Pets & Animal Care
• Pet Temperament
Luke was a great dog who was very friendly and affable. It was very hot the week we stayed, so he spent a lot of time lying under the AC! Ben had been concerned that he could be a ‘strong’ on his walks, but he was perfectly well behaved the whole time we were there. (He does get a bit persistent when walking by one house that always gives he treats. He wants to make sure they produce the treats if they are on the porch!) Even though he is a large dog, he remains very calm when getting next to you on the couch or bed. Pete referred to him as always being a ‘prefect gentleman’.
• Pet Routine & Needs
Very clear instructions were left for giving medication. One is given in pill pocket and one Luke considers a treat. There was no issue at all getting him to take them. Ben’s direction noted that sometimes Luke will leave his breakfast until late afternoon, which he did one day.
House & Property
• Condition & Cleanliness
The home was clean, but lived in. It was a very comfortable place, with no feeling that we were disturbing things! Kitchen, while small, had all the appliances and told we needed. (They have actualy done an impressive job with a small space!)
• Accommodations & Comfort
The basement accommodations were spacious and included a bathroom in the basement as well. The queen size bed had mattress with a topper which was very comfortable. HO provide an AC unit for the area which kept it very comfortable.
• Should be noted that there were some low beams which would be an issue for anyone over 6ft. Also the stairs to the basement are somewhat steep.
• The basement also had a couch/sitting area and a desk suitable for working remote.
• There was no real storage space for clothing (closet or dresser), so plan accordingly.
• Instructions & Organization
Ben left great instructions on taking care of Luke and general household information. Details about how Luke would respond to different interactions, and which items in the kitchen needed to be kept gluten free. (It was just two things. No impact on us at all.)
• Neighborhood & Location
The neighborhood was amazing. The day after we arrived, there was a large block party and we were welcomed by all the neighbors. We actually got together with a few later that week! There were plenty of food options and minor groceries options within walking distance. (We did Instacart supplies for the week.). Public transit was easily within walking distance, with many options for trains or buses to get to anywhere in the city. Also bike and scooter station with a block of the house.
Communication with Host
• Before the Sit
We had a call with Ben before the sit. His main concern was that we felt comfortable handling Luke, who is 100+ lbs, during walks.
• During the Sit
We were able to communicate throughout the sit, and considering the 9 hour time difference, Ben was and helpful very responsive to any questions.
• After the Sit / Return
Ben continued to answers texts after they returned regarding items I thought I had left behind. (I hadn’t. I found them!).
Overall Impression
• Would You Sit Again?
Absolutely! Great location and neighborhood. Maybe ask for cooler weather next time!
• Final Thoughts or Highlights
A great sit for a single or couple. Ample ability to get into the sit for dinner or some sightseeing. The longest we left Luke was about 5 hours, and he responded to us returning just fine. No acting out while we were gone (apparently he likes to rearrange shows if he gets bored, but didn’t happen to us.)
That is way too long! I did not want to read it all.
Too much detail. Think harder about the critical things that you want to say, that are helpful to others, and state these in the most concise way possible.
It’s okay, but long. Nothing to say you can’t write a long review but it’s straying into details that aren’t all that relevant - bit of a diary of your stay. I just want to know the salient points. Eg Dog was well trained, walked well on the lead, and very friendly. It was very easy to give him his daily pill. We were able to leave him for 5 hours with no issues.
There’s no point repeating info that’s in the welcome guide - just comment that the guide was very thorough.
The information you included would be very helpful if it is not included in the listing. I appreciate that you worded details about the steep stairs, low ceiling, lack of storage as cautionary without coming across as a complaint or negative. The details about transit and accessibility to resources and the functionality of the small kitchen would also be helpful to future sitters if these details are not mentioned in the listing. I do however agree with the others that you may want to edit it down to a shortened version but I really like your enthusiastic tone
I think it’s great (aside from a few spelling and grammar issues…)
I love reading all the info possible before I apply for/do a sit. Sure, you don’t “need” to go into that much detail, but I appreciate all the information.
Ha, I’ve just typed mine up to mull over, it’s long too, but I will check against yours to see if too long. Reading the forum a lot has made me very aware of what sitters need to know that may not be apparent to HO’s and can impact on your sit. Just on second sit so still learning a we go.
Was this AI written? It sounds it. As a potential homeowner reading your review, it would turn me away from choosing you. I would think you would talk about every nook and cranny of my house. Was it necessary to mention they have a small kitchen. People can see the pictures. If you had a good stay make it short and sweet. As another poster mentioned it does sound like you are writing in your personal journal.
I think it’s a thorough, thoughtful review written in a positive, pleasant tone of voice. It’s clearly written by a human & encompasses useful information that reflects your experience. As noted elsewhere, could use a quick spellcheck, & is perhaps a bit long (even for me, who tends to be verbose.)
I would maybe reserve certain non-showstopper items as private, direct feedback to owner, although you did phrase them well (eg that some designated storage space would be helpful for future sitters.)
Small kitchen not worth mentioning as long as it’s clean & well-organized.
Maybe a little shorter/more generic detail about the pet’s behavior, as I expect this will vary by sitter.
Overall, I much prefer your longer, personalized review to those super-short, generic reviews I sometimes see. (Also you’ve given me an idea for a new feature request, re:private feedback to hosts! )
I also thought it sounded like it was AI written but AI wouldn’t make the grammar mistakes.
As someone who does write long reviews, I think this needs to be a bit more succinct. As a sitter I don’t need to know about the block party & dinner with neighbours (instead say neigbours were friendly & welcoming), the dog wanting to stop for neighbour treats. (say instead the dog knows the walking route and can sometimes be challenging to keep on the move if distracted or dog is easily distracted). I do like the information about amenties close by like shops, transport etc and the sitter’s facilities or lack of and that the owner’s instructions about the dog were very clear.
I agree it is very long. I would shorten it to this:
Luke was a wonderful dog—big but calm, friendly, and easy to manage on walks. Even in the summer heat, he was content lounging under the AC, with clear medication instructions that made his care simple. The house was comfortable and lived-in, with a well-equipped kitchen and a spacious basement setup that included a queen bed, bathroom, couch, and workspace. The only heads-up would be low beams for taller folks and no real clothing storage, but otherwise, it was a great spot to relax and work remotely.
The neighborhood was truly welcoming—we arrived just in time for a block party and got to know several neighbors during our stay. Shops, food options, and public transit were all within walking distance. Communication with Ben was smooth from start to finish; he left clear instructions, especially regarding Luke and a couple of gluten-free kitchen items. We’d absolutely sit again—maybe just during cooler weather next time!
Sitters need to realize everything written by you on your page or the PP page is marketing. It is not the sitters giving her a home to stay in so why be so concerned about letting the sitter know every single piece of information. A savvy sitter knows how to word it so the PP is not sorry they had you stay with them if you were satisfied with the sit. As a PP if I read every detail she wrote I would think what if she sits for me and the dog runs into my master bedroom and she runs after it and sees an provocative toy I forgot to put away and is sitting on my nightstand. Is she going to write, I was surprised to see adult toys on the nightstand . I want someone to respect my privacy and not talk about everything in the house. I now know more about this house than I should know.
Plus, it’s way too long, you’re not the one writing their profile for them, you’re reviewing whether what they said was accurate, you’re overall opinion as you see it of their pets, their home, their place, and the HO’s. Unless there’s something else that stands out as needing a mention.
Pets & Animal Care
House & Property
Communication with Host
Overall Impression
Reading the forum a lot has made me very aware of what sitters need to know that may not be apparent to HO’s and can impact on your sit. Just on second sit so still learning a we go.
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