When I leave a housesit I am usually shifting my entire life. As a nomad I live completely out of my suitcases and bags and it’s just me at the helm. So it takes quite a bit of work.
When I leave a sit I do the usual—strip the sheets, wash the dishes, take out the trash and give most things in the kitchen and bathroom a wipe down. Replenish the paper supplies if there is time. Usually give the house one last vacuum the day or two before packing, as once I start packing it’s quite intensive on top of continuing to care for the pets, myself and do my laptop work. Like many of you I start the final clean a few days before I go, and on a 1-2 week sit this can be quite a chunk of time. I also clean a bit as I go so that it’s not too big of a job, ie I try to keep dogs from getting mud in the house, wipe their paws, wash their towels, etc. For an AirBnb this is already more than most hosts expect.
Some things I consider above and beyond: mopping, washing all the towels, organizing rooms that need it for use. Vacuuming and cleaning again the morning of the HO return (after a final breakfast or dog walk.) Using specialized cleaners on things like stovetops or other materials. I’ve done them all at different times but not always.
Despite spending so much time on this aspect of sits, I’ve been docked one star for clean and tidy a few times, and through the forums I’ve learned this is a bit of faulty design in the platform, where the HOs don’t exactly realize what and how they are rating. It is deflating to spend so much time on these things, as well as forgive multiple glitches on the HOs part for the sake of ease, only to get docked on this category.
I think I’m just going to accept these 4-star ratings, because there’s honestly not much more I can do when exiting a sit without sacrificing multiple days of energy. Especially in big, multi-story homes. Four stars is still good and I used to not sweat a four-star rating too much until one HO asked me about it (he also rated me 5s across the board and was very confused why I was docked before).
I’ve experienced the same, as have many. It is very frustrating when the text in the review seems that everything was allright and you still miss star(-s). I asked the host why so I could learn from it, but nevner got any feedback.
Some has suggested that if you take away stars there should be a compulsory text as to why. I think it is a good idea. Less stars in itself really doesn’t say much to other hosts either without a reason.
I know from other situations that some people rarely give best score on forms etc., as they save it for the exceptional performance which will only happen so often (or as often as a unicorn). So maybe it is just that. You are not a unicorn.
Totally, this is how I used to view it, that a 4-star was no big deal at all. Honestly I don’t have the energy to be a unicorn as I’m busy packing and prepping my (usually cross-continental) next nomad move. For those that have the time and want to do that on every sit, more power to them, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Sitter burnout is real and I think aiming for unicorn 5-star status every time and the anxiety over the rating system is part of it. I guess I wonder if there is an arc to it, like at what point do you feel okay resting on your sit laurels and chalking up a four or even three star review in some category? I’m going through a few learning and experience arcs now, having just finished my first string of long (multi-week) sits back to back in international settings. Before this it was just a here and there thing.
Meanwhile I almost always rate the HOs five stars across the board even when there are minor issues. I guess I am just laid back!
There is a problem connected to some of this “above and beyond” as it will affect the expectation on what is consider “normal”. So it really could backfire.
That is one of many reasons why it is a good idea not only to screen hosts by the reviews of the sitters they have had, but also click on that sitters profile and see what the review this host give its sitters. Recently I found a very nice sit, with very good reviews from the sitters. However, when I checked what reviews the host gave the sitters, the text said that the host was really happy with everything, and still the host docked stars on several points, with no explanations. So I dropped applying for the sit. I think one should give an honest review (kindly) and I welcome feedback, but being docked for stars for no apparent reason is not for me.
I’m really sorry to read this. I feel like some HOs have ridiculous expectations and don’t really understand the implications of knocking a sitter down a star. You put in the work and, as you rightly state, have a lot going on towards the end of one sit and in preparation for the next. You do your best and I suppose, some people will always see that as not quite good enough, but it is. Can you focus on giving yourself some compassion?
You’re right, sitter burnout is real, and there is a supportive community here so feel free to rant. I feel like HOs don’t understand it or necessarily care but you’re quite right that the rating system is part of it, and there is a level of pressure (even if it’s internal) to have 5-stars across the board.
I am in a sit right now where I fully intend to knock back a star for pet behaviour, while still giving a five star review. I have considered it at length because it may provide an impediment to other sitters wanting to do the sit, but the pets are out of control so I feel I’m being generous! It sounds like you are absolutely deserving of 5 stars. We look after homes and properties, we’re not a cleaning service.
This is such good advice! It’s one thing to look at the reviews from sitters, and another to see how the sitters have been received by the host to get an idea of their standards. Definitely something I’ll be giving consideration to from now on.
If everyone stopped getting their knickers in such a twist over stars, then I’m sure we’d start seeing plenty more four star, or (dare I even say it?) three star reviews. We’re all grown adults. We don’t need a sticker and a lollipop to know whether we’ve done a good job or not. I’d be in favour of ditching the stars completely and making people use actual words to convey how they felt a sit went.
You are not staying in an Airbnb so why compare what you are doing to what you would expect to do in an Airbnb. This is a mutual exchange.
I’m sorry you feel over whelmed by the cleaning routine at the end of each sit. Everyone has different standards of cleaning, both sitters and hosts. As suggested in another thread, maybe discuss what each other’s expectations are.
Please do not blame others for their cleaning regime. I don’t think that influences hosts expectations. They have to realise we are all different, different priorities, different timetables, different standards. Personally, I clean every room we use thoroughly - vacuum, dust, wipe - paying particular attention to the pet areas. This summer was the first time I lost a star for cleaning. I reached out to the host to ask what I didn’t do. I didn’t iron the bed lined, clean the filters on the washing machine and dish washer and left crumbs in the kitchen sink. Now, that’s picky.
It is possible the rating is a mistake and it can’t hurt checking on that.
A few sits back, I got rated 4 stars for cleaning and I was very surprised since my husband and I are very thorough–especially since this was an almost 3-month sit-- and her house cleaner had just been there the day prior and did a very deep clean. She washed couch cushion covers, curtains,etc…
The house was truly spotless.
So I asked her if it was an error or if not, please let us know if we overlooked anything. Not surprisingly, it was a mistake and she asked THS to amend it.
Sorry to be cruel but I think the star ratings you are receiving seem to be a reflection of the effort you are putting in. We take great pride in leaving our sits in as good, if not better condition than we find them. I don’t see it as “going above and beyond” but just part of our responsibility and respectful of the HO. In terms of time management there have been some wonderful tips posted on this site that we have found invaluable to manage our exit from a sit. In essence if you are willing to accept four stars it’s just a slippery slope to accept three stars and so on.
Have you asked the last HO’s why they docked a star? For goodness sake homeowners, be thankful someone’s looking after the animals let alone your home security. Unless the homes trashed I wouldn’t dream of docking stars.
As a sitter, the things you mention that you consider above and beyond are standard items for me - most especially if I’ve been at a sit for 2 weeks or more. Per your example, what would you think if you were to enter a sit and the floor and stovetop were dirty, and the rooms in disarray? And if you were the homeowner who left a clean house and came back to a dirtier one, how would you feel? I would give 4 stars instead of 5 for that.
Yes, I start cleaning several days before so as to do it in smaller bits and make it a less onerous task. I’ll do a cursory dust if needed, and make sure the kitchen is clean. The day before I leave, I clean the bathrooms and vacuum. I generally wash my own clothes that day as well, and throw in the towels with them. That leaves very little to do on the day I leave: wash the sheets and any remaining towels, remake the bed, mop the kitchen floor and clean up any paw prints elsewhere, clean up any of my own last messes in the kitchen or bathroom, take the trash out to the bin.
I also write a note to the HO to welcome them back and let them know what I have done: the bed linen and towels are clean, animal was last fed at this time, etc etc.
I would not say that I even remotely like cleaning, but I feel I should most definitely clean up after myself, and leave the house in the condition I found it.
I don’t leave the floors dirty or rooms in disarray. I simply don’t also mop all the floors on top of vacuuming and spot cleanups, at least not every time. I give everything in the main areas a wipe down as I mentioned which includes the stove but what if you cooked breakfast or lunch on the day the HO returns? Then you have to clean it all again? And then they have some special stove cleaner you didn’t know about? I just think HOs don’t realize how time-consuming all of it is, to live in a place that is not yours with a pet while also cleaning it for some picture-perfect HO return. I mention AirBnb because that is the only other non-hotel guest standard. And there you are not even doing other work for the host. I leave things tidy and nice but I don’t always have time to go deep on cleaning multiple rooms while also living in them, especially in large houses and with pets that produce a ton of fur or other messes (meaning cleaning up after them is already quite a job). If some of you do, great, but it’s not required. I’ve noticed the ones that dock for cleaning are sometimes also the ones that didn’t have a super sparkling clean home on arrival and seemed relaxed about it, didn’t communicate much about special cleaning needs etc., and are yes, sometimes very picky about what they expect as some of you mentioned…which is baffling. One doesn’t always know the best way to clean specific types of surfaces either, especially in old homes…and sure you can ask the HO but they are usually on vacation and can take 24+ hours to respond.
If you haven’t seen it already, you might want to read through a topic I just started here a few days ago on this subject of cleaning at the end of a sit! Lots of interesting thoughts from many sitters.
It’s not rude. I just didn’t understand her expectations. I should have had a conversation with her about what she expected. To be honest, she was away for 6 weeks, we took over from other sitters and the place was not as clean as I would expect. For example there was a layer of dust all over her the furniture and the kitchen floor crunched when we walked on it. That was definitely an experience I will never repeat.
