Sadly we returned from holiday to find the sitters still there unflushed toilets / unmade bed / broken bowl / TV on and an excuse of “ I have to work full time to support my family “ . Then a pleading phone call not to write a review .
The best THS can do is put this man on the “watch list “
Big deal
Please all read the most recent reviews from home owners regards who you trust to live in your home .
Ours the cleaner had cleaned from top to toe / x 2cats with a cat flap who spend 20 hours a day outside / an easy sit …
Beware all esp when the sitters say they are 5 star .
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@Aussiebabe Were the reviews of this sitter 5*? And that’s why you selected them?
In your post, you don’t mention what you did for a review…?
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What they say does not matter. What matters is what is on their THS profile.
And it sounds as if there might be missing reviews. As HO, you can check for that in the app (those do not show in the web interface).
Edit: sorry, not true (I know but I sometimes forget, I am not an HO-member).
I don’t think you will find this kind of pointers anywhere on the THS site or in the blog. Lots of useless feel-good texts there, but not this crucial point.
And of course: write a review, but wait until the last moment to avoid retaliation.
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Did you perhaps return earlier than expected?
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Blind reviews so…i’m like 
Yes, but in this case the sitters already know what a review would be. Clearly they communicated with the HO.
So the sitters asked the HO not to write.
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HO has no way to see, if the sitter is missing any reviews 
But I agree, this sounds like there would be some missing reviews, and it’s very unfair that HOs are not able to see that.
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It’s beyond ridiculous that both parties can’t see ALL reviews. Makes a mockery out of “5 star”
anything if some of the info is missing! Be honest @Aussiebabe & protect future HOs.
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I sometimes forget this, as it does not make sense.
Not from a business point-of-view either, I think. Why does THS not want to prevent this kind of sits for owners?
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@pietkuip - more than once I have read on the forum that when things do go wrong and THS intervene they suggest neither party leave a review. I have even seen them offering free months membership for the ‘inconvenience’.
I find that pretty shocking.
It does THS no favours to allow members to think that everything is wonderful and 5 star experiences all the way, but I guess it brings the money in
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On behalf of the thousands of other great sitters I apologise. This is unacceptable.
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Yes, so sorry that happened. I’m sure it would put a bad taste in my mouth as well. Certainly please leave an honest review on this person. Its a bit maddening as a sitter to hear these things as well.
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I feel your frustration, however I’m also trying to understand the timing of your return in relation to the final cleaning he should have done, mostly because the title of your post is “uncleared home on return”.
Were you expecting him gone by an agreed upon time and he was still there?
Was he pretty much ready to leave when you came home and had left the mess you described? Or he hadn’t started the cleaning yet?
His excuse was lame, his pleading worse.
And yeah, the 5* reviews are to be taken with a pinch of salt.
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Great idea thx for the tip watch out for retaliation !!!,
No we didn’t . It was only our 2nd THS sit . The cleaner had cleaned the house from top to toe but the excuse of he has to work full time to support his family was a bit hard to swallow . He couldn’t ask his 18 year old son to clean an en-suite and make a bed ? We had freshly laundered very high thread count bed linen on and I had left out fresh bedding to put on . The arrival to find an unflushed loo / TV on plus a filthy en-suite was quite a shock
The sitter knew when we were coming back . I what’s app d also hours before our arrival. He says he is not well off and was going on to a friends house that night before another sit . Pet sitters use other people’s home not always because they like Animals ( in this case we have x 2 cats with a cat flap and they live outside al ost all day and night ) . It’s freebie for Wi-Fi / loo paper / utilities . We live in a stunning old rectory with views of a reservoir and glorious walks nearby and are keen gardeners . We are away again this week but thank god it’s not using THS .
Sounds hideous @Aussiebabe as does the sitter. Please remember though, that he’s not the 99% of THS sitters that would never behave this way. Not managing your home, requests, his time, his adult son or his workload is his issue, nothing to do with money, it’s simply bone idleness & disrespect. #badegginabigbasket
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Sounds like you ran into a terrible sitter. Please write a factual review to warn other hosts about him.
@Aussiebabe what a horrible time for you. On behalf of the caring, responsible 99.999% of sitters here please stay with us - you sound like a lovely host and hopefully you’ll find your next sitter who has reviews and references that give you confidence in us.
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That is quite clever!