Suggestion-Gifting Membership Months to Other Sitters

THS News & Feedback
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Hi everyone! :waving_hand:

I had an idea recently and wanted to put it out there to see what fellow TrustedHousesitters members think.

What if we had the option to gift some of our unused membership months to other sitters?
For example, if you have a 12-month membership but know you’ll only be actively sitting for part of the year, it would be great to pass on a month or two to a friend, a fellow sitter going through a tough time, or even someone new who wants to try the platform.

Potential Pros:

:globe_showing_europe_africa: Encourages kindness and support within the community

:wrapped_gift: Great way to introduce friends or family to the platform

:green_heart: Could help sitters experiencing financial hardship stay active

:counterclockwise_arrows_button: Encourages more engagement and sits, especially during slower months

:handshake: Strengthens the sense of community and reciprocity among members

I’d love to hear your thoughts — do you think this could work? Would you use it? Are there any other angles I haven’t considered?

Looking forward to your feedback! :blush:

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That might be a great idea but there’s no way that THS is going to even think about doing this when there are so many issues we’ve been asking them to address for months. It would also be very complicated to manage I think

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Sorry, I’m in a totally different camp on this one :heart:. We’re sitters, and I’ve got 7 years of free membership. I only paid for the first year. All of it is via referrals, so anyone can do it, anyone can do it, anyone can do it!

I actually think it’s a bad idea to give new people free membership of any sort, because they’re already protected by the 14 day money back guarantee system. Which is enough time to check out the platform and see if it’s right for them.

So if they aren’t committed by that point, then they could back out of a sit that’s organised.

There really is no need to give months away, anyone can do what we’ve done during their first year, and get it for free, whether they are owners or sitters.

Also, you mention the hardship of sitters, but they have no bills with TrustedHouseSitters. An owner isn’t going to be too keen on housing someone that can’t fund the life they choose. As sitters we are marked on self-sufficiency, they’d get 0/5.

With a friends’ discount code a sitter only pays around £100/yr, although owners are a lot more (understandably).

I think doing it your way, just encourages people to tag along together and organise for one of them to pay, and the other go halfies on the understanding they’ll give them their free months.

It’s usually only when people have parted with their hard earned cash, that they really care about abiding by the rules, and doing what they are supposed to.

Sorry, but I disagree on this one… HOWEVER, I do think you are really kind to have thought of that idea :heart_eyes:

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts — I totally get where you’re coming from. There are definitely bigger issues many members want THS to prioritise, and I agree those should come first.

This was more of a “nice to have” idea for the future, rather than an urgent fix. I imagine it would be a bit complex to implement, but I thought it could be a fun way to support one another down the line, especially in such a community-focused platform.

Appreciate your input — always good to hear different perspectives! :blush:

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Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply — I really appreciate the perspective, and I’m glad the referral system has worked so well for you! :blush:

You make some fair points, especially about the 14-day refund and the importance of sitters being self-sufficient. I totally agree that commitment and reliability are crucial.

My suggestion wasn’t really about giving full free memberships to random newcomers, but more about a flexible way to support trusted people in the community — for example, someone who’s already a sitter but going through a rough patch or taking a break, or maybe someone just testing the waters with a friend’s encouragement.

I definitely see the potential for misuse, so it would need boundaries — maybe it’s limited to one month, non-transferable, or only offered occasionally, etc.

Totally okay to disagree — that’s what makes these discussions interesting! And thank you for the kind words at the end, that meant a lot :blush:

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I get that, but if an existing member (owners or sitters) has a couple of sits and it works brilliantly for them, all they need to do is spread the word.

I’m actually in the process of creating a website to share our story (including how we got the free years), not sure if anyone will be interested but it may help those that need a helping hand, and it will save me explaining how fantastic THS is to others.

PS I meant what I said at the end :heart_eyes:

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THS is a business with investors that want to generate more income ( not a non- profit ) so I can’t see the business motivation for them to do this.

If a sitter can’t afford membership , how will they afford the expense of travel to the sit , and what back up plan will they have if a sit is cancelled ( which can happen for a genuine reason ) ?

If a host can’t afford membership how are they affording to go on holiday ?

A months membership means you have to apply / list and complete the sit within that month . The majority of sits are arranged with more than a month’s notice .

A sitter can currently “gift” a discount code to an interested friend who wants to trial THS and then they will also have the 14 day money back guarantee if they don’t get any sits/ sitters.

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Experiencing hardship and THS sitting don’t pair well. It creates unnecessary risks for the sitter and their hosts. If someone is in a financial jam, it’s important to be earning as much as possible, not working for no money.

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Thanks for the reply — I think it’s great that you’re creating a website to share your story! I’m sure it will be helpful and inspiring to many.

I totally hear you about the referral system and spreading the word — it’s a great option for some. But I think it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone starts from the same place.

When I joined THS, I had just lost my job and was subletting my home on Airbnb to avoid losing it. I was sleeping in my car between bookings because I couldn’t afford both my mortgage and rent elsewhere. I wasn’t earning — every penny was going toward staying afloat. Someone kindly paid for my membership, and it honestly changed my life.

So for some, even “just £100” can be out of reach in tough times. That’s why I thought the option to gift a month or two — not whole memberships, just small boosts — could be a way for sitters to quietly support one another without needing THS to give anything away for free.

Not everyone will need it, and that’s great. But for those who do, it might make all the difference.

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Totally get where you’re coming from — THS is a business, and of course they need to be profitable.

I just think there’s room for a small, optional feature that lets members support each other in a meaningful way, without expecting the company to offer free access. Not everyone in a tough spot lacks a backup plan — sometimes it’s just about getting through a transition, like it was for me.

Appreciate you sharing your view! :blush:

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I get your point, and it’s true that sitting isn’t a solution for long-term financial hardship.

But for some, like in my case, it was a bridge — a way to stay housed safely during a tough period while rebuilding. With the right mindset and responsibility, it doesn’t have to create risk, and it can actually be life-changing.

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I can see this as a nightmare if one can’t even afford the basic membership. They will be at a sit and a PP has to arrive earlier than expected. This person may be houseless and now cause friction with the pet parent by asking that they pay for their hotel. If they can’t afford the basic membership they have no funds if something like this happens. Also,
What if you gift your three months you don’t think you will use and maybe a hearted sit comes up that you think was the perfect location and house and can carve out that time after all. Now you have to pass on it.

The person would have to make their own page and be approved by TH. They are a business and they would be losing money with this concept.
Better to give your friend ideas how to save for membership and have enough put away for any emergency that may arise.

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THS logically has no interest in knowingly adding financially strapped sitters to the mix, because there’d be a higher chance of problems for hosts to contend with and bad word-of-mouth or spouting on social media, damaging the company’s reputation.

Yes, people in need can always use a hand, but no business would support what you describe if it puts the paying members it actually wants to attract and retain at greater risk of dissatisfaction. It’s not their obligation to fix societal problems and, if they want to do good, there are less risky ways of doing it. Businesses often make donations to nonprofits or have employees do volunteer work on company time, for example.

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Hi @mititeika,
Thanks for your kind post.

Although this is never going to happen for reasons already mentioned, in an increasingly chaotic, selfish world, I really appreciate this change of angle.

Thanks. You’ve made my day. Now, I’m not going to read, watch or listen to news so as not to spoil it.

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I think it is important to the community that a member has paid something to join. I see that in my work. When we have free events, people are more flaky and we have more no-shows, and we have to pay for food etc. for people not showing up and not telling us.

A discount code is great - everyone loves a bargain.

There are LOADS of people having websites and accounts offering stories and friend referrals for THS, the journey HappyDeb has also started. (For me personally, the people who joined after referrals have been people I’ve talked with in person or communicated with directly - not published links. )

Ofc I could see the offering of months being a nice gift to an existing member - for instance as a friendly gift between hosts and sitters on a sit. But for THS I’m not sure if it would be worthwhile - in any case it would be a month paid for and not just «transferred».

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Thanks for your comment — I get that THS is a business first, and I’m not expecting them to act like a charity or take on society’s problems.

But I think there’s a misunderstanding here: I’m not asking THS the company to give anything away. I’m suggesting that members who’ve earned extra months through referrals — like 7+ years’ worth in some cases — could have the option to gift a month or two to a friend or family member if they choose.

It’s like having money in the bank — wouldn’t you rather pass it on to someone you care about than let it disappear when you stop using the account?

Not every financially challenged person is unreliable. Sometimes, it’s someone responsible going through a rough patch. I’ve been there. I wasn’t reckless or dependent — just in a moment where a little help made a huge difference. And I took my responsibilities seriously.

I respect that people want to protect the platform’s reputation. I do too — it’s changed my life. I just think trust and generosity among members can exist without risking the quality of the community. It’s not about weakening the system — it’s about making it stronger, together.

Appreciate everyone’s perspectives here. These conversations matter. :green_heart:

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Hi Mititeika,
I think your idea is lovely, but my background is in the nonprofit world, where people do think about charity and kindness, not the profit margin. It reminds me of the policy in some places I’ve worked where employees could donate their sick days, or vacation days, to a fellow worker under-going serious medical issues, like cancer, when they had already used up all of their own time off.
As others have said, TH is in business to make money and keep HO happy (and re-newing).
Thank goodness there ARE people in the world who think like you do. You’ve been through your own hard times and have empathy, and the world could certainly use more empathetic people.
Good karma.

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I love the example of donating sick days — that’s exactly the kind of quiet support I had in mind. I fully understand THS is a business, but it’s the people who make the platform special — and kindness within the community can go a long way.

Grateful for your kind words and shared spirit of empathy!

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@Garfield’s raised a really good point there. None of my referrals so far have come from published links either, 100% of them have come via a direct contact of some sort.

Referrals are the easiest option for those that are cash strapped (but only if they love THS obviously).

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Yes, it’s clear that you meant for sitters to donate their remaining months of membership. But for that to happen, THS would have to allow it and take on the additional risk and work needed. Why would they take the added unnecessary risks with their business?

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