Asking in the sitter section to hear your thoughts. I’ve been on THS for many years and have had only one bad sitter. It was someone who just joined and I was the first sit they had done. It was before reviews were published only if both parties left a review so I had chickened out and didn’t leave one.
Since then I only accepted sits from people who had 10+ 5*, however this most recent sit I had accepted from someone who only had done a couple sits and reading their bio, she seemed really sweet so I decided to give her a chance.
I always have the home professionally cleaned, obviously don’t expect the same but in my guide I just say to please clean up after yourself. I’ve come home after 2 weeks - the place has not been vacuumed at all (my cat is a long haired and the sitter has waist length hair which was everywhere including in the fridge and cooking ingredients), skid marks in the toilet, food and crumbs in my bedroom including the bed, the kitchen cupboards, drawers, surfaces and appliances had food residue, my cat threw up a furball on my bedroom carpet, it was near the door you can’t miss it. It was dried so had been there at least a day and the sitter was still at my place when I arrived.
Fine if you don’t want to pick up my cat’s furball or vacuum their hair but I really don’t want to clean your sh** stains or get rid of your noodles off my pillow and bed. Also my cat doesn’t sleep in her bed anymore which is close to my bed. She seems scared of it so not sure what happened there. I asked the sitter but she said said nothing happened.
I don’t want to leave a review but now getting asked daily to leave one - which I think is quite funny as communication from the get go was non existent, I didn’t know at one point if she was still doing the sit and was close to cancelling as she never responded to messages after we confirmed the sit. As I said she seemed sweet and is just starting out as a sitter so don’t wan’t to hinder her chances but coming home after a 20 hour flight the last thing I wanted to do was deep clean the toilet and soak my bedding in stain remover to get rid of oil and sauce.
If you don’t leave a review (a truthful one) only her review will appear and you’ll be fuming while reading about what a wonderful time she had in your home.
As a sitter - I think it is very unfair to sitters (and hosts) that make an effort that such behavior get same grading or no remarks as us who have put planning and time in to taking care of the pet and returning the home in a good state.
I’m sure you didn’t think of that, so to broaden the perspective. Also - if I would like sitters before me to give me a factual impression of what I can expect I need to do the same. Factual and honest.
People can make mistakes. A truthful and kind review can spark better behavior next time and also guide your future applicants of what you are looking for in a sitter. Because before I apply I read the sitters reviews of you, but I also look up the one you gave them as I find that informative of your sit.
Just describe the sit as it was with good and bad, unemotional, factual and honest.
Thanks all. I’ll leave a review and will be factual, not emotional or overly detailed like I was above but just enough to convey the cleanliness was an issue. I was just feeling really hesitatnt as when I did eventually speak and meet her she was lovely and friendly.
I’m just really really sad my cat doesn’t sleep in her bed anymore, she doesn’t even go into the bedroom. I just brought it over to her and she bolted as soon as she saw it. Assuming it accidentally fell on her but I’ll never know.
It is IMPORTANT to note real issues.
Otherwise, as has been said above, how will any of us in the community distinguish between genuinely considerate, caring people and those who abuse the system?
You don’t have to be cruel, but be honest.
Consider the next HO who takes this Sitter at their word, seeing no red flags from previous reviews, and has a similarly upsetting experience!
You wouldn’t chosen this person had other HOs written reviews that concerned you.
There are going to be many sitters wanting to apply for most sits.
The good ones shouldn’t be on the same level as this inconsiderate person.
Other HOs deserve to know your true experience.
Remember the sitter has an opportunity to leave a response to your review. So if this is honestly a nice person and a potentially good sitter they can respond in a way that shows they are learning and will do better next time. Honest reviews benefit everyone.
I am sorry this happened to you! As others have said, please, please leave an honest review.
I have seen many Owners say, “Clean up after yourselves,” which for a 2-3 night stay, would be fine. To me, this means to clean up in the kitchen after cooking, leaving it the way I found it, and touching up the bathroom, and a quick sweep and vacuum of the main living area. This should not take any more than 30 minutes for a short stay.
However, for a stay of 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, I expect to CLEAN the home. I look at it this way: even if I am at my own house, I would need to do a BIG cleaning every 1-2 weeks. There is no avoiding this. Dirt happens.
A suggestion for Owners: rather than saying “Clean up after yourself,” which can be interpreted to mean “clean minimally,” consider telling the Sitter that “My home will be clean when you arrive, and I expect that the rooms you use will be clean when I return.” And…make sure you have all your cleaning products, rags, sponges, broom, dustpan, vacuum handy and in working order!
Also, I think it is perfectly fine to say “No food or drinks (other than water) in the bedroom” and “No eating while on the sofa.” I assume you have a dining table or kitchen counter with stools.
I’m still chuckling at “skid marks”.
But yes, what others said, leave an honest review. You can certainly start off with saying she was very sweet and friendly etc., but the communication problems and mess are something future HOs would want to know about. If it hurts her chances of getting more sits, that may be a good thing, because you are saving others the same headaches.
Maybe spraying some Feliway or sprinkling catnip on the cat bed or giving her some treats there, would get your kitty interested in it again?
Maybe not overly detailed but specific enough so that it’s clear the house was really messy when you came back. People cleaning standards vary a lot and if I read something like “there were some issues regarding cleanliness” I would probably assume it was nothing major but what you described is really unacceptable and very rare.
You could also mention that the cat is not sleeping in her bed but you can’t be sure if that is somehow related to the sit. That way you’re just stating a fact.
You come across as a caring person, afraid that a poor review may hinder her future chances at house sitting.
She might come across as lovely, but it sounds like she hasn’t learnt yet how to be a gracious host at someone’s house. Your honest review will demonstrate to her that not all shortcomings can be overlooked.
I love and try to follow this saying: clean up after yourself, your mother doesn’t work here.
Your home is professionally cleaned before your sitter arrives?
I always pride myself in leaving the home as good as it was when I arrived. I’d be down on my knees scrubbing everyday.
No you are not being too fussy. Leave then the review they deserve and hopefully next time you will get a sitter who deserves the care you put into your preparations.
Absolutely write a review! Be honest. If communication was shaky from the get go…give her 4 stars. If she left the place a dump, cleanliness 2-3 stars. (Or 1 haha )
If her care of your cat was iffy, 4 stars on pet care. Explain all your reasons in the review, be factual (not emotional) and let other people know. THEN if she writes you a 5 star review stating that everything was peachy-keen and roses, then other HO will know what really happened. Definitely help out others by writing a review, do NOT think you are being rude. You are simply helping all the other home owners and sitters out there!
)