Like
@Travelgirl1111 -first of all sorry that you’ve had a negative experience. To answer your question a host can’t change their review once submitted.
If you stick only to facts in your feedback (without emotion -not easy ) it will be clear for future sitters what the negative issues are .
Also include positives not just negatives .
Hopefully there are some positives about the home , usually lots of positives about the pets ( unless these had undesirable behaviours which were not disclosed before the sit ) and then state any major negatives but try to avoid a long list of minor negatives as this can look like you are unreasonable.
For example if there were things that are against THS code of conduct these are major things to mention .
Keep in mind that some sitters will be happy to accept different standards to you so if it’s not against the code of conduct ask yourself is this something that needs to be said .
I have had to write about a sit that was curtailed when the host came back early - apart from that it was a great sit - but that was a major negative so I felt I had to address it to warn future sitters - I found the hardest part was deciding on how many stars to give to be fair .
You don’t have to write feedback straight away. Feedback can be written at anytime even months later .
If there were major issues that were against the code of conduct you should also inform member services- as far as I know they don’t take any note of negative feedback . So they won’t record / take any action towards an host who has not followed the code of conduct unless you inform them by contacting them directly.
1 Like
Since you are new, email to
2 Likes
@Travelgirl1111 No- Hosts cannot change their review once submitted - this is something THS is absolutely strict about. So don’t worry you can be absolutely truthful in your feedback. Just try to keep to the facts and leave emotion out. Future sitters will be grateful. If the hosts write you an unfair review you can always reply to that review- below it- and future hosts reading your reviews will see it. Again try to keep emotion out, stick to facts if possible.
1 Like
You might also want to let someone else read your review before you post it, to ask how it comes across, how you come across. I have seen profiles where the person describe themselves as “relaxed” but where reviews and long responses indicate otherwise.
I have a sit booked where there were unfavourable reviews on both sides, but in my judgment the HO was the reasonable party. So I am not concerned, but it will be interesting to hear the story.
2 Likes