I think they do get reminders to put on clean bedding, to clean the fridge and prepare the house for their sitter. I just wouldn’t expect to have to start cleaning and clearing up somebody else’s mess before I could even start! I was lucky with my first sit, however, I am fast learning from the forum that I need to ask more specific questions!
Yes you’re right @Jomox27 - owners get a reminder (or three) to clean the house, change beds, empty bins, leave space and so on for their sitters. Apparently sitters get one too but yet to see one……
We’ve had the sitter message a few times- reminders for emptying bins, cleaning surfaces, stripping bed, mopping floors, etc and ofcourse patting Fido on the head before leaving (yes Fido!!!)
Frankly its rather insulting as a 60 year old to be told to do such basics which all decent guests and hosts should be doing automatically without thinking!!!
But clearly, with the totally disrespectful and horrible experiences we’re reading about here it is necessary to remind (some) people to be decent human beings!!!
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No way? @Cuttlefish getting reminders from THS is one thing, however, getting those reminders from sitters, that just seems rude and intrusive to me! I wouldn’t expect to go to someone’s house and have to empty bins first, but as you say, for most of us, this is an automatic response to leaving our house when going away. This is definitely an adult site build on trust, so extra important to do due diligence before making a confirmed agreement.
Apologies Cuttlefish that was a reply to @Lokstar 
Hi @Jomox27 Just to clarify- the sitter usually receives that cleaning message towards the end of the sit but sometimes- on short sits- we’ve received it even before we arrive!!!
The HOs also get a message about how they should prepare for the sitters. I’m not sure exactly what it says as I’m a sitter. But both sides are expected to leave everything very clean including emptying bins!
It seems that the messages are only randomly sent- (@Cuttlefish be happy- you’re not missing anything except irritation!!
)
Sadly, as sitters, we’ve occasionally had to do deep cleaning on arrival so clearly not everyone is reading and/or acting apon the guidance. Since complaing to THS about how annoying it was to receive I hardly ever get that email now thankfully!!
Was in a similar situation, and I tried to be understanding that everyone has a different experience of keeping a house clean. While it is definitely gross to be cleaning out fridges and dealing with overflowing bins, etc, for some people this is normal, or all they can manage doing.
My approach so far is that if a HO asks for feedback, then I give it directly and verbally. If they don’t ask, then leaving a written comment about the cleanliness will likely offend, and cost you stars.
I will definitely be more careful to read sitter reviews that mention a clean house, as this is important to me. I have also started asking about whether people smoke in the house, after learning the hard way.
I was on a five day sit over the New Year, I didn’t receive an email reminding me to leave the house as I found it. It may have gone into my junk mail - where it belongs as I do these things automatically!
I’m okay, with mostly anything if people are honest about it; if I was to arrive at a sit, and there was a note scribbled saying ‘apologies for the mess, time run away with me’ or something along those lines, I could be much more forgiving about it. Just to leave it dirty is completely rude. I feel most people are well aware of their actions.
Well as far as I’m concerned, the owners aren’t that lovely, since they left the house in such a deplorable state!! We had the misfortune to sit for a disgustingly dirty family last year, and we left, four days into a three week sit, we just couldn’t bear the dirtiness, and blood stained bedding, anymore.
You need to report this nightmare to THS, like we did. One of the rules of a HO, is they have to supply a sitter with a clean and tidy house, but clearly they have not, with you. They should either ship up, or ship out, and if I were you, I’d have left the next day. I’d rather pay for a hotel, then ever have to endure what we had to, and judging by your dilemma, I would suppose you would as well?
spot on 
Love this 
I’m feeling similarly about my current situation. It’s not as bad as yours, but still disappointing. The guest room is extremely smelly; I can’t stay there for a minute, so I have to sleep on the couch. Also, the kitchen and all the cooking utensils are dirty and oily, with some stains. I understand that some reasonable stains are acceptable, but these are just over the line. I won’t even try to cook this time because it actually makes me want to throw up. The bathroom is not very clean, but still reasonable. I did a proper cleaning before using it. So, I really wanted to express my true feelings, but I’m also wondering if I’m just being too picky. Definitely, sitters deserve a good living environment, and we deserve to know enough information before our sit.
Hello @CatloverForever welcome to the forum and glad you posted.
You can always state things in your review factually to be informative.
I also think discussing things with the HO after the sit and prior to posting the review may help.
You may be able to say something like “after talking with HO blah, the smell I experienced in the GB will be addressed for future THsitters. Also, HO blah was receptive to having a more tidy home upon arrival when I express concern about the bathroom…”
If the HO doesnt engage post sit…then a factual objective review of all good and not is best.
When the sitter does that, they risk a bad review.
I hope that @CatloverForever is on a very short sit. Otherwise they might try to leave early.
@pietkuip I agree with that possibility but the HO can still respond to a review so…
I guess where I am both on the platform and I am not actually in NEED of THS for sitters or travel…
I feel more free in my approach.
I am not hesitant to engage and feel very comfortable with communication. So…
@HelloOutThere i agree with @pietkuip its not a good idea to say anything to the host- its sure to influence their review of the sitter. The whole point of blind reviews is to be able to write the truth. If the host has left their place unreasonably dirty -which is so disrespectful towards the sitter- then it is good if they get exposed for it. IMHO.
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Me neither, and it got me three stars when I spoke up halfway through a sit.
The key thing is, sitters and hosts can be of best service to other sitters and hosts by being factual. When you’re factual, you don’t need to make judgments for other people and their sensibilities. Like if you say “I was surprised by X” or “I spent X time cleaning before I felt comfortable using the kitchen (or X)” or “ I couldn’t sleep in the guest room, because there was an X smell that I couldn’t get rid of,” those all are facts. Others who see such reviews can decide for themselves whether they want to sign up for the sit anyway. And hosts can read such and decide whether they want to do anything about it.
The key thing is, if people are too timid or too worried about hurting others with facts, no review system will work. And if you’re hurt by reviews that pull punches etc., it’s because you also contributed to that.
@pietkuip did you reply to the 3 star review?