The word messy is subjective and ambiguous.
I prefer imperfect beds and some clutter in photos to perfectionism, spitefulness and a judgemental attitude towards others.
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interesting you should say that about the toilet seats… it’s a habit that differs from place to place - like the direction of the toilet roll !!
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my message was in reply to Poppy’s
Yes definitely, clutter and mess definitely put us off, as do a lot of beautiful photographs of local landmarks and sites and almost no photographs of the home.
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I absolutely do not understand why there are pictures with toilet seats up??? It’s disguting.
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Good for you - we’ll leave those sits for you 
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Just saw a listing for a home that looks like an indoor junk yard. Shudder. Don’t know why someone would live like that, much less post pictures and invite anyone to stay.
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@Globetrotter Oh gawd aye. That is a red flag for me too. Puts me off big time. Not only that if there are dishes and things lying around. Okay people have to live etc but if you are tqking photos for a listing. and want to attract sitters, a wee bit common sense as to the presentation is a must.
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Agree that judgment is involved. Doesn’t have to be perfection, but a mess is a turnoff.
Tangentially, I interview job candidates and one a few years back was a nonstarter — showed up for a video interview with a sinkful of dishes, pots and such in the background. Lacked common sense.
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I am so glad you posted this as I thought I was the only one! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told my husband that I can’t believe people post pictures with messy beds. I’m not talking unmade, but made with rumples and wrinkles in the bed covers. It takes a few seconds to smooth things out.
Even more shocking is people who rent their homes (Airbnb, etc.) with rumpled beds. I take a hard pass on those as well.
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I don’t want to live in other peoples mess and dirt so an absolute red flag for me is an untidy room. If the HO thinks nothing of showing an untidy room in their photos then that suggests they don see the mess and then I wonder about the dirt that they also don’t see! I move on quickly!
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Toilet seats up is a big turnoff for me as well. However one of our best sits showed a loo with the seat up as the first picture. I was so intrigued that I scrolled on and realised they were new to THS and clearly didn’t realise how the order of the photos came out on the listing. The house was spotlessly clean and tidy, fabulous animals and location. We’re returning next month!
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It’s funny, messy beds and rooms are a huge turn-off for me, but open toilets are no trigger at all! Okay, up toilets (seat up), that’s a yucky. Is that what you’re all talking about?
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I think people mean the actual seat up and not necessarily the seat “lid” up…
Oh, that makes sense. Yes, that is pretty gross, I admit. I just don’t see it very often, luckily.
There’s a current sit listed with the first photo showing of just the bedhead and the mattress on the frame. Rest of photos look fine and reviews are positive so maybe the HO just doesn’t realise that’s her first photo showing. Obviously other sitters haven’t been concerned or raised it with her.
Yes, I’m with you: if they don’t understand or can’t be arsed to present their best selves when promoting (now, there’s a clue) their sit, then they’ll be no different, or worse, when you’re sitting for them.
This is also the reason why I scroll right past sits with no pics.
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I totally agree and would bypass that kind of messy place but on the other hand I prefer that a HO does not make the bed and clean for the picture and than arriving and finding in a messy place would not be better. People should show a picture of their place as it is when they live in so we can choose not to book there.
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Like dating sites where guys post a bathroom selfie with a toilet in the background! C’mon!
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Spot on. The photos predict what you will get, and you ignore warning signs at your peril!
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