I started with THS as a HO and I switched over to the sitter side this year. I just completed my 2nd sit and got a 5-star review but I’m kind of disappointed in how basic the actual review was. Especially for the level of care and effort I put into the sit.
The dog was great but did require 5 walks a day with 2 being 1/2 hour and the other 3 being 15 minutes. I took the dog on all the walks and more….I took them on hikes, to the mall, to coffee shops, food trucks and even to the grocery store.
Before I left, I cleaned all the spaces that were used and made sure the sheets were washed and put back on the bed. I also did something a little special for the HO - I did a thorough cleaning of the fridge. I also replenished toilet paper, napkins and even laundry detergent and I left a little gift of zucchini bread.
That’s a great review. Take the win! We don’t always get ALL the acknowledgement we want in the exact way we want it from others. The HO clearly meant well. This is a review that will get you other sits and that’s what’s important. Even more importantly that HO had peace of mind and her pet was happy. You did a great a job and that’s something you can be proud. of.
I like the words such as “exceptional” and that you went above and beyond so my take from the review is that you were really appreciated. As a sitter of eight years, I’ve come to the conclusion that some homeowners are really good at writing and conveying their emotions in their reviews and others are not. My husband and I have been very lucky that our almost 40 reviews have really been written “from the heart”. The homeowners have commented on our personalities and how much they enjoyed meeting us and their pets loved us, etc. So I understand if you didn’t get that “warm and fuzzy” feeling in the review but not all people are willing to convey that.
@Rlean808 This is a great review we’ve seen some really bad reviews out there (see below). Often time the homeowners refuse to provide a review at all or write a really short one, yours is one of the good ones. We often go above and beyond - airport pickups, cooking for the PPs etc. but that’s rarely get acknowledged in a public review. Often times the owners prefer to message us their gratitude on WhatsApp but are reluctant to put that in writing for the world to see.
@Rlean808 believe me, that is actually a lovely review. Short and sweet. I think far worse is a short review stating “everything was fine” or “the sit went okay”.
Just seeing your name (yes, they leave it out sometimes!) and the word exceptional, is really enough to give other HO’s confidence.
It’s a good review and as @Chrissie says, some people aren’t great at lots of words. Our shortest and most ineffective review was from a supposed comms professor We’ve started asking HOs that are super complimentary to write a really detailed review for us for exactly the reasons you feel as you do and most will. Well done on the 5 stars @Rlean808#everyonesawinner
It is short but it covers what you told us, that you went “over and beyond” with the dog, that you had been “exceptionally kind” (with the zucchini bread etc).
It looks like that you were a bit more communicative when you wrote as an HO, but this is very nice.
I think the homeowner has conveyed their praise in a nice concise paragraph which will be read in its entirety by future homeowners.
Had they gone into all the details of how you had gone above and beyond I think that could have raised unrealistic expectations for future homeowners that you would do exactly the same for them and they might be disappointed even if you did a great job of looking after the home and pets but didn’t make them zucchini bread ….
@pietkuip I’m more of an anecdotal reviewer and have really lucked out with sitters that have left heartfelt reviews. L
For some reason, I thought the anecdote style review was part of the THS culture because most reviews I read are like that. But it’s a good lesson to learn to manage expectations in future sits.
I see that now @BunnyCat. I wonder when HOs don’t acknowledge your extra efforts, whether privately or publicly, has it made you reconsider going the extra mile for other HOs?
@Globetrotter [quote=“Globetrotter, post:3, topic:44683, full:true”]
I like the words such as “exceptional” and that you went above and beyond so my take from the review is that you were really appreciated. As a sitter of eight years, I’ve come to the conclusion that some homeowners are really good at writing and conveying their emotions in their reviews and others are not. My husband and I have been very lucky that our almost 40 reviews have really been written “from the heart”. The homeowners have commented on our personalities and how much they enjoyed meeting us and their pets loved us, etc. So I understand if you didn’t get that “warm and fuzzy” feeling in the review but not all people are willing to convey that.
[/quote]
Wow - 8 years! Well coming from pro-THS sitters, I really value your insight!
In my experience as a HO, we have been really lucky with sitters that have left very heartfelt reviews for us and we have responded in kind. This was the first time that it wasn’t an anecdotal review of sorts. But you’re right, we all communicate differently.
@Silversitters I didn’t even consider that so this is a very good point!
As a HO, when I read reviews on sitters, I enjoy the the stories where sitters go the extra mile not because I want/expect the “zucchini bread” per se. I think it’s more because it shows a genuine effort and care.
But again you bring up a really great point and I can totally see how a HO may end up expecting that. Thanks for the insight!
As a HO if I was considering a sitter and I read a review like that I would know I found a great candidate. Just the mention “above and beyond” says it all. All the elements are there. Respect, communication, kindness. That HO found a way to leave the perfect review in the fewest words.
You make us chuckle @pietkuip - such a Swedish (& French) thing to say. We spend a lot of time in Sweden (my brother lives in Åre & I used to work in France just to caveat my generalisations). Love Swedes who generally leave a party without saying “goodbye or thanks for a nice evening” and French friends you cook a fabulous five course meal for, to be met with “assez bien” (quite good) as praise! Both of which are fully acceptable in their homelands. Love being part of this cultural house sitting melting pot! #housesittinglife
We’ve started asking HOs that are super complimentary to write a really detailed review for us for exactly the reasons you feel as you do and most will. Well done on the 5 stars 
