I wonder if that video is an AI production 
Most AI stuff is cringe worthy.
@Lokstar with all their new investment $$$ maybe THS are going to pivot into online dating 
My sit listing is always in the " sits we think you’d like". Of course I would, it’s my house and pet!!!
@NETime I missed the relevent newsletter that contained the video so I just Googled for the latest THS promotional video and it came up..
If you want to receive the newsletter you may need to check in your settings (?) If all your message alerts are switched on.
At last , one the algorithm got right !!!
I also thought immediately upon reading “cancellation deterrents” that a fee would not surprise me 
Can we please stop AI-ifying Every Bleepin Thing? 
I haven’t seen the video. The newsletter was in my spam folder and I had too much else to deal with to take time to look at it.
I am working on the theory – with no data to support, but a strong hunch based on other work I’ve done and experience – that there are a number of sitters and homeowners who cancel frequently and frivolously. My theory is this number affects the overall feeling that cancellations are frequent and neither homeowners nor sitters can depend on sits happening. I know as a homeowner that I cancelled once for a legit reason and the sitters were understanding. I have been cancelled on by sitters several times after confirmation. I think all of these have been within the first two weeks. I know that in at least one case, they took another sit for around the same time frame. At least one of the reasons I was given was less than extraordinary but I just moved on and didn’t dispute and at least one reason was bogus. I was always able to get other sitters but that’s due to my location which is my hosting superpower.
While people are now checking off reasons by category is good, but it’s not clear that THS is tracking this. I was told previously the only way a sitter’s cancellations would be tracked is if the homeowner complained to THS and another complaint came up. To me what would make more sense would be a form where each side checks off who initiated the cancel, and what the stated reason was, so to begin with there is some idea that there was communication and that both were on the same page. EG: Homeowner had to change dates. Sitters couldn’t do new dates. EG: Sitter had a personal/family issue and wasn’t going to be able to make it. EG: Homeowner’s pet got sick and they cancelled travel plans.
The reason I think tracking is necessary is because if the same people are initiating cancellations repeatedly for the same or even different reasons, there is an issue that might warrant temporarily or permantly suspending accounts. There are other issues that could warrant further investigation by THS, such as maybe a sitter giving the excuse of “personal/family issue” when the reality which they don’t want to confront the homeowner with is that the homeowner was inappropriate. Or maybe it was a general: “changed my plans” but the reality is they looked at a newer review and decided no way so the forms could have an “Anything else you’d like to tell us” section that would not be shared with another party.
The data if there is no “anything else” doesn’t even have to be seen by a human. It just needs to be tracked so that it becomes clear if someone has a pattern that that person could be contacted and have their account reviewed.
The problem is that would be a way of actually improving the service (for both sitters and hosts) setting a higher standard, and enforcing existing rules. It might result in more memberships and renewals, but it wouldn’t bring in the immediate cash that THS is looking at, so more likely they’ll simply impose a cancellation fee paid whether you cancelled because you got a better offer, or because your mom died. The fee might impact some cancellations by sitters but probably not many and even fewer by homeowners. The money will not go to help the people cancelled on. It’s profit for the company.
So you are going to let AI choose sitters and sits rather than leave it up to people. All sounds like more surveillance to me. Such a shame because it worked so well.
First, I think THS should get some credit for communicating upcoming changes ahead of time. This is something we’ve all asked for, and it’s encouraging to see some attempts to respond to that request, so thank you.
As for the changes, I’m afraid to say that once again it feels like the company has either missed the mark, or continues to ignore it. Using AI & algorithms to automate the process of selecting a sitter isn’t an improvement on the model. It just means the company is going to be picking winners & losers, in a system that used to use human interaction to build trusted relationships. “Faster” isn’t the goal when you’re trusting someone with your home & beloved pets. Icing out potential sitters by recommending “good matches” is disenfranchising a segment of your paying customers. We are more than our keywords.
As for cancellation penalties, I just hope some careful thought is put into how that works, as there are a lot of nuances & reasons cancellations occur. Additional info on the company’s thoughts would be welcome — preferably before it’s implemented.
Hi @Maerad,
No, web will not be impacted. 
There’s more information available here about the minimum operating system for app users.
Here are some snippets taken from that blog;
Required operation system;
- Android 11 (or higher)
- iOS 17 (or higher)
“If your mobile (cell) is affected, the app will still work for now, but you won’t receive future app updates. If this is the case, we advise you to switch over to using the web experience which will always be up to date.”
If THS used this kind of approach when adding the booking fee, then most people wouldn’t have an issue with it. I think this sort of transparency is so important for the community to thrive better.
I have been seeing so much tension because there is this invisible wall between the company and the house sitters and home owners.
Please THS, from now on, more of this.
Also on the topic of cancellation deterrents, could you please just have a score showing how many of the previous applicants or listings a house owner or house sitter has cancelled. This way it gives people a visual of the likely hood that someone will cancel a sit and will be a huge deterrent.
Thank you THS and support, keep up the good work
Sorry, but that doesn’t answer my question, though thank you for reading and responding. To clarify:
On the iPad I use the APP not the website.
The iPAD runs iPadOS not iOS. You do not mention iPadOS in the link.
So it’s NOT the mobile/cell I’m asking about.
Nor is it the website.
Please could you clarify?
Agree completely. I know from experience with another company that used to get me leads for my small business how badly AI can “miss the mark.” The thing is, my business suffered, but the lead company is probably doing just fine after the change! I suspect that might happen here. It won’t be as good. Many of us will remember when it was good. Many people will move to something else. New people won’t know the difference. The company will make money until it doesn’t.
@Jenny “Same community. Higher standards” That’s a huge NO on both statements with the direction THS’s marketing is going.
iOS 17 (or iPadOS 17) is the minimum required operating system for any iOS mobile device (iPhone or iPad) to continue receiving updates to the TrustedHousesitters app.
A device running an older version the device will continue to work for now, but will not receive updates.
Android 11 for Android mobile devices (phones or tablets).
This article provides more information.
Many companies don’t support iPads specifically, because they’re a small number vs. iPhones. Often, they default to supporting iPhones and the iPads ride along. That means some functionality or features won’t work completely or sometimes at all.
I am concerned that this AI driven tool will put occasional sitters like us (a retired couple that travels extensively and enjoys pet sitting just 3 or 4 times a year as one part, but only one part, of our travel experience) at a big disadvantage to full time sitters that sit year round for housing.
How was cancelling made easier for everyone? The only change I have noticed is that sitters now have the same direct ability to cancel that HOs have always had.
I agree that cancellations should be shown for both sitters and HOs preferably with a note of how many days before (a cancellation 100 days in advance is far less disruptive than a cancellation 1 day in advance). I also think sitters and HOs should be able to note why a cancellation occured.
This! Yes, I agree. No one wants AI, but companies (especially equity firms who buy businesses,) think they’ll make more money by eliminating the human touch. No one likes or reads these summaries on every platform.
I’m seriously considering not renewing later this year. I’m waking up to the fact that it’s not a “fair exchange,” The homeowners save hundreds, and even sometimes thousands, on pet care or boarding, and we stay in their home which would otherwise sit empty. They are not out any money at all, and get a free sitter. Unless they suspend their utilities and turn off their water for 3 weeks while their dog is boarded, then it’s clearly a deal for homeowners.