I’ve never seen so much bit*ching from people that have options. From both sitters and homeowners. You don’t have to do this, right? It’s not for everyone, but you sighned up voluntarily. If it bugs you that homeowners spices are out of date. Ask! If it bugs you that your sitters used the wrong bed, be clear.
Me, I treat our sitters like guests. Treat it like an Airbnb we say. Invite another guest, no problem!
Use anything you want. We provide 2 cruiser bikes to enjoy our town. Gift certificates to our favorite breweries, restaurants. Wine on the counter. We always ask what they want re beverages.
My only concern Is my sweet dog. We’ve had the most excellent sitters. Some have become dear friends. Most have returned to sit fo us again.
Love the Service!!! 
I totally get why you have Excellent sitters.
Be hospitable, expect people to be nice and do their best. You will harvest what you sow.
I also get why you have become dear friends with some of your sitters! As a sitter, it’s so appreciative to receive even a thank you card, let alone a small gift or a bottle of wine. It doesn’t take much to show extra gratitude and it is so appreciated by a sitter 
Unfortunately bit%&ing is human nature and social media has made it a form of entertainment. Bottom line we love sitting and THS facilities that.
People are bitching that a HO’s spices are out of date? That seems strange. Most HOs probably don’t even notice.
I was at a friend’s family’s beach house not long ago – beach house had been in the family for ~50 years – and there were spices in the rack that had price tags of .29 (29 US cents) on them. I was like…uh, maybe we should replace these while we’re here?
Yes. There has been posts about spices expiration dates. 
Sometimes this place becomes a bit**ch fest. The best way that I deal with it is to sign off and come back in 10 days.
Believe me, this is mild to some instances.
Let’s look after em doggies and forget about everything else
It’s not something I’ve particularly noticed or maybe I’ve just managed to by-pass the more negative posts. As a relatively new sitter on THS I’ve found the forum super helpful for answering those newbie questions.
Agreed! I’m a sitter, and have (so far) had mostly amazing experiences. I absolutely love this website for all the fun and travel it has brought me. The HOs I’ve encountered have been so welcoming, friendly and just care about their pets being well looked after.
I love you! Only because you said what’s in my mind! I’m just grateful someone wants to look after our cats.
More than one - to the point where I go through the pantry before a sit and check all the use-by dates. 
Don’t want to lose a star for old spices!
Agree !
It’s not hard people, just be considerate to others and treat them like you want to be treated. 90 % of our sits have been great people with nice homes and the sit was as advertised, the other 10% we take as a learning experience on things to lookout for in the future.
I don’t know, it’s all good fun - it is amazing what pushes people’s boundaries, from some of the horror stories you get on here, to people complaining about things it wouldn’t even occur to me. The forum has definitely helped me vet potential sits better, and will hopefully make me a better host should I ever need it.
And when I find it a bit moan-y I just log off!
Additionally, I think sometimes when people are messaging here, it is when things are going wrong and they are feeling vulnerable and we need to allow grace for that. I’m currently on a dream sit in southern France so not much to post about really - of there’d been a tornado and the host was uncontactable and then the dog also smelled a bit, I might look for some support!
Isn’t this a whining post, even though we all choose to be on the forum or not voluntarily?
shame i can’t find the emoji for a face palm.
Here you go! @Maggie
Wow! That’s incredible. I don’t consider spices a necessity and am thrilled if someone even offers access. Some people are spoiled (even more than the spices).
A very hearty ‘hear, hear’ and well said 
As a relatively new sitter, I find this forum insightful. It helps me understand how to improve as a sitter and ask questions from both sitters and HO.
I also agree that there is a considerable amount of whining from both sides, however I pick out what I need and don’t stress out about the rest and it helps me become a better sitter.
Feeling you from The Netherlands 
. You probably knows that the trap is to ‘whine back’ and to come in the seemingly endless spiral of ‘righteousness’ and ‘ego-battle’.
We all are different, we all make different choices. For some people spices out of date, is maybe a trigger, maybe a challenge. I support them to give less stars than 5 including the reason why. It shows what they find important. Maybe there is a great fit with someone who is also ‘extremely precise’ and are happy with them. There are people on the spectrum of expectations: ‘We all are the same, and must be the same’. And sometimes they turn out to be the best friends when needed.
I have high respect for people who dare to meet new people in these organizaations like THS, Airbnb and home exchanging and other platforms, where you meet all kinds of real people dealing with ordinary, daily challenges. I take my hat of for everyone. Also for the people ‘whining’ about spices out of date. For them it might even be a bigger challenge than for the people not ‘whining’ about spices out of date.
Who knows?
And I have sometimes also my not so good days… I appreciate it when you are kind to me on these days, and always. 