I have a question…we will likely have to pause our membership next year because my husband is going to have an ankle surgery that will likely take almost a year to recover before traveling. We love doing our pet sits, but he’s put this surgery off too long already. Our membership is up in August, and we have a sit scheduled already for September. What happens in that case? Can we still do the scheduled sit? We definitely don’t want to cancel as we’ve already purchased our flights. What are our options?
Do what I’ve done which is to share my QR discount code which each time it’s shared adds 2 mths to my renewal date, I’m up to March 2029 now I think.
Regarding your confirmed sit- the HO won’t receive a Review from you (which might be importatnt for them) also the details of the sit will not be available to you if your membership is paused. Make sure you tell the HO, also screenshot the details off the WG. Basically if anything goes wrong during the sit you’re not a THS member during that time so you’re on your own. I think full disclosure to the HO is required as they booked you as a fully paid up THS member, they might cancel of course.
@vickisfloyd I tried similar last year, though the host’s membership expired during and not before the stay. Everything went perfectly, although neither of us had the chance to leave a review. However, if something had happened, say an emergency, it’s questionable whether it would have been considered a valid THS agreement.
I’ve just checked, and it doesn’t appear in my previous THS agreements either.
As far as I remember, all the information and the Welcome Guide were still visible during the stay, but the host’s profile badge switched to “non-member.”
Could they renew their membership and then pause it after their sit? Once they’re ready to sit again, reactivate it? So, have a 12 month membership that spans like 16-18 months?
@vickisfloyd You will need to either a) renew your membership in order to do the Sep sit so that both parties are covered by THS; b) ask hosts if they are willing to take the sit off the platform if you don’t renew and it becomes a private sit between you both; or do as @BonnyinBrighton has suggested and actively share your referral code to gain more membership months before your renewal is due. You can only pause a membership for 3 months in each membership year but are unable to do official sits booked during this period.
but who do you share your referral code with if most of the people you know are already members through this site? Also, the way things are with THS just now, blatantly ignoring members opinions on Booking Fees and other things, who would want to promote them, even if you do get 2 months extra membership out of it?
@BonnyinBrighton, that’s impressive. Seems you’re quite the roaming ambassador (or salesman) for THS! Last year we had some mini business cards printed - with THS ‘member’ logo, our names, an alias email address and our referral code. Figured one referral would pay for related costs. Cards popular when encounter random people on dog walks. Curious that you refer to QR code - good tip . May update our artwork and reprint cards this year.
I always join the local FB group at the sit location and then whilst I’m there I post pictures of catching the local bus etc and add some selfies plus scenery pics plus the QR code. It seems to work, plus another sitter here had reached their maximum number of referrals so gave out my QR code instead of their own which I’m very grateful for.
We’re happy to refer THS, irrespective of referral promo months.
We take glass-half-full mindset. Despite some frustrations, housesitting gives us significant joy; enables an affordable international lifestyle; and has let us experiment multiple international destinations for future retirement. Perhaps atypical. THS is the only credible platform, with a huge competitive moat.
We come across a steady stream of people (pet parents and housesitters) for whom housesitting is completely known. Yet it offers opportunities and solves problems than are far bigger than booking fees. Current pet parent retirees are THS newbies - based on past petsitter fees, they expected to pay $3k pet care for one month trip. Game-changer for them. They have more trips planned.
I’m confused. When giving out your QR code to someone, they have to join THS in order for you to get the benefits, correct? It almost sounds like you only have to hand out your code and the free months come rolling in.
I have referred new people to the site over the past 3 years, when I believed 100% in the service, but since December and the changes, my opinion of THS has completely changed, and I can no longer endorse it. On a countdown now until my membership expires and I leave, having plenty contacts to go it alone, and also repeat sits, off site. I can see the obvious benefits for pet owners, but not for someone like myself who sits virtually every week, 52 x £9 soon mounts up. I don’t do it internationally, only in UK, nor for accommodation, only for the love of animals, and the enjoyment of the lifestyle.
@RedLassie, I don’t understand. Who the heck would pay 52 x 9 pounds? If anyone housesits full-time then surely the economics of premium membership are compelling? Incremental price much less than your example?! Then no booking fees. And Sit Cancellation Insurance [limited value but better than nothing].
We perceive the annual premium membership as the equivalent of two nights accommodation. As full-time sitters then that’s a rounding error versus displaced costs.
We mention not to be somehow difficult. But rather as we’ve met a surprising number of THS members that do not realize that the new booking fees are waived for premium members.
There should not be ANY additional costs above the membership fee , that is my point.
It 's a principle. What’s not to understand?
I and many others will not be railroaded into upgrading to Premier level membership which we do not require and has no direct benefit for us. Your example of accommodation price is irrelevant to me because I only sit in my home country so there is no accommodation cost if I was at home instead. Cancellation Insurance? Not required as I drive to sits so no expense incurred by me if the sit is cancelled. Also THS are not providing accommodation, the hosts are.
. May update our artwork and reprint cards this year.