It would do a disservice to strangers to the area if they had to search each city or town within commuting distance of say NYC, because they would need significant geographic knowledge and have to search each location. For such purposes, they’d be better off with an area search.
They do not. An owner gives their address. The system doesn’t base the mapping on that. The homeowner also has to fill in something where they write in the “nearest city, town, or village”. It is possible that this is where the fibbing comes in. Maybe someone in Ridgewood – which is in both Brooklyn and Queens depending on the address says “Brooklyn” because it’s hipster or New York City because that’s not a lie. However, the map then does it’s own inexplicable thing. I have no-lie New York, New York and my zip code in my actual address. I have “New York City” as my “nearest town and village.” I have a dot on the map that I cannot move or control approximate 7 miles downtown and considerably east of where I live. While 7 miles might not be a big distance in Montana, in Manhattan it’s huge. I cannot change it. Honestly, I’m not trying to fool people into thinking I live downtown and anyone reading my profile gets a more than a rough idea of my actual neighborhood. Homeowners have NO CONTROL over the map.
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Just echoing @Marion , we can’t place any pins, or do anything else for the map. In our listing, the map shows us to be about 10km from where we are, but you get an idea of our actual location by reading the listing.
There are other systems where one can put a pin, but THS is not one of those. Do not blame the HO for misdirection. It is the high-resolution maps on THS that create the wrong impression.
And that is not only a big enterprise like AirBnb that can do it right. It is also small hospitality exchanges where the software is maintained by volunteers, for example Trustroots.org - hikers and cyclists etc need that information.
It is incomprehensible that THS with its millions of revenue cannot manage that.
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@pietkuip but can you imagine, or maybe you know, how much Google Maps embed API must charge? They say it’s free but not to huge users like THS and member/users check maps multiple times so a per-use charge wouldn’t be controllable surely?
Yes, there is a cost. It was a reason that WarmShowers (the hospitality exchange for bicycle touring) did not have it for a while. I think they renegotiated.
But the map interface on THS is not worth much now. The resolution that is displayed as a default on listings is completely ridiculous. Is the size 3 kilometers north and south? The owners may well be living outside the area of that map. I always need to click zoom out several times to orient myself, to get some idea where the place is. No scale displayed, that is another issue.
Next spring, I am planning a pet sitting cycling tour in the UK, where the density of listings is high enough. I would like a good map.
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I get that HOs can’t control the mapping - but doesn’t it benefit everyone to clarify where the sit is from the get go?
I am in a city, and my listing describes which neighborhood. I wouldn’t give an unconfirmed sitter my home address, but I also write my listing so a potential sitter would not need it to evaluate what area I’m in - or they can ask further questions in the video call before deciding.
I grew up on the east coast, so I’m familiar with residents of NJ claiming to be “in Philadelphia”, and also that some places in NJ have easier transit to Manhattan than some actual NYC addresses. But to people who’ve never been to the region - especially anyone unfamiliar with US transit systems - it can be difficult to evaluate without a little help.
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It would seem that you could put one of the photos of your home as a screen capture of a map that would include your general area. Have you tried that and it was rejected ?
If you want help, message me and I’ll help you with that 
@Marion and @CatsAndDog I completely understand that Owners cannot place a pin precisely on their location. The example I gave was an Owner in Newark, New Jersey putting NYC as their closest City. That is completely wrong! Newark is their closest City.
Please, please, please people—tell the truth! There is a section in the listing about your location. This is where you can give even more information so that Sitters know approximately where you are. It should not be difficult.
Just to give you an idea, for example, if a homeowner lives in Sunset or out by the zoo, and they answer honestly that the nearest town, city or village is San Franscisco, or they even attempt to put their actual neighborhood, the dot is still going to show up downtown somewhere near the Asian Art Museum. If the owner doesn’t think to accurately describe the location, you would have no way of knowing where they were. It’s a dumb system. The map itself is misleading and the only counter is the homeowner describing the neighborhood in words, which even if they think to do, may still be confusing for sitters who think the map is accurate.
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@Marion We are now on the same page. I completely agree, even though I don’t know what UES is! lol. There should be a disclaimer, I suppose, that the map is not accurate, so that new members know this up front.
I am on the West Coast of the USA, and I often look in San Francisco. Most Owners have enough sense to mention the neighborhood where they live. It is very helpful to me. Some will say they live 2 blocks away from a particular park or other landmark, so that is pretty specific, awesome!
People who live in San Francisco and do not otherwise provide any other clues about their location—I believe that some literally did not think about this when they created their listing, while others might purposely be deceptive.
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I don’t use a map. When I’m scrolling through listings, I see a photo with a location and dates under it. THAT is what I’m talking about. If it says “New York City” under the photo, that’s where the sit should be. If it says “London,” under it, I don’t want to take the time to click on it, read through, and find out that it’s “only” a 40-minute train ride from London. While London is accessible from Kent or Surrey or Middlesex, those sits should not say “London” under the photo, which is what makes me click on the listing if I’m looking for a sit in London. If you’re in Middlesex, It should say that right on the landing page of the search results, along with the photo and dates. This way anyone looking for sits IN London can choose whether or not to click on it.
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Again, problem would be resolved if the map was accurate based on the owner’s actual location which Trusted Housesitters has in the system. Eliminate the question of “nearest town, city and village” and have the system map based on the address and you’ve solved the problem.
What? NJ’ers do that with Philly too?? Why can’t they ever just say they live in NJ?
Although to be fair, I have seen listings with “Monmouth, NJ” or “Jersey City, NJ” under the photo, so it obviously IS possible to be honest about your location on the listing instead of dancing around it. My point is that it shouldn’t be optional. It should be a requirement, just like our background checks. I sure couldn’t fudge that or be misleading!!
I don’t look at maps. I’m talking about the location listed under the photo on the search results. EDIT: But yes, that’s what I suggested before!! Base the location listed ON THE ADDRESS, not where the HOs choose to say they are.
I’m only 420 minutes from London! By jumbo jet, but still. 
LOL. Yup, I joked about that with friends. We’ve since moved across the U.S. — only minutes away!
I agree that would be the most accurate but for now, I think the HO should put the city they live in. I think the wording of the question should be changed as the HO may believe that is what they are asking with the “nearest town, city and village”. They should say what town, city, or village do you live in. If you aren’t in an incorporated city, put the city your mail would come to.
As far as the “not showing the accurate location within the city”, that’s a completely separate issue. Maybe we can deal with that later, but for now, people should put the city they live in. At least then I know if it’s in San Francisco instead of somewhere in the Bay area.
If HO are worried that people won’t know where their city is, they can put the proximity in the heading. When I look at a map for London or SF, I’ll still see their listing and can decide if it’s a location I wish to look at further.
Again, the system map based on the location would take care of all the problems.
Dan
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This is what I’ve been saying. THS has the address. And the location shown on the search results page, under the listing photo, should be based on the address. Not what the owner chooses to claim. If you live in Newark, NJ, it shouldn’t even be an OPTION to put “New York City” under your photo for sitters to be misled into clicking on it. It should say Newark, NJ and then if sitters see it on a map and are still interested, proximity to New York City can be described in the listing, or even in the title. I’d rather see a listing with, say, Laurel, MD under the photo and a title describing it is as “Near Washington, DC” than see Washington, DC under the photo, click on it, and THEN find out the sit is actually in a nearby state.
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And don’t even get me started on Newark Airport always being referred to as NYC. It’s in an entirely different state, and for the vast majority of NYC residents, a very lengthy and expensive trek. I’m tired of seeing great flight deals from “NYC” to wherever, clicking on it, and finding out I’d actually have to haul my backside out to New Jersey (and back), which would cancel out any advantages. Location is not subjective, and I am fed up to the back teeth of clickbait in all its forms and guises.