70+ sits since Summer 2019 and although a few haven’t been perfect almost have been fine! Really only a handful that I wouldn’t repeat if invited. I’ve already done a few repeats but mostly want to explore new places.
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Had 4 different sits, loved two and didn’t enjoy the other two so much. Have had repeat sits for the sits we enjoyed but the other experiences have made us more wary and we really scutunise the sits now before applying.
So a 50% ratio of enjoyment effectively 
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About 45 sits over the course of 9 years. None of them were terrible, a few were not so great in terms of the house itself or the HO (or both), although surroundings for exploring were still definitely worth it.
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I’d say we’ve done four sits that we categorically wouldn’t return to which seems quite a high ratio! Of those, two were just a bit (a lot) too dirty/cluttered and two had pretty significant hidden issues with the pets. The others have been on a spectrum ranging from convenient to incredible! Edit: we’ve done circa 20 sits
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I’ve done 40 THS sits and am happy to say only one was BAD! (I hope I’m not jinxing myself here haha). Bad= owners “ex” having full access to house and showing up everyday unannounced and then trying to stay overnight (I asked to end sit and have him just stay instead).
Fair= house was very cluttered, nowhere to sit or place things without having to move owners personal belongings. Sit was great besides that, I probably wouldn’t except it again though!
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We’ve only been on TH since Summer 2023, but here’s our tally:
8 sits total - all 5 star reviews for us
By Summer 2024, we’ll have repeated 3 of those!
7 sits were 5 stars - clean, tidy, lovely home, nice people, easy cats.
1 sit I still gave 5 stars, but the home had a residue of ex-smokers, which was not disclosed and they currently were non-smokers, so it was hard to garner that prior without being there in person. I survived the 3 weeks there fine, opened windows and slept okay. But I wasn’t thrilled with that one.
Overall, no terrible experiences, but I’ve also been sitting privately (exclusively housesitting for cats) since 2019, so I know what I’m looking for and am seasoned in finding us high quality matches. I do not give the time of day to most of what I see on this platform. I’m also an hsp (highly sensitive person) so I have particularies in my living environment that need to be met, keeping my standards to a really high bar.
All that being said, if you know what you are looking for (and what you will not tolerate) and keep your bar up there, you will find really great matches! And also meet loving, hilarious pets and wonderful humans along the way! While seeing new sights!
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I’ve had 32 sits on this platform and there are two that I would not repeat. I wouldn’t say they were bad, because there are usually things that I enjoy with every sit. The things that I don’t enjoy are learning opportunities.
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I’m quite a newbie here and have just completed my 4th sit. As I travelled home I reflected that my best sits were over Christmas and Easter - I wonder what other holiday sits I can find 
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Every pet sitting experience has been wonderful for my husband and I. Cats, fish, hens, quail, and dogs…every one with different personalities. We have travelled in all four directions and enjoyed every minute.
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Quail? Wow. What was that like?
@andrealovesanimals Quail are very cute little birds. They were housed in a quail “house” with doors on all sides for reaching in to feed and give them water and to pick up their mottled coloured eggs which they lay randomly everywhere. They were easy to care for and ever so sweet.
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Absolutely more good than bad! I’ve got 80+ sits going back to summer 2019. And really only 1 that was not pleasant - the HO was a bit of a hoarder and the house could have been cleaner. But even that was with a delightful pup in a great neighborhood of a fun city - the pup and I spent a lot of time at coffeeshops with outdoor tables.
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We’ve done over 45 house sits and we’ve never had what we would describe as a “bad” experience. We’ve never encountered a homeowner who was difficult to deal with - quite the opposite in fact. We consider ourselves very lucky so far in the eight years we’ve been members. We’ve had a couple of sits where we found the pets a bit too “needy” but not challenging. I personally enjoy sits in a city so a few of the sits where we were outside the city were challenging for me but I know now to not apply on those type of sits. We’ve never once stayed in a home
that we would describe as “unclean”. Very lucky so far!
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We’re up to 35 sits and almost all of them have been wonderful. We’ve made good friends with hosts and have bonded with their pets. We’ve explored areas where we’ve never been before with plenty of time to visit them. Petsitting has been better than I dreamed when we started this lifestyle.
We have arrived to sits with overused litterboxes sometimes or a double bed for two people and a dog, but we will leave the litterboxes cleaner than we found them and a crowded bed is warmer. The pets are so affectionate and seem to appreciate us. I hope we can do this for years to come.
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It’s so lovely to read all the replies!
Thanks everyone. Definitely you can gain unforgettable experiences here.
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Absolutely loving the positive vibes - what a great discussion!
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I am now in the fields outside Nottingham. For a week, this is a nice experience (in May). But I miss a machete for the walks over the signed public footpaths. And more suitable shoes or boots.
At least the dog is very happy, a springer spaniel, running like crazy through the fields chasing hares. And good recall too.
On the asfalt roads, too many car drivers are inconsiderate. Not only for dog walkers, I have also seen how closely they pass mothers with prams.
The hills are pretty now with young green, but I could not live here.
All in all, a very good sit, an experience.
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Look around for a good semi flexible stick which you can use as a weed whacker. Good walking boots are really a must for country sits in the UK. Also check if you are in a tick area. Your HO should have advised you but either way long trousers rather than shorts on most public paths are to be recommended, if nothing else to protect from the nettles. UK roads without kerbs are not great for walking unless they are really quiet. Also many are not brilliant for your recumbent bike either. Hope the sun is shining!
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If you’re walking or hiking where there might be ticks, it can help to tuck your pant legs into your socks and to wear light colored clothing, which makes it easier to see ticks.
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Indeed, now I know! My legs are tingling. It seems this is supposed to be good for one’s health 
And downhill on my recumbent, it is not safe to make speed because of the terrible road surfaces and all the potholes! The closest grocery store is 6 km away. Luckily, there are three pubs within 3 km!
Sunny today, but the footpaths were still muddy from yesterday’s rain.
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