I prefer using THS because of the background checks and reference systems in place but I am always looking for 3 month sits to get away from our long winters but not so long as to miss the shoulder seasons which a 6-month sit would do. The THS filter has no option for(only 1 or 6 mos.).
Also, many of the sits listed are in cold areas. I am only seeking warm areas to pet sit because I love to be home in our summertime.
For this reason I have searched out other options and see a plethora of pet sitting groups in FaceBook but I have no idea how to discern a quality group. I realize because of the lack of close oversight information has to be guarded better and stricter vetting needs to take place, but does anyone have good referrals for FaceBook petsitting groups?
I would think that many sits come from the same desire you have. The hosts also want to go to more comfortable climates.
People in colder areas want to go to warmer places, and people who live in steaming hot places would like to escape to cooler or people want to go away in the hurricane season. If I see a sit that seems to be a paradise where the hosts want to go away for 3 months - if I check the weather in that location it is usually a reason there for why they are going away. 
So you could maybe find more of those in facebook-groups, or one could find more of the sits where snowbirds want a sitter while they sip sangria. 
Hope you find what your’re looking for! 
It’s difficult to refer any Facebook group as they’re all similar. Personally I prefer to get my sits via THS or an alternative paid platform however I did get two sits through a Facebook Western Australia group which both worked out very well. Just like THS you need to have a video call, giving you both the opportunity of asking questions. You should be able to discern whether the owner/home/pets will work for you.
I belong to a number of free house sit sites in Mexico, Central and South America. I haven’t used them - I just want to see what’s “out there.” I would be hesitant from a homeowner’s point of view because the sitters aren’t vetted, and because I see too many posts that say “Help! Sitter canceled at last minute!”. I think you’re in a better position as a sitter, although there’s a lot of competition.
That said, THS has a fair number of sits available in Mexico. And if I didn’t find one through them, I would most likely use a paid site like House Sit Mexico instead of a free one.
Thank you!
@petcare4u I collated over 100 FB housesitting groups in a pdf guide as a bonus for a paid resource we have on our website. Send me a message and I’ll email it to you.
Thank you, that’s very kind, but I think I would be overwhelmed as I was when I followed/joined so many a month ago and then unjoined because there was so much spam.
I’m looking for specifically high quality groups that monitor spam and maintain quality members for best practices as well as only warm/tropical locations.
If you are familiar with groups with these two restrictions I would welcome a link.
I would think that would be enough work with such a site that it would be a paid service.
«Warm/ tropical locations» are in high demand and a lot of competition - probably with sitters that are highly rated.
Another factor that I think I’ve observed is that the owners of such homes usually vacate them for longer periods of time only in for instance hurricane season. I can imagine at other times they want to stay there themselves and/ or can charge others for staying there / have paid staff doing the necessities. There are homes here on THS in tropical locations looking for sitters. At certain times of the year. So if you’d like to monitor them it is a good idea to set up a search for that location and/ or favorite homes there. Best of luck!
Thank you for your input.
There are very few tropical sits at this time on THS, Nomador and Caretakers Gazette.
I have had saved searches active since I joined last year and use it consistently.
I was lucky to be selected for a long 3 month plus sit in Bonaire last winter via THS which was great! They left me with excellent reference and invited me back this year but it was TOO hot actually for me really.
I also received 5 star reviews from the other sits I did since so I’m pretty sure my profile is qualified for competitive sits.
For this reason I’m seeking input from the community for other non paid options which I’m guessing is FaceBook.
If anyone has a good tropical pet/house sit FaceBook group that they have had success with and is not full of spam to recommend this is what I’m seeking with this post, thank you!
Maybe consider sits in Australia, which is warming up from spring into summer over the coming months. There are hosts and sitters in this forum who’ve previously mentioned that there are more Australian sits listed on other groups.
Thank you for your input.
Yes, there are a few Australian sits here for sure but few are 3 months. If I’m going to spend that much on a plane ticket I want it to cover the whole 3 months I would like to escape winter.
If you’re considering South East Asia in the hot & tropical remit then FB House Sitting Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines etc one is good. Plus the Thailand only one. We’ve had decent sits through those. MMH has quite a few Asia ones but have found the HOs flaky on there. #toptips
Thank you!
@petcare4u Like those in the northern hemisphere, 3 month sits in Australia are likely to be during the winter months. Your best option would be to secure one in Queensland or northern New South Wales where it would be warmer. Don’t head south!!!
Thank you!
You may not want to commit to 3 months in one spot in Australia. It’s a huge country, and what if the housesit is not a great match? Then you’re stuck. Rather do 3 x 30 day sits. Aussiehousesitters and mindmyhome have hundreds of sits and they are cheaper than THS.
Thank you!
Yup, I’d definitely recommend that as a visitor to Australia — so many amazing places to experience, but spread far apart. I was thinking of spending a paid work sabbatical there, but then the pandemic happened.
Good point. Hitting a «bad» sit, even if it is just the surroundings or an incontinent pet 3 months is quite some time to endure. Better to spread the risk and open up for more adventures. It will probably be more opportunities to sit also as there will probably be more available sits.
Yes, thank you.