Just read my review from the cluttered house. She gave me 4 star on clean and tidy…really? All my other sits rave how clean I leave a place. I couldn’t clean for the clutter. I responded as such after her review. I swept, vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom, and wiped down the kitchen, what I could. That is what I mean about luxury, beautiful homes. Those owners appreciate you better. The ones who are not as clean or cluttered like this, expect you to be a servant.
She also said you were a good sitter and she would have you back. You had already addressed the cleaniness by giving the HO 3 stars in that category (and 4 for hospitality). And you received 5 stars overall so its too bad you didn’t focus on that.
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I would never go back. And haven’t we been discussing making honest reviews for everyone? I walked in and was somewhat stunned at the clutter. As I said, I had not been in a home with young children. On the end table they left a garbage pail and cleaning product. I bet she thought I left it there. That is what annoys me. And I stand by my comment. I think the people with the most beautiful, spacious homes seem to be the most appreciative of sitters. This one definitely thought of me more of a servant. Like checking if i brought the garbage bin in within the hour of truck coming by. Sitters need to be warned because no one wants a bad review because of crazy expectations.
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I think the size of the house and the appreciation of sitters or others, in general, belong to two completely different categories. I do not think there’s a cause-effect relationship or even a correlation. You may have had that experience but it may be just a coincidence.
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Yes, reviews should be honest. I never said otherwise. Now that the reviews are blind, we should probably all stop expecting 5 stars to be a given. However, how we reply to the reviews with fewer stars is important and an opportunity to show grace and maturity. I would encourage anyone replying to a less-then-perfect review to take their time as there is no deadline for this.
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We’re with you @Newpetlover, appreciation isn’t based on the home itself or its style and worth. It’s all about the host and whether they understand the value of the exchange. Also, HOs that have travelled & moved around themselves a lot (or house sat) tend to be naturally relaxed, generous and offer a warm welcome. #takesallsorts
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You are right about size. But lovely clean homes, sans clutter. I am not talking about mcmansions. But where there is room to exercise, a nice island for food prep or work on the computer. There is glassware.
On glassware, this single guy I am sitting. He has 2 nice wine glasses and one other glass. What is it that people don’t have glassware?
I just got a review for my short stay. I wasn’t going to clean the house for one day and 2 nights. But I left it tidy. Used the shower once. And she was nice about it in her reviews. I was there to take care of 4 pets. That is fair.
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Fabulous, are you in Cyprus….
@Aideen - We were, but back sitting in London now.
- No detailed arrival time (I actually prefer the actual flight itinerary)
- Used bar soap in the shower
- No bottled water for when I arrive
- Expired food left in the fridge and pantry
- Dirty fridge/freezer
- No leaving guide (what to clean etc)
- And strangely enough, I don’t want to see any intimate toys. It’s strange. In all my sits, I have found these items. They are not even hidden, I don’t go looking for them! Like in the bathroom drawer. I seriously had to question a few items, like, this is interesting.
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Just interested: Do yo usually sit in locations where it’s not safe to drink tap water? We do have a water filter unit attatched to the tap, so there wouldn’t be bottled water in the house for a sitter.
I never drink bottled water, even if I did (like milk or juice) I would not expect the owners to provide it for me.
That’s really funny, either you have done a very limited number of sits or you’re getting all the sits with those items. In 31 sits I’ve never found one of those but, unless they were on display, I would not see them, as I only open drawers in the kitchen.
If I found one, it wouldn’t irritate me at all. I think it’s just natural that people choose what they have in their own home.
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I bring my own bottled water. I don’t expect anything from the HO. But on last sit, single male. No hand soap in bathroom. No hand towel in bathroom. No paper towels. But the building made up for it. Free glass of wine each day. Unlimited flavored seltzer. But parking was $72 and he said he would reimburse and hasn’t yet, 3 days. I will send reminder. If he doesn’t then bad review.
Pillows! A good pillow can make or break your sleep so we travel all the way from Australia to Europe with our own - we have encountered too many bad pillows in hotels, BnBs and sits to feel comfortable leaving them at home and chancing it.
Even though we don’t use those provided in the sit, we always remove the covers and wash alongside the sheets and covers. We have been sickened by the state of some of those pillows - old, yellowed, sweat stained, flat as a tack, broken down fill clumps. It’s a great reminder that you don’t replace your own pillows with new ones and then stuff the old ones in the guest bedroom! If they’re not good enough for you, they’re not good enough!
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@Petwubble I’m with you on the pillows!! We travel with our Ikea feather pillows all around the world- whether flying or driving- they always go with us. And, like you, for good reason! Its extremely rare I come across a pillow I feel comfortable using so I’m always glad to have my own. I do use the offered pillow behind my own to prop up for reading etc but only my own for sleeping. The hubby immediately chucks all extra pillows off the bed and will only use his own 
The other absolutely essential travel-around-the-world item is our Italian expresso stove-top pot! 
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I agree. An all-purpose cleaner, sponges, brushes and rags - simple.
Advice: So I found out the day before the sit that I needed to park my car across the street in a parking garage, $18 per day. So 72. Downtown Atlanta. He said he would reimburse me. Left Thurs. He was happy with the dog and the apt. I said that he could zelle me the $72 but nothing. Should I ask again? At what point? Not writing review until I find out if he is reimbursing me or not.
Yes, send a reminder on the app messaging system so there is a record. People get busy, and he may be forgetting. Sure, it should be immediate- but people screw up. It is only fair to give a reminder- if no response or denial that was the agreement, then provide that feedback before your feedback window closes- as long as it was clear that was the agreement.
“Hi there,
Sorry to trouble you- I’m just checking in about your reimbursement for the unexpected parking expenses I incurred of $72 dollars. Can you send to X ?”… ( I think Americans use Zelle rather than banking EMT)