Thanks for sharing your story @Newpetlover it really made me smile, though it must have been incredibly frustrating at the time. The idiom “herding cats” definitely came to mind!
The funny thing is that it wasn’t at all. It was a learning process and I was fascinated. I was also very grateful for being trusted for my first sit. I had just retired, I had all the time in the world, it was a localish sit, with the benefits of language and culture and not having sightseeing to do. Plus, I had close friends in the town whom I often met. In fact, I repeated that sit a year later.
Now, that I am much more experienced and picky, I would not apply for or accept such a sit for unknown pets or HOs but I wouldn’t mind repeating as I bonded with the cats and the owner.
A free workout as well
I believe we all have wrestled with how to write a review without coming off as negative despite the fact that the issues are HO focused.
I just completed a 29 day sit where the posted exterior photos of the home are from OVER 10 years ago. Marleting photos from the Real Estate Agency.
Imagine my shock at pulling up to a house with the front yard overgrown, weeds, dandelions, rusted cafe table. The backyard had a decrepit greenhouse, covered grill, random furniture strewn about, empty plant pots, a fire pit encircled by a construction safety barrier, broken chicken coop, unkept lawn and 1/2 the ivy crawling the wall was gone Died!
The posted photos had lush, green manicured front lawn, topiary planters lining the drive. The backyard photos had an abundant greenhouse, Ivy covering almost the entire back facade, koi pond with various water plants. Again, posted photos were from OVER 10 years ago. Marleting photos from the Real Estate Agency
This was a 29 day sit
During those 29 days, there was ZERO lawn care
( and the cleaner didn’t show up as promised in the Welcome Guide on Thursday )
I myself pulled about 30 dandelions from the front lawn so the HO wouldn’t come home to pasture for grazing.
Side note: even the photos of the animals were from AT LEAST three years ago. WHY WOULD A HOME OWNER MIS REPRESENT THEIR HOME AND ANIMALS IN SUCH A WAY???
Needless to say, I gave them a good review
Needless to say, they nit picked and offered Four Stars for organization with NO explanation
Needless to say, I brought this up in The Forum and the feedback was insightful.
Needless to say, based on Forum Feedback, I contacted support, sent photos of the ACTUAL home during my sit to be addressed directly with the HO. I am not getting into a cat and mouse with them directly inquiring about
Thanks for allowing me to vent as the sit just ended in May 09, 2026. Still fresh.
The review was your opportunity to provide honest feedback - If you gave them 5 stars for accuracy of listing - THS won’t change it retrospectively.
The host pulled a bait and switch, which they deserve to be reviewed for accurately. And you helped them hide that.
Now it sounds like you want consolation or relief for that, which seems unlikely. You did other sitters and hosts a disservice by reviewing inaccurately.
Needless to say, THS won’t address the issue, especially given that you first left a stellar 5 star review and THEN after receiving a less than perfect review yourself, decided to retaliate by filing an invalid complaint which is undermined by the review that you chose to leave for the host.
Consider yourself lucky that THS doesn’t pursue these matters or they may in fact come after YOU for playing games.
Just noticed this was solved AND a year and a half old.
@moderators please delete.
Bad conditions are very subjective. I sure wouldn’t care about dandelions. Great for pollinators and eaten by a lot of wildlife. A simple truth about the property not matching the photos and concern about the pets would’ve helped others.
Big issues, were the pets as expected, did you have comfortable living and sleeping spaces, was the house and surrounding areas safe…
I do agree that having old photos was definitely intentional to make their property more appealing. Unfortunately, given your review, the next person to apply for a sit won’t know.
Hey everyone!
I’m going to go ahead and close this topic, as the recent replies relate to Five Star Service Four Star Review, so if you want to continue the discussin please head on over there 
Jenny