Ah… but you are too kind to most of our mathematically inept friends 
“maybe I should have done a 3. lol.” - I was thinking the same…
Aaaaw, instant flashback to my grandfather, who died the day before his 88th birthday, and had been widowed some 25 years earlier. He’d had boxer dogs all his life, but his last dog was a savage little terrier that he’d rescued.
He lived 300 miles away, and I used to get the train to visit him with Mum. The house was quite literally falling down around him (partly due to minor earthquakes in the area), and was in exactly the sort of state that you’d expect from an elderly gentleman living on his own and fiercely refusing any help. We would wait until the TV was on at full blast for his evening soap operas, and then go into stealth cleaning mode. It would have been a Trusted Housesitter’s nightmare assignment, but we always managed to have a laugh with him, despite being welcomed with a rather gruff ‘when are you going home?’ within ten minutes of our arrival!
I can imagine it’s really difficult to leave an honest review, especially when you are able to empathise with the home owners. But if it’s done with kindness and sensitivity, then you shouldn’t feel guilty - your review might prompt them to see their home through the eyes of an outsider and take action, making it not only a nicer environment for the next sitter, but also for themselves.
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Are they first time hosts? If they are it’s more important to give them some feedback - could you do that offline? If not, what had other sitters said.
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Rating is subjective because we all have different standards of what’s spotless, clean, acceptably clean, dirty, filthy. And the same goes for all the categories. But I think we should try to be objective in setting a range of 1 to 5 in every category.
I feel we are in a transition process to more honest, clear reviews and, once that system is protocol, then spotless would be 5, clean 4, etc. I think now people are rating an average of 1 to 1.5 stars above what they really feel.
Even if we got to that stage of rating, where the top is all categories successfully fulfilled, we should still remember that we can’t ask more than that. A surface of a floor can’t reach the level of cleanliness of a kitchen counter or a kitchen counter that of a dish. The cleanliness of a brand new frying level doesn’t last long if you use it often and you are not going to throw it away just because a sitter is coming. We can’t expect a common flat to be a mansion. A modest flat still deserves 5 stars if it was accurately listed and the amenities mentioned were actually available to the sitter.
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@CreatureCuddler if I leave a review, I’m considering to do same - a 3* in terms of cleanliness but would highlight all the positive in the comment section
@ChristineB I don’t think I have the heart to tell them, which is also why I’m considering not leaving a review. Would’nt be fair in terms of my previous sits either, which have been all 5* and with good reason.
It appears being their second, first one about a year ago.
I suspect that’s when they did the cleaning and took pictures for the profile etc
@Silversitters @elmi4711
I agree—it’s not a hotel but an exchange of services between private individuals, not professionals.
However, the pictures in the listings and profiles, should of course accurately reflect reality. Otherwise, it can end up feeling like a catfish Tinder match😅
All you really expect is what was listed; nothing more. If that’s the case, I’m all 5-star.
We rely on each other to be frank and honest for each sit. If you refuse to tell the truth and help fellow sitters out to make an educated choice as to what is expected when they arrive, you’re setting others up for disappointment and possibly failure. We need sitters to clearly communicate how hosts live and treat them as a guest in their home. Please leave an honest review. The hosts may improve their conditions if you tell the truth.
Love the name BTW - @biscuit
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(Didn’t find the original post for this @elmi4711 so I just quote you)
I don’t know about that. Every sit has more aspects than the categories we rate. That means there might be factors, that would make me give a different overall rating than what the average might be.
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I hope you will do an honest and factual review @biscuit for the reasons other sitters have given. With the review system now “blind”, not leaving a review may reflect back on you, not just the owner. Sitter members “fought” to get the review system changed to something like Airbnb and finally THS did act. We owe it to our fellow members to fulfil our part in the review process, whether we are owners or sitters.
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That’s fair enough but there should be a limit of deviation. Otherwise it feels like the rating is too emotional or not well thought through. A window explaining the rating would solve this.
I plan on being MORE honest in future reviews. I recently did a sit where the house was disgustingly dirty and untidy. But I gave a kind review because I felt sorry for the owner as her husband died 2 years ago leaving her with 2 young children. I cleaned and kept tidy the lounge, kitchen and my bedroom and ignored the dirty clothes and cups on the stairs and landings and closed the doors to the horrors in their bedrooms. In response to my pleasant review she complained that I left the house as I found it!!! She clearly expected me to clean it for hee. I sm also unlikely to sit for a newbie again.
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Out of context, that’s not a bad review.
Is it possible that she didn’t even notice? Or that she devoted to your review the same attention she devoted to cups lying on the stairs?
I know this transition process is being difficult, especially when we think of the reviews we have written in the past but we’ll gradually get there.
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@Newpetlover She said she would never use THS after her experience with me because “Did I really want or need to be sent whatts app messages whilst on holiday asking me where my induction sauce pans were and where the washing line was when she was standing by it?”. There were NO pans for the shiny new induction hob … it turned out I was supposed to use the old/dirty kitchen rather than the new one in the photos. I started the sit a few days early with no handover and a minimal welcome guide as someone had let her down and it was a large house with large garden, very untidy and disorganised so not easy to find anything . She also said “The house was like a refuge for spiders when we came back- yes she left the house exactly as she had found it!”. Bear in mind, this is also a farmhouse on a working farm with sheep and cattle, so yes there were spiders. And I ALWAYS leave a house as I find it, which 99.9% of the time is spotlessly clean. As I say, I just wish I had been more honest in my review.
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Well, there’s some context now!
Did you answer her review? I think there’s no time limit for that.
This was her response to mine. She didn’t do one … said she was too busy.
I wouldn’t call that ‘bohemian’ living. That’s dirty - cat urine on bedding, dirty bathroom and kitchen, food trash, etc. I could understand flies if they leave doors and windows open or even clutter, but not that level of dirtiness. I’d rate ‘cleaniness’ at a 1 or 2 star and note in the review how this could be improved upon. Also, noting that the HOs are wonderful people and this is their way of living (if that is what they said).
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This was her response to your nice review!!!
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Exactly my thoughts.
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I do think one should leave a factual review.
When it comes to living conditions of some, there can also be health reasons, both mentally and physically. From being overwhelmed and to poor eyesight (I’ve heard that many people that had removed eye cataract suddenly see that their home is in need of a good cleaning. )
Or in an early stage of dementia-related illnesses, get poor ability to take initiatives and being less able to manage. Often they will be in denial if family and friends say something. I have seen this with elderly around me - there is quite a long time when people around are wondering a little bit, until everything crumbles and it is clear to everyone the reason why.
So there is a possibility that if a sitter say something, it can be easier for them to get the help they need. They can be more likely to listen to their close ones, more likely to accept help - or they can mention the review to someone so that the «someone» will be more aware.
Many words in short; don’t be afraid to leave a factual review. Along your path you might actually get help to someone who needs it.
@Wildcolonialgirl I have given a too good review and regretted it. My regret was that I said I recommended the sit. Would love to withdraw that recommendation.
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Thank you @Gabba I’m considering naming my next pet that😉
I promise I’ll do that. Cause this is people who are perfectly capable of leaving their home in the condition that was listed and photographed —there’s actually a family member overlapping with me tomorrow, so will get a chance to see their reaction to the sanitary overhaul😅
I usually go the extra mile, but didn’t really expect it to be this😅
After all, it’s Trusted House Sitters - not Cleaners!
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