My New-Sitter Top Tip is…drumroll 
please…READ THE REVIEWS + take notes. I have learned more helpful tips from past sitters about the pets, their nuances, and secrets which have stacked an incredible foundation for my success. Thank you to all the sitters who have taken the time to write specific detailed reviews, I value & appreciate you beyond words! 
I find the sitter’s perceptive invaluable, and when coupled with the home owners information I have really felt prepared. Between us, I have also read a few reviews and realized the sit would not be a match for me, saving me time before I applied. As I type I am sitting for a wonderful family and sweetheart of a pet that are new to TH and have no reviews. 
They won my heart with their thoughtful profile and then our Zoom meet and greet. I am investing in writing their first ever well-deserved 5 star review not just for them as a pet family but for YOU the sitter. I have started including a line that says, “The ideal sitter for this sit would be someone who…” Why? Because this helped me as I read your thoughtful reviews and I’d like to pay it forward. PLUS It’s a win win that serves the pets we serve in the most beautiful way. 
Do you have any tips for writing a review that serves homeowners, pets and sitters alike?
Hi @Gratitude 
I agree with this - sitter reviews can sometimes tell you more about the practical day-to-day reality of a sit than the listing itself.
I also pay close attention to recurring themes across multiple reviews rather than just the overall tone. Things like:
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how much independence the pets actually have
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whether routines sound flexible or highly structured
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how accurately the listing matches the lived experience
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and whether previous sitters genuinely seemed relaxed and comfortable there
I especially appreciate reviews that gently describe the “best fit” sitter without making it sound negative. That can save everyone a mismatch later.
And yes … occasionally a review section can quietly confirm that a sit probably isn’t for me either 
WeRPAWsome what awesome additions! I am taking note of your top tips!!! Thank you
@Gratitude I would add that I not only read the reviews of the sitter, but also the reviews given by the host to the sitter. The tone and any sense of showing appreciation is important to me. Also, any highlights in the eyes of the hosts tells me what is likely important to them. If there isn’t a host’s review, that can also be telling but then needs further digging, unless the host rarely reviews their sitters. That’s also telling and someone I would avoid. If I make the effort to sit, I feel I deserve a review.
Super point Snowbird! I’m learning so much - thank you for your valuable insights 
I was just thinking about this today. Often times Homeowner’s listings don’t have a lot of info - especially about the personalities of their pets. I find knowing more about the pets not only lets me know if it is a good sit for me but gives me more info to write a better application.
Besides pet personalities, I like to include info about the location (ease of shopping, things to do nearby,cetc.), specific things about the house (like lots of light or a soft bed), and how accommodating the host are (did they provide space for my food and clothing).
I oftentimes learn more about the sit from the reviews than the listing.
And another thing. I just left a review for a sit. I revisited their prior reviews and saw someone mentioned that service people came to the house announced. So I included in my review that we were informed each time a service person needed to come by and were asked if it was a convenient time.
My reviews are probably more detailed than average, but I have a similar mindset. I like to help the hosts and their pets align with the best fit, as well as give sitters information upfront that could be helpful in deciding whether to apply.
I like to give a good overview of the location and house itself, and include information that many sitters typically want to know, such as if the neighborhood is quiet, whether you can navigate the area without a vehicle, what things may be in walking distance, average driving time to supermarkets and other amenities, etc… If there are any potential ‘drawbacks’ I would mention them as well as it may make the sit unsuitable or undesirable for a given sitter–for example, if the house has a lot of stairs, someone with mobility issues may not want to apply.
I also give a pretty detailed overview of the pet’s behavior and routine, not only for the sitter’s benefit, but just as importantly for the pet’s benefit. If a pet is accustomed to early morning feedings, walks,etc… I always mention the timelines as this wouldn’t be a good fit for people who prefer to sleep in. If a bigger dog is challenging to walk on the leash because he pulls a lot, I would mention this behavior and stress that it is only a good sit for someone who is stronger and comfortable handling such behavior.
And all of these things are always mentioned in a neutral way as they are simply facts of the sit,. From what I have seen on the forum, it seems like a lot of people are reluctant to share certain aspects of the experience because they think it sounds like they are being critical, but they are just sharing facts that are helpful to know.
I always mention the positive aspects of their behavior as well and really stress those things, such as not barking a lot, being very relaxed, good on the leash,etc… I like to think the reviews give the sitter a good sense of what caring for this pet would be like day to day for the most part.
All of your points KC1102 are great ones and add to our thoughtful conversation. 
We are indeed similar in our mindful and positive approach (bonus you gave me a few new ideas too!). Painting that visual picture as you outlined by using details is a wonderful approach. I appreciate your insights and thank you for sharing!
Makelikeanapeman that kind touch of reviewing past reviews and adding new clarity to your new review is incredible. Omgosh yes, I too love the local tips like shopping and activities nearby! Your valid and helpful tips are a great contribution - thank you for taking the time to share these insights!!!
On our second sit I started writing my review (in notes) as I went as things occurred to me. The hosts had just added new kittens to the mix so we were the first to review them. I found that really helped put it all together at the end. I too try to put in all the things that are useful to me as a sitter, assuming they will be useful to other sitters. Often they are a bit long, but they are thorough 
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Cathie thank you adding your thoughts. Honestly I like the long reviews the best - and I think a lot of sitters feel that way because they are written by thoughtful sitters like yourself sharing exceptional tips.
Just goes to show how very important it is for sitters & home owners to write an honest review. With the blind review system, that has been in force for some time, people don’t need to worry about receiving a retaliatory review
Members are still reluctant to leave bad reviews either because they don’t want to be mean or they don’t the sitter to retaliate via offline harassment or they prefer to avoid the mudslinging which will occur in the review comments.
Sometimes there’s no way to write a review that serves all alike. That’s reality. What can help: Keep in mind why the reviews exist — to help others who might consider a sit or a sitter. Also, ask yourself when writing a review, what would you have liked to have known before the sit?
Some people try to be “nice,” which means they might gloss over, pull punches, misrepresent or outright lie. Why they do that doesn’t actually matter to the person reading their inaccurate or false review. But it’s good to keep in mind that reviews are only as good as the person writing them when it comes to accuracy and subjectivity. All reviews are subjective.
Personally, if there are previous reviews, I triangulate info. Like if someone has written reviews and they all sound glowing and similar, or superficial, I will tend to discount them. Or if they seem consistently or repeatedly critical, I’ll also tend to discount their review.
And BTW, those “nice” people who write inaccurate reviews are actually being nice to themselves more than anything, because they don’t want to do what’s uncomfortable or hard. Meanwhile, they do a disservice to others who need accurate reviews.
Smiley, Maggie8K, Maoli
Thank you for joining the perspective that this topic can be a difficult journey too!
I do something quiet transparent, I exchange honest reviews with my homeowner before posting. As a former teacher I learned this approach (thanks to my exceptional mentors) with families of our students, especially in situations that could be challenging. I slid into this method naturally as a TH-sitter but hearing your concerns I realize this could be a very useful tool for others. A post isn’t the ideal platform for me explain this process this but if you’d enjoy learning more about this process feel free to email me directly 
Hi @Gratitude Am I right in that you have only completed a couple of THS sits? That’s great that for those sits, you have felt comfortable sharing your review before submitting it. For others where the experience may not have been as positive as yours, sharing a review beforehand could have a disastrous result. Sitters, in particular, lobbied THS for years to introduce a blind review system similar to Airbnb plus have owner categories to star rate so that there would be more equality.
I hope your future sits are as positive as those completed where you share your review beforehand.
Thank you temba, and no sadly not all my experiences have been easy ones. What works best for us individually is as unique as we are. We must each find our way.
This reminds me of a guy I once knew who sold stuff on Ebay but he would ship before he got payment because “he’s a nice guy and that’s what he does”. I suggested it’s only a matter of time before that strategy comes back to bite him.
Same with yours. If you inform a host that the pending review will be less than 5 stars, you can expect them to do the ___ thing and leave you a bad review as well which puts them in a better position to defend themselves against the one that’s headed their way.
Honesty is unfortunately not always the best policy.
(Edited in line with the Forum Posting Guidelines)
Thanks, but no need.