Hi there my name is Michael! Im new here and a little confused. I live in Canada 
(Halifax,NS) and im interested in house sitting how does one get started? How do you connect with people?
-Michael
How-to info is posted on the THS website for everyone to see. How it works: How it Works | Find a House Sitter | TrustedHousesitters.com
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Welcome to forum @Eastcoast51 !
THS is a site that is based on a mutual exchange. Sitter does not get paid - the exchange is that the sitter cares for pets while host is away and in return sitter get to use the home of the host as a guest (and keeping it tidy and clean as when host left). Both sitters and hosts pay membership and are equal partners.
You will find a lot of articles on the website like Maggie8k suggests, and also here on forum. Keep in mind, though, that members often seek advice on forum when there is an issue. We are paying members because we (still) want to be here! 
You will also get a lot of insight reading listings from sitters and hosts on the site - and be sure to check out the «reviews»-section of listings as they can also give valuable insight in what this is about in TrustedHousesitters.
People here are everything from people working full time jobs and using THS for vacation to full time nomads (working from home or retired), travelling solo, couple or families. It is all about finding a good match between a host and a sitter and the love of pets.
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Hi Michael. We live in Amherst and have used this site for a year (and one other site for a French sit). I also still find the set up confusing as I am very low tech. However, in a pinch you pay an annual fee to join (we took the least expensive), get some credible friends you’ve done things for to act as references (nice if you’ve looked after their pooches/kitties, but okay if they just know you as a good person), we got police security checks done too (but don’t think this site requires them), do a write up on yourself, get some photos and go from there. To get some credibility with people looking for a sitter, maybe try some ‘low application’ sits near home to get your feet wet. We did a sit in France with another company, then the Valley, Lunenburg and just came back from one in England. Wiggle all around the site and try to sort things out before you pay. Although it still confuses me, I haven’t yet sorted out exactly what confuses me so I can’t query it.
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I remember when I applied my first sitting few years ago. I tried the local area and the city I am familiar with. I was rejected by few HO in the beginning. The funny thing is one of those HO sent me invitations few months later after my first successful sitting.
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Apply for the sits you like. Make sure you can get there. When a host family reaponds, set up a video call. I used WhatsApp but you could use other apps too. If you feel you are a good match, then accept and follow thru.
Some advice - it is not a free vacation. The costs of it are air fare, maintenance for food and transportation and time commitment.
Time commitment is usually a big thing. If you want to site see, then taking an assignment where the pet needs meds every two hours can’t work out.
I go for the experience of living somewhere else. Also, watch the exchange rate the Canadian dollar is worth very little. Have fun
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I’m new. Unfortunately, I don’t have a recommendation yet. Therefore, I can’t publish my profile. How can I get a reference? Or publish my profile without a recommendation?
Thanks for your Help.
Hi Ulrike, and welcome. The reference letter that should be part of your profile can simply come from an employer, a colleague, a friend of yours. Maybe you have taken care of a neighbour’s house or pet and they can write a character letter about you?
Once you create your profile and want to start getting proper reviews, you could start by applying to local sits.
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Ask close friends who know your character to be a reference for you if you don’t have any yet.
Hi Michael, I’ve been here a year. From the USA. What i would recommend is getting all your references or site referrals from people you know . Get them posted as soon as possible. Write your bio. Your experience and such. Show why you would be a good sitter. Experience, get pictures loaded. Get everything you need done before you go live. Because as my experience i didnt have all my referrals done all the way. I had to changed my bio multiple times from feedback from current members trying to help give advice on what i should take out and put in. No one has the perfect bio, so do you and what you feel is best. But advise is good. Once everything is done then finish so you can go live. I wasn’t finished with everything and it went live so i couldn’t apply to sits as i didnt have pictures of me with pets, so i had to go get some with friends pets, neighbor pets , people who you have sat before or walked. I would read alot of the forum. I read the forum 6 months before i actually joined so i could really understand whats involved in this process. There is no money involved. You pay to travel to a sit you would like, you pay your travel,food, and rental car. If you get lucky some really kind homeowners will offer you the use of their vehicle. I hope you found something good about my feedback.
Good luck.
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