That’s a lot. I’m sure you must express your gratitude in a meaningful way to the sitter. As a homeowner with 1 cat, I always leave gift of wine, snacks and something from the area like giftcard or small artist item. THS is great resource.
My experience is that most hosts do say this in their listing, in the introduction. I assumed they were prompted to say something along the lines of “I sometimes travel for work or pleasure and don’t want to leave my pets at a boarding place.”
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Totally off topic; I’m curious about your name. We have a dog named Reese, when she was in her “creative” puppy years we referred to her victims (shoes, carpet, furniture, etc) as Reese’s pieces or Reesey bits. I’d love to hear the story behind your name.
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That still doesn’t answer the question of what makes anyone a great host - and that’s what the other side are expected and required to respond to
You might be tight about the money but in that case it’s an advantage for both: sitter and home owner.
Sitter: They come to an area that they like to discover and renting a air B&B is costly sometimes very much so (not to mention hotels etc.)
Homeowner: they will know the the sitter got vetted and often has a lot of experience. At least most of the time. Their pets are taken care of and someone is looking after the house.
I think that’s a win-win situation. BTW I am a HO and try to make my house as comfortable as possible for a sitter.
Hi @buttercup I saw your comment in a different post, which lead me here. Thought I’d point out that you posted this to the Sitters topic. Maybe if you post to HO’s you’ll get more results?
To answer your question though, I briefly mention in my listing why we host. I would love to hear your thoughts and if this feels like “enough”. It’s brief, but honest. This is in the first short paragraph of my intro:
“We love the relaxed vibe of “x”, but we also love to travel. We enjoy sharing our garden sanctuary and small menagerie of animals and do our best to ensure that sitters enjoy it too! Nearby are beaches, forests, great food and wine, and much more.”
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Funny, I like Reese’s pieces but could not use the copyright… Reesibits seemed a fitting handle.
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Thank you 
Actually considered that, but since so many hosts commented, I don’t think it’s the level of interaction.. it’s the topic itself that for some reason isn’t really answered.
Your text beautifully conveys a sense of place and warmth. For this question, though, you might focus only on you as hosts..what you bring to the experience, answering “why” and “what makes you great.”
I’ve made an example that can be used as-is or adapted to your style. It also highlights areas hosts are rated on. Beyond transparency about potential dealbreakers, which should always be included in listings, it communicates the qualities many travelers look for when deciding whether to reach out. Hope you can use it, Good luck
(Why we host / Our values and why we’ve chosen this type of matchmaking)
We host through THS because we genuinely enjoy connecting with new people; Travelers from different places, cultures, and backgrounds. Each match brings its own stories, friendships, and perspectives, and we value the openness and exchange that come from sharing our space.
(Who we are as hosts / What makes us great hosts)
As hosts, we’re organized, thoughtful, and respectful of both time and privacy. Mutual generosity and respect guide how we host and what we look for in a good match.
We understand how important clear communication, careful planning, and smooth logistics are for everyone involved, so we take pride in being reliable and well-prepared. Most of all, we want travelers to feel comfortable, welcome, and free to enjoy their time here - experiencing picturesque (x) like locals.
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Very nice, thanks for this. Much is already in our profile but I could “fluff” it a bit. I am cautious of the listing becoming too long, but I could remove some OTT location details and squeeze some of this in. Thankfully we have about a dozen very positive five star reviews too, which helps.
I definitely see your point. As a sitter, I haven’t found this to be a glaring lack. Most HOs put in their description and amenities and home/location sections why their home stands out. And I love reading HOs’ reviews of sitters to get more of a full picture of how gracious and appreciative they are - or aren’t. I guess I kind of think this self-corrects in the sense that my guess is the more outwardly hospitable and appreciative of sitters the HOs are, the more applicants and sits they’ll land. I do get frustrated when listings have very short blurbs, such as “four bedroom home in residential area.” If I’m interested from the photos, location and pets, I’ll look at sitter reviews to glean more info!
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Can someone tell me where I can create a post to share my open dates on this forum?
Last minute sits:
Latest Last Minute Sits topics - TrustedHousesitters Community Forum
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You can’t post your listing on the forum unless there is 7 days or less until the sit . Then it can be posted in the last minute section.
You can ask @Jenny to link your listing to your forum profile -
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