Out of interest @pietkuip, did you review them?
Yes, I had written a positive review of them, quite immediately. There were no issues, pets were happy, and the home was in perfect shape when I left it (also thanks to a cleaning lady).
But then the HO asked about a vacuum cleaner that was broken (using a word for “bent” or “broken in pieces”). I told them that it was working when I had used it, that it had connected when I had put it back on the charger. The HO replied that they would ask the help about it.
This week I asked via Whatsapp if they had found out more (and I reminded about the review deadline), but that went unanswered.
That’s so disappointing @pietkuip especially as there were no issues and you had assured them the vacuum was intact when you left.
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I personally avoid HOs with blank reviews. It is not the case that they are from people who are no longer members. My sitter profile has reviews displaying from ex members. I am also wary of HOs who don’t leave reviews. I click on the profiles of sitters who left reviews and if the HO didn’t leave a review for them, I find out if that was a one-off or a habit. If they never leave reviews but always recieve them, that comes across to me as pretty arrogant, so I move on.
People do occasionally forget of course. And some people don’t want to leave a review after a bad experience. Although people might be more brave and honest now there is a new review system.
But I always ask for a review and tell the HO I will leave them a review. I’ve been lucky so far. Everyone has left me a 5 star review, even the couple of ones who had illegal cameras. I never said anything under the old review system as I didn’t want a bad retaliatory review. I just left them a 5 star review first. Yeah I know… I’m a chicken! …That might change now though under the new review system!
Recently I contacted a homeowner who hadn’t yet left a review ( they had said great things about our sit on WhatsApp)
They apologised and explained that shortly after they returned home they received some bad news and they had to travel to deal with a very serious family emergency .
Given the circumstances I did not pressure them to leave a review by the deadline.
I will be happy to sit for them again in future if they ask me .
No review can be a red flag , but there also can be a genuine reason why no review has been left .
I’m in a similar situation having recently completed my first sit, the HO hasn’t left a review despite me messaging and requesting one, she agreed to do one but still hasn’t. I’m really disappointed as would have loved some feedback on a sit which I thought went well.
Hello and welcome @Clawspawsntails!
In those follow up reminders, did you think to mention the 14 day window to write the review?
If you completed your review, the home host would get a THS prompt as result to leave their review as well.
Yes, it is very important for a sitter to get a first review. I would have mentioned that and also that it does not require a long text. The important thing can be very short, something like “Perfect!”.
Missing reviews are a red flag for me. As are omissions in a review such not mentioning the state or comfort of the home.
This is something I’m apparently missing…how do you know if there’s a missing review?
The home owner was aware it was my first sit, I’m really disappointed there was no review left and actually concerned that she wasn’t happy (although she was very friendly when I messaged to ask her to leave some feedback)!
No, I didn’t mention the review period, I didn’t think I needed to as the home owner has had several sitters in the past but only some of them have been left reviews.
The 14 days period is a recent innovation on THS. The HO should have gotten a reminder by email from THS about that but it is not always that those get noticed.
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