Just thought I would have a little moan after getting 4* in the self-sufficient category in my latest review. I do realise why as I was unable to take the rubbish and recycling out when I left the sit although I did leave the rubbish bag by the back door ready to be taken out with a note to apologise. I also didn’t put the recycling bins out on the due day but notified the owners why. The rubbish bins are in the garage and I couldn’t unlock the garage door because I have arthritic hands so locks are occasionally a problem. I did the same sit last year and had a problem with the lock then as well although that was a problem with relocking the door after I had put the bins out. It’s just a moan because I’ve been sitting for nearly 8 years with 5* across the board so this is the first 4* although it was 5* overall with a nice review.
That’s seems a bit harsh, deducting a point for such a small thing. Maybe their finger slipped when hitting the 5th star 
That’s disappointing and a bit mean of them I think especially given that the reason was health related.
Marking you down for that seems ridiculous to me. Sitters are people and we are not perfect, just as HOs are not perfect. I’ve entered many far less than perfect homes. A sit can still be excellent even if a minor thing was not done or forgotten. It makes it really difficult for sitters when the expectation is absolute perfection. Then we are worried about every little thing during the entire sit.
To be fair, I don’t think they knew it was health related, not something I usually talk about. I just said that I couldn’t manage the lock. However, I will write a reply to the review and mention why.
That is why some people do never give all stars.
So the expectation for a 5 star sit should be perfection? If someone forgets to empty one garbage can or puts one dish in the wrong place then it’s a 4 star sit. If that’s the case then that needs to work in both directions. Most HOs would not be getting 5 stars either.
Hey there!
It could indeed have been an accident. If not, your overall star score will still show as 5, seeing as you’ve only ever had 5 stars. I really wouldn’t worry too much if I were you, but I guess you could write a polite message just to ask if it was intentional or not 
Personally I’d probably leave it, but that’s just me 
Yes, I am leaving it. I know that my 5* rating will not be affected as it was 5* overall with the 4* only in one category which doesn’t affect the overall rating. As I said, it’s just a moan because I don’t like the 4* 
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Hi @Dace it is very possible that this was an honest mistake on the part of the homeowners, unless they have specifically said to you it was because you were unable to take the recycling and rubbish out.
If I were you I would just ask them and if it was a mistake it is very easily rectified and I’m sure you will feel happier for doing so.
The trouble with any review system is that a review says as much about the reviewer as it does about the person they’re reviewing.
No, they haven’t specifically said this. I am just guessing as it really is the only thing that I was unable to do. I am normally self-sufficient to the point of taking my own salt and pepper and TP with me!
@Dace In this instance then, I would just drop them a line and if it was a mistake it can be very easily rectified. Hope you manage to get it sorted
A HO marked me 4 stars for some category, 5 overall and for others. A year or so later they contacted me directly to ask if I’d sit for them. I couldn’t anyway, but I did think about that unexplained ding.
I can really understand where you’re coming from on this as I would feel the exact same way.
In fact, the same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. I agreed to do a very last minute overnight sit. Overall, it went well and at the end, the HO even asked me if I would be able to sit for her again the following week. I was already tied into another sit so had to say no of course. I could tell she was displeased with me for this and I was subsequently marked down in organisation and in the cleanliness category. Ouch!
Very galling this was given that I’d stepped in for her at the very last minute and I’d found the bathroom upon arrival in a less than pristine state. I’m trying to be polite and diplomatic here but you can probably read between the lines!
I am sorry you experienced this as it seems quite unwarranted to me. It does really sting though when you know you’ve gone above and beyond.
Ouch indeed!
@Nagy26 and @Samox24 Well, I followed your suggestion to contact the homeowner re. the 4* rating, and she has just replied to apologise saying that she just wasn’t concentrating because of foot pain and hadn’t realised that the garage door handle is actually broken. What a relief!!
Phew, great to hear! Glad it’s all sorted 
That’s fantastic news @Dace i’m so pleased you contacted the homeowner and it will now be corrected 
I know exactly how you felt and glad to hear your star rating has been changed to 5. Although not on this site (kiwihousesitters) I got 4 stars in the garden care category, with 5 stars in the rest which then showed up as 4 and a half overall! I hadn’t even been asked to look after the garden except to water a new tree which I did. During the sit, noticing the grass growing, I messaged the owner to ask if I could mow the lawn for her which she agreed to. However, despite efforts I couldn’t get the lawn mower to work so presumably that’s why I got 4 stars! It did upset me too having, like you, got 5 stars across the board