I sat for a very lovely couple where I spent the night with them. We talked about this and they mentioned, we have to trust they’re not serial killers, since they have no background checks. We also decided one could be new ,or just very, very good at it and not have a record. Just a light hearted conversation with new friends who live very remotely, but there is a grain of truth to it.
Goodness, I just watched “A body next door” - a documentary of the neighbors finding the husband of a previous tenant in the garden. Apparently she had also kept him in a room indoor until he smelled to much. Netflix. 
Other than this risk that HOs face as well, your worst case sitter examples are temporary and do pass. That’s not necessarily the case for HOs. Thus the imbalance in burdens of trust required of sitters vs HOs. Sorry if you can’t see that.
I would think assault, p.rn online, police at the door or a dog in the thigh could very much have lasting consequences.
I’m a homeowner and I’ve had a decade of exchanges in HomeExchange before starting at THS as a petsitter. For me, «trust» and «risk» has to do with a mindset.
I don’t think anyone - sitter or host - should do sits, offer things or do exchanges if they are not comfortable. Because the off-feeling could be a red flag, but also because the lack of trust and/ or feeling of risk might impact the sit also where everything else is «good». Most likely not in a good way. I would most certainly avoid partnering up with anyone that considered me a «risk» or was anxious that I was, and would consider myself lucky to check-in at a hotel instead.
IMO exchange-models - any, really - are more suited for some than others, and that is ok!
I think for some a business transaction with a local business - being a kennel or a paid sitter - is a better option. If one has these feelings of petsitters in THS it would be a good investment to pay a sitter.
Peace of mind is priceless. I make such «investments» in peace of mind from time to time, and strongly recommend it.
Lasting consequences like property damage, property theft, identity theft, negligence that results in the death of a pet or destruction of your home, manslaughter while using an HO’s vehicle, … kind of lasting? What are the equivalent risks faced by sitters?
I’m quite comfortable with the risks I’m assuming. Getting to comfortable with potential sitters is a process. For new sitters with no reviews, getting to comfortable is a more complicated and delicate process. I’m fine if such an applicant doesn’t want to show me their current living situation. It’s all part of getting to comfortable or not with that particular applicant.
Some sitters are asked for copy of ID (which I would never accept) risking identity theft, vehicles provided unsafe and could cause death, pets or other destroying sitters belongings etc. If tapes from cameras from bedroom, bathroom and such are distributed/ sold online it could never be stopped or taken down and it would circulate for eternity. While a sitter leaving a filthy home is «temporary» as you would call it. It seems many sitters are left with filthy homes, and still don’t walk out as per terms because they feel a loyalty to the pet of a stranger. The topics here are full of sits where hosts are in breach of terms and sitters feel more obligated to care for the pet than taking care of themselves. While the host can’t be bothered. There’s plenty of both homeowners and pet owners with a variety of antisocial and criminal behavior.
It is not a «competition» and the list of possible outcomes is easily comparable, but I’m sure you’ve made up your mind so it would not be time well spent. So I’ll leave it at disagreeing. The mindset of the host is on my criteria-list regardless. 
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to remind you of our community guidelines, especially around kindness, respect, and maintaining a welcoming environment for everyone.
I’ve had to remove some posts that did not align with these values and which were derailing the conversation. While healthy discussion and diverse viewpoints are very welcome here, we all must express ourselves in ways that remain thoughtful and considerate of others.
I know it can sometimes be hard not to reply if someone is directly critical of your point of view, but I’d always recommend flagging posts to the team, if you feel that they aren’t within our guidelines. To report a post, you just need to click the … under the reply and you’ll see an option to click on a flag and report it.
Thanks!
Jenny