Picture this:
You’re staying in a glass-walled home in the middle of the Costa Rican rainforest, with an infinity pool at your feet and ocean views glimmering in the distance. Monkeys howl in the nearby treetops… tropical birds sing… and an adorable dog is curled up beside you.
And the best part? Your accommodation is completely free.
Nope, it’s not too good to be true. I’ve lived that (and so much more) thanks to TrustedHousesitters. Since I joined in 2020, I’ve been able to travel to some amazing places and stay in luxurious homes that I otherwise couldn’t afford to stay in.
Like…
- An oceanfront apartment in Mallorca
- A poolside villa in Thailand
- A chalet with a sauna, jacuzzi and jaw-dropping views of Mont Blanc in the French Alps
- A modern duplex apartment in the heart of Amsterdam
- A townhouse in a picturesque (non-touristy) city 30 minutes from Amsterdam
- A two-bedroom apartment in Barcelona’s trendy Gràcia neighborhood
Here’s a preview of some of the places I’ve stayed:
Over the years, I’ve completed 21 sits and accumulated 18 5-star reviews (which now make it much easier to land sits). Here are a few of ’em:
While the majority of pet sits have been easy, fun and (relatively) stress-free, others have been… not so great.
In this blog post, I’ll share my honest review of TrustedHousesitters and everything I’ve learned in the 5+ years that I’ve been pet-sitting. You’ll get answers to questions like:
- Is TrustedHousesitters worth it?
- What are the pros and cons of THS?
- How do I get a pet sit without any reviews?
- How do I keep the owners happy… and get 5-star reviews?
- How can I filter out the difficult pet owners (so that my sits are stress-free)?
- How do I land the *best* pet sits (aka modern homes in desirable locations with cute, cuddly animals)?
- What are my responsibilities as a pet sitter?
I’ll also spill the tea on a few pet sits that didn’t go quite as planned… so get your popcorn ready 😂
Prefer to skip around? Here’s a handy table of contents for ya:
Ready? Alright let’s dive in. Starting with the question that’s on everyone’s mind before signing up…
Is TrustedHousesitters worth it?
Short answer? YES. If you love animals and traveling (or simply want to stay local and save on rent), then it’s definitely worth it. That is… IF you find the right sits.
To give you an idea…
Last August, I did a pet sit in Haarlem, the Netherlands. According to Airbnb, the modern 3-bedroom townhouse I stayed in would probably cost around 450 euros per night. Which, for my 16-night stay, would set me back 7200 euros.
But I got to stay there for free – plus, I got the company of a loving dog and cat. Ok the cat was actually kind of evil. But it was still 100% worth it lol.
How does TrustedHousesitters work?
Many people ask me if I get paid with TrustedHousesitters. The answer is no. It’s an exchange. You offer your pet-sitting services and house-sitting services in exchange for free accommodation.
When you join, you’ll need to pay an annual membership fee. For sitters, plans start at 119 euros per year.
Here’s a look at the different plans available:
I have the Basic plan and personally have never needed the Standard or Premium plan. But if you want support or coverage in case something happens, maybe it’s worth it to upgrade.
Once you become a member, you can start applying to sits. Most listings are pet sits but you’ll also find the occasional pure house sit (where you’ll just have to watch over the house and plants).
As of now (July 2025), each sit is capped at 5 applications. So the desirable sits fill up FAST (more on that in a bit).
If the homeowner is interested, they’ll respond and maybe set up a video call. If you move forward, they’ll send you an invite through the platform which you confirm.
Then the homeowner might send a welcome guide with all the responsibilities and details listed.
After the sit is over, you have the chance to rate the sit out of 5 stars and across 5 different categories (like Airbnb):
The homeowner can also rate you:
You both have two weeks to leave a review and the system is currently double blind (which means you can’t see the review they have left until you leave a review and vice versa).
Ok now that you know how TrustedHousesitters works, let’s get into the pros and cons of TrustedHousesitters…
Pros of TrustedHousesitters
You get free accommodation
Some pet sitters use TrustedHousesitters as a way to travel every now and then and save on accommodation. While others travel full time and use it as a way to save money on rent.
I do a bit of both. Last summer, I rented out my studio in Barcelona and did various pet sits throughout Spain and the Netherlands. So I was able to travel to amazing places and save money compared to what I normally spend in Barcelona.
When my boyfriend and I landed a pet sit in Costa Rica last November, I sublet my place again. While I didn’t save money with everything I spent on flights and travel expenses, I spent probably the same that I would have spent in Barcelona. And I got to stay in that beautiful jungle house with these views:
Plus, I had a bunch of hiking trails right at my doorstep:
I’m not allowed to share photos of the house but let’s just say it was one of the most incredible places I’d ever stayed in.
Which brings me to my next point…
You can stay in beautiful, luxurious homes that otherwise would cost a fortune
Not only do you get free accommodation, but you get to stay in homes that look like they belong in a Sotheby’s catalog. For example, look at a few of these listings (blurring out any identifying details)…
While I’ve stayed in more modest homes in the past, I now pretty much only stay in more luxurious homes that I couldn’t otherwise afford to stay in.
You get to hang out with adorable animals
Like Mila:
I developed such a strong bond with that dog that I cried like a baby when I left her. True story lol.
Here’s one of the adorable dogs my boyfriend and I sat for in Amsterdam:
Such a cutie.
Or take a look at the adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel I’m currently sitting for:
Cutest. Thing. Ever. I’m obsessed.
You get to visit places that you might not otherwise visit
Like underrated, less touristy destinations that are a bit off the beaten (or touristy) path.
For example, I may never have gone to Haarlem if it weren’t for that pet sit I did last summer. I’d been to Amsterdam numerous times but never even knew that this cute little city just 30 minutes away existed. And turns out, I loved it! Even more than Amsterdam. It’s a lively city full of local shops, restaurants, parks and green space (!!).
Plus, the beach is just 10km away.
Or check out the cute canal city in the Netherlands where I’ve been pet sitting this summer, Groningen:
That area (close to where my partner and I are staying) is THE most touristy part of the city and I haven’t seen a single tourist there since we’ve arrived. Everyone I run into here speaks to me in Dutch. That’s how local it is.
You have a TON of choices
There are currently 9,767 pet sits on TrustedHousesitters around the world.
So let’s just say that you’ve got plenty of pet sits to choose from!
Cons of TrustedHousesitters
There’s a lot of competition (and you have to apply fast)
As mentioned, the desirable sits get snapped up REAL quick. By “desirable,” I mean modern homes in popular locations that don’t have a long list of responsibilities.
And because the listings cap at 5 applications, you have to apply fast (like within 5 minutes or less of the listing being posted).
Good news is that if you DO get your application in on time, you’re only competing against 4 other people. So your chances of getting the sit are higher than they would be otherwise.
There aren’t many pet sits in certain parts of the world
The majority of pet sits are in England, the US and Australia. There are also a lot throughout Europe, in Dubai and South Africa.
If you’re looking to find a pet sit in other parts of the world (like South America, Asia or other parts of Africa) you’ll have a harder time. Although there are quite a few in Costa Rica, Thailand.. basically anywhere with a big expat culture.
If a homeowner cancels the sit at the last minute, you’re kinda screwed
Especially if you’ve already booked your flight. But if you have a Premium membership, TrustedHousesitters does offer cancellation insurance (which covers up to $150/night, up to $1500 per sit).
Fortunately I’ve never had a sit cancelled before, so the Basic plan has always been enough for me.
It can be a lot of work (sometimes more than it’s worth)
Some sits are a lot of work and IMHO, just not worth it (especially if the accommodation is subpar). After experiencing that firsthand, I now try to filter out the sits and target the ones with fewer responsibilities for less demanding homeowners (more on that in a bit).
Homeowners aren’t always grateful
Some homeowners are very appreciative and generous. For example, my brother did a pet sit in Amsterdam once and the homeowner paid for his bike rental, left him a nice bottle of wine and even offered to buy him groceries. I’ve never encountered homeowners that generous but the majority have been appreciative and left me 5-star reviews.
That said, I’ve done a few sits where I did everything I could possibly do – and the homeowners didn’t even have the courtesy to leave me a review. Or worse, left me less than 5 stars. This can be incredibly frustrating when you put a lot of effort into the sit and try to do everything right.
For example (storytelling time)…
On a sit that I did with my boyfriend last summer, we walked the dog two times per day (even though the owner only said to walk the dog three times per WEEK). We sent regular updates to the pet owners and gave the animals lots of attention.
I accidentally broke a mug and went out to replace it with a new, even better mug. A plant died while we were there – which I don’t even think was our fault since I’m pretty sure it was half-dead when we got there -– but still, we replaced it with another plant.
Before leaving, we even stocked up on toilet paper, salt, aluminum foil and other basic items we had used (which the majority of sitters probably wouldn’t bother to do). And we spent probably 6-7 hours cleaning the house, leaving it cleaner and more organized than it was left to us.
Once again, I asked the homeowner for a review (well, actually, I asked her for feedback). She said “you guys did an excellent job!! I will definitely leave you a review!” Then she asked me about a stick-on towel hook that had gone missing.
I didn’t know anything about it. I asked my boyfriend and he didn’t either. So I told her we didn’t remember seeing it (the honest truth). But offered to reimburse her for the cost of it. She said not to worry about it.
I then left her a 5-star review, expecting her to do the same. But…. she never left one.
The night before the 2-week review period was up, my boyfriend found the stick-on towel hook in his luggage! I immediately messaged her to let her know. I apologized profusely, saying I would be happy to mail it to her. She responded and said not to worry about it, but her tone was cold. I could tell she was pissed about the situation.
And that was that. No review because of… a missing stick-on towel hook?
These types of experiences are incredibly frustrating and make me want to give up on TrustedHousesitters. At the very least, it makes me not want to go above and beyond like I normally do. Now, I only leave reviews once homeowners have left them for me. Maybe that’s petty but why should I leave a 5-star review when they don’t have the courtesy to do the same for me?
There isn’t much support for sitters
In case something happens (like the dog tears up your expensive shoes… or whatever unforeseen experience happens), you have to deal with it and (many times) cover the cost.
This one blogger talked about how the dog chewed up her $1600 retainer – and the homeowner didn’t help her cover the cost. TrustedHousesitters did nothing either.
Fortunately, I’ve never had this type of experience before. But it’s something to keep in mind. As with anything, there is some risk involved.
What to know before you join
The pets come first
This should go without saying, but I’ve heard enough horror stories that it has to be mentioned:
The pets are your #1 responsibility. If you’re dog sitting, you should walk the dogs at least twice a day (or however many times the homeowner requests). And you shouldn’t leave the dog alone for more than 6 hours at a time (although some homeowners will say fewer than that). We did one dog sit where the homeowner wanted us to be with the dog 24/7. Some dogs are needier than others.
So don’t think of this as a free vacation. You *do* have responsibilities (and important ones at that — these are peoples’ babies you’re looking after!) and there is work involved.
You have to be flexible with the dates you travel
If you’re looking to travel to specific places on very specific dates, then you might be out of luck. But if you can be flexible with the dates you travel (and/or the places you travel to), then you’ll have more success finding a pet sit.
Once you commit to a sit, you can’t (or shouldn’t) back out
Once you commit to a sit, you’re sort of locked in. Meaning you can’t apply to any other sits during that timeframe.
You could cancel if you really have to but per TrustedHousesitters policy, it must be an “extraordinary circumstance” and agreed upon by the sitter and homeowner. So before you say “yes” to a sit, make sure you can do it.
The downside to this is that you sometimes might see an even better sit pop up after you have committed to one… but you won’t be able to apply.
It can be challenging to get your first sit(s)
When you’re competing with people who have 20+ 5-star reviews, it can feel difficult (if not downright impossible) to land your first pet sit. I had a few people reject me because I didn’t have enough references but shortly after I joined, I was able to land my first pet sit at this amazing oceanfront apartment in Mallorca:
Here’s a closer look at that view…
So it IS possible.
Which brings me to…
How to find (and land) the best sits
So how do you land the best pet sits? Follow these steps…
1. Create a profile
Add photos of you with animals. Talk about your experience with pets, why you want to join TrustedHousesitters and why people should choose YOU over other pet sitters.
If you have any handy skills (like gardening), mention those too!
Here’s a look at my profile. Which definitely could be optimized but now I rely mostly on reviews anyway:
2. Ask for references
TrustedHousesitters gives you the option to have references, in addition to reviews. So you could ask a friend (or previous people you have pet sit for) to leave a positive reference for you. That’s what I did and my good friend Paddy left me a 5-star reference when I joined.
3. Favorite the listings you like
Because TrustedHousesitters only allows 5 applications per pet sit, in-demand pet sits fill up FAST (within just a couple minutes of posting).
What you can do is first, download the app on your phone. Choose a location that you want to go to. Then go through all of the listings in that area and favorite the ones you like. That way, you’ll get push notifications when one of your “favorite” listings is posted.
Favoriting the listings can be very time-consuming because there are a LOT of listings. I sometimes spend hours just going through listings and favoriting the ones I like. But it’s worth it because it’s really the only way to land the best sits nowadays.
However, the really popular pet sits sometimes fill up before you even get notified. Which means you just have to obsessively check the app every few minutes to see if new listings are posted in your desired location.
You can also save locations, so you get notified as soon as listings in certain locations are posted. But unlike the favorited listings, you won’t get notified immediately. So I wouldn’t count on this approach.
Pro Tip: Enter your desired location and check out the listings that are “Reviewing” applications or “New” (aka the ones *not* accepting applications).
The most desirable sits generally fall under this category. Even if you miss the dates this time, you can favorite the listing for the next time. Sometimes the homeowner will repost a listing if they don’t find a suitable candidate so by favoriting the listing, you can be the first to know.
4. Set filters
I normally won’t do a pet sit unless it’s at least 7-10 days. Otherwise, it’s not worth the time I spend traveling, getting settled, cleaning the place etc. So I set filters for pet sits that are at least a week (or more). You can also search by other criteria, including:
- dates
- type of pets
- home type
- local attractions
- family-friendly home
- high-speed wifi
- disabled access
- accessible by public transport
- use of car included
Yup, some homeowners even lend their cars! One generous couple lent me and my friend their Tesla. While it was amazing to drive, frankly, I’d prefer a beat-up car lol. The stress of driving a $40,000+ car (or whatever it cost)… not worth it.
Plus, there were cameras and a tracking system on the car, which meant the owners could track our every movement through the Tesla app. A bit unsettling to say the least.
5. Read the listing and responsibilities carefully
You can tell a lot about the homeowner (although not everything) by the listing.
If someone sounds the slightest bit demanding or nit-picky in the listing, that’s a hard pass for me. There’s also a good chance those type of people will never be happy, no matter what you do.
If there are too many responsibilities, I also won’t apply.
This is an extreme example, but check out the responsibilities for this listing in Texas. Insane, right?
Now compare that to…
You can tell that homeowner is much more gracious (and not going to treat the pet sitter like a slave). Those are the type of pet sits I apply to and accept.
Pro Tip: Be careful with studios and small spaces. If the dog snores loudly or the cats are active at night, this might make it difficult to sleep.
I once did a cat sit where the cats were *super* active at night. If I shut the bedroom door, they would scratch on it at 5AM when they wanted food. If I left it open, they would wake me up anyway. I ended up not sleeping well as a result, which put a damper on the whole experience.
6. Send a personalized message to the homeowner
Another way to stand out? Make your message personalized to the homeowner.
For example, call the homeowners by name and mention the names of the animals that you’ll be caring for. If you see in the listing that the cat looooves cuddles and attention, you could mention how you’ll be home most of the time to give them that attention. If the listing says that the dog is scared of loud noises, talk about how you will do your best to keep him/her in a peaceful environment.
For example, here’s a message that I sent to somebody who said that their dog was scared of loud noises and couldn’t be left for a long time:
I was a bit worried that those homeowners would be nit-picky because they said they wanted someone home most of the time. But when I spoke to her and her partner on the phone, they both told me that the dog could actually be left for up to 7 hours at a time. They even told me I could have guests over if I wanted to — because they had checked my reviews and profile and felt they could trust me (perks of getting those reviews!).
When you’re applying to your first sits, acknowledge the fact that you’re new to the platform and don’t have any reviews -– and then address that hesitation head on. Why should pet owners trust you? Is there anything you can do to put their mind at ease? Maybe offer to video chat before meeting. Or connect them with a reference or someone who you have pet sit for in the past.
7. Speak to the homeowner on the phone (or video)
Next, the homeowner will probably want to schedule a call. Although I’ve had sits where they just invite me without even speaking to me. But if you can, it’s a good idea to speak to them. Because remember — YOU are also interviewing them.
When and if you speak to the homeowner on the phone, ask them about their experience with other pet sitters and what they liked and disliked. That might give you a sense of what their expectations are.
Speaking of unrealistic expectations, I have another story for ya…
I once did a pet sit in the south of Spain. The listing didn’t have any photos yet for whatever reason I decided to do it anyway (suffice it to say that I’ve gotten much pickier since then lol).
I spoke with the homeowner on the phone and she seemed nice enough. But when I got there, I started to see the red flags pop up…
She had offered to buy me dinner but when we got to the restaurant to pick up the pizza, she said she forgot her wallet at home. So I had to foot the bill. After that, she kept complaining about how tight money was. So when she offered to pay me back the next day, I told her not to worry about it. I felt bad accepting her money at that point.
She also mentioned how amazing the previous sitters were. She said they had fetched driftwood from the forest and left her a fridge full of food.
I thought “great, so *this* is what she’s expecting from a sitter.”
Throughout the sit, I did everything possible to be a good dog-sitter. I walked the dogs several times a day. Sent her regular updates. I believe I also fed her dog(s) medication. And I cleaned the house thoroughly (including the pool and patio area) before I left. When she came back, I cooked her dinner. When she dropped me off at the airport, I even gave her gas money.
But she *still* wasn’t happy. She left me this review (completely unprompted, as I didn’t ask her for a review):
I messaged her privately to ask why she left that review. She said she felt like I wasn’t “listening” to her when I arrived because I put the water for the dogs in the wrong bucket. And that she felt like I was “using” her for a free place to stay (presumably because I had to work part of the time I was there).
Umm first of all, this is an exchange. That’s the whole point!
While she never said this to me, it was pretty clear she expected me to do things that the previous sitters had done. Like stock her fridge with food and collect driftwood for her (aka things that are *not* my responsibility as a pet sitter).
Then there was the water issue. During the sit, the water stopped working. I had no idea how to fix it, so I messaged her to let her know. A friend of hers came over to try to fix it. But he couldn’t figure it out, so eventually a plumber came.
That’s the only possible reason I can think of for the 3 stars she left me on self-sufficiency. Even though, once again, fixing plumbing issues are *not* a pet sitter’s responsibility. I mean… how the heck am I supposed to know how to fix water?!
Maybe there were a few things I could have done better (like writing down the instructions).
But honestly, I think I could have done everything exactly right and this woman still would have found reasons to leave me a negative review. I’ve done far less for other pet owners and gotten rave 5-star reviews.
I feel like she was looking for a sitter who would go above and beyond like the previous ones did. And when I didn’t do that, she took it out on the review. Or maybe she just didn’t like me for whatever reason. Who knows.
Which brings me to…
How to avoid nightmare sits
A couple years ago, I did a pet sit with a friend. The house was amazing (even came with a sauna…)
But the sit ended up being SUPER stressful and way more work than either of us had anticipated. My friend even commented “I would rather pay for a less nice place than do this sit.”
The dogs were… a lot to handle. They were constantly barking and nipping at our ankles. One of them would bite or become aggressive if you touched him too much. Another ran away at one point and it was the most stressful 30 minutes of my life trying to track her down.
The owners had given us a very detailed welcome guide, where they said we had to feed the dogs in separate rooms and put them to bed separately (otherwise, they could get into massive fights).
Well, on our last night, that’s exactly what happened. As my friend was putting the dogs to bed, one of the dogs suddenly lunged and clamped onto the other’s ear.
I was in the bathtub when all of this happened. Hearing the commotion, I immediately leapt out of the tub and half-naked, tried to pull the dogs apart with my friend. She grabbed onto one dog and I grabbed onto the other and we both pulled as hard as we could. After (what felt like) 10 minutes, the dog finally let go. Fortunately, no real damage was done but damn. That experience was super stressful.
Afterwards, I asked the homeowners if they could leave me a review. They said they would — but never did.
I thought… really? After all that?
It was frustrating to say the least.
So how can you avoid these types of sits?
For starters, avoid listings that come with a laundry list of responsibilities. If the owners mention that the dogs are particular or have a lotta quirks, take that as a red flag. Especially if you’re expected to care for multiple dogs at once.
Also, check out the reviews that the homeowners have left for other sitters. You can do this by clicking on “Sitters and reviews” on the listing. And then clicking on the individual profiles of the sitters who have left them reviews. If you see that the homeowners leave several sitters less than 5 stars, STAY AWAY. This type of HO will never be happy.
In the TrustedHousesitters world, anything less than a 5-star review is not good. Not the end of the world if you have a 4-star review, but it can be a yellow flag to potential homeowners. So you want to avoid demanding, hard-to-please homeowners that are likely to leave 4-star reviews (no matter how hard you try).
I recently turned down a one-month sit in a gorgeous home in the Netherlands because I saw that the homeowners had left 4-star reviews for half of the sitters. I decided to speak to her to understand the reason behind the reviews but her explanations didn’t seem justified. So I decided it wasn’t worth the risk.
Also check the reviews that sitters have left for the homeowners. Although keep in mind that many sitters (and homeowners) aren’t completely honest in the reviews. And sometimes, people will flat out lie.
For example, that pet sit with the really difficult dogs? I noticed that the sitter after me not only left 5 stars but referred to the dogs as “angels.”
Ummm those dogs were THE most difficult dogs I had ever sit for. And definitely not angels.
Either that sitter had a *very* different experience than me… or they were trying to avoid any sort of retaliation. I have a strong hunch it’s the latter.
Since people aren’t completely honest in the reviews,, you need to try to read between the lines a bit. For example, the last sitter for that same pet sit left a positive 5-star review but said “the dogs were a bit stubborn to go on walks…”
Based on my experience, “a bit stubborn” is definitely an understatement. So if you see reviews written like this, keep in mind that the sitter is probably being really nice in the way they are wording things. Tread carefully.
Questions to ask the homeowner before agreeing to a sit
Asking the right questions is another way to help you avoid the nightmare sits (and align expectations). You don’t have to ask *all* of these questions — some of them might be answered in the listing. But here are a few questions to consider asking:
- Are the dogs well behaved on leash and around any animals?
- Do they have any behavioral issues (like separation anxiety, aggression, barking, accidents indoors..)?
- Can they be left alone? For how long?
- What would my daily responsibilities be (besides pet care)?
- What are the things you have liked or disliked about previous sitters? Anything you wish they would do better?
- What are your expectations from a sitter?
“How can I get a sit if I don’t have any reviews??”
Good question. I highly recommend choosing shorter, local sits when you’re just starting out. Those will be much easier to get. Shorter sits (like 1-3 nights) are obviously less risk for homeowners. They’re also much less desirable so will probably have fewer applications.
If you’re local (in the same city as the sit), that’s also an advantage. Many pet owners prefer to find someone local since that way, they have the opportunity to meet you beforehand and they don’t have to worry about canceled or delayed flights etc. If you apply to local sits, mention that you live close by and could meet for a coffee beforehand to see if it’s a good fit.
You could also find less desirable pet sits (like those with more responsibilities or in houses that are older or less maintained). Look for sits with “low applications.” Like these ones:
How to get 5-star reviews (so you can score more sits)
So you’ve got the sit. Now how do you wow them (and get that 5-star rave review)??
Well first, let’s revisit the categories that homeowners are rating you on (in addition to the overall rating):
- Organised
- Reliable
- Self-sufficient
- Clean & tidy
- Happy pets
Here’s what I do to get 5 stars across the board:
-
Review the welcome guide before the pet sit
TrustedHousesitters gives homeowners the option to leave a welcome guide, with all the information about the house and responsibilities written out. Not all homeowners will take advantage of this but it can be really helpful when they do.
If they do provide a welcome guide (whether in the app or outside the app), read it beforehand so you’re prepared going into things and don’t end up asking the homeowner questions that are already in the guide.
2. Give the pets lots of attention (and don’t leave them for too long)
Before you agree to a sit, you’ll want to ask the homeowner how long the pets can be left alone for (especially dogs). Most homeowners will be ok with you leaving the dog for up to 3-6 hours at a time.
Throughout the sit, give the animals lots of attention, walks and cuddles. Pet owners can tell when they’re animals are well taken care of.
A happy pet = happy pet owner (and a 5-star review).
3. Send regular updates during the sit
You should also send regular updates (like photos and videos) to the pet owners.
How often?
I’ve found that every pet owner is different. Some are a bit anxious and want daily updates, while others want updates just a few times a week. It also depends on the length of the sit. For a 7-day sit, daily updates are more appropriate than for a 3-month sit.
Either way, I normally send daily updates in the beginning of the sit (so that they feel comfortable and know their pets are in good hands). Then I sometimes space them out a bit. I’ve also started asking the pet owners how often they want updates to make sure we’re on the same page.
Also ask the homeowner where they’ll traveling to or what time zone they’ll be in, so you can message them during decent hours. I’ve definitely been guilty of pinging the HO late in the night their time without thinking much about it. But try to avoid that.
4. Try to solve problems on your own
I try to only message the homeowners with positive updates about their pets – and not ask them questions that I can get answers to on my own.
I’ve read reviews of other sitters where the homeowner complained that the sitter messaged them about basic things, like how to find the metro (really?!) or use the kettle. I mean, come on. It’s 2025 and we all have Google (and ChatGPT). So don’t be that person.
If you’re not sure how to use the washing machine, Google it. If the sink gets clogged, try to figure out how to fix it. If the pet food runs out, then find a local pet store nearby that stocks the same kind (and message the pet owner about it so they can reimburse you later).
But…
5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions (and message the homeowner if something goes wrong)
Of course, situations might arise where you need the homeowner’s feedback or advice on something. And asking questions shows that you care, which homeowners appreciate.
Remember that pet sit with the really difficult dogs? I’m pretty sure the homeowner didn’t leave a review for me because during the sit, I tried to get the TV to work and may have unplugged a cable or two in the process. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to bother the homeowners while they were away — or risk losing points on “self-sufficiency” 😅 Maybe I should have mentioned it before I left but I didn’t think it was a big deal.
It’s tough to find the balance between letting homeowners know what is going on and not bothering them with too many questions. But I’ve found that it’s better to overcommunicate vs not communicate at all.
Here’s another example…
When I was doing a dog sit once, I woke up to pee stains on the wooden floor. The cleaning lady didn’t know how to remove the stains so I messaged the homeowner to ask if she had any tips. I didn’t want to risk cleaning the floor with a product that might ruin it. But I also didn’t want her to come home to a stained floor and wonder why I didn’t tell her.
She left me a 5-star review and one thing she mentioned was how she appreciated that I asked questions when I didn’t know something.
If the dogs get sick or their behavior changes, then that’s also information you’ll want to relay to the homeowner right away.
I’ve been doing a sit and yesterday, the dog ate one of my supplements. I read that it (alpha lipoic acid) could be extremely toxic to dogs, especially small dogs of her size. So I immediately took her to the vet and messaged the homeowner to let her know.
I offered to pay for the cost since I felt partially responsible. Wasn’t thrilled about that, but at least the homeowner was appreciative and understanding.
Perhaps in retrospect, I should’ve asked the owner before going to the vet to see what she would have done. If she had said “I think she’ll be fine,” then I would have felt more ok not going (and would have avoided a 110-euro vet cost).
Lessons learned here?
Be extra careful not to leave supplements or food out — some pets will eat anything! And if something seems off, message the owner right away. If you’re unsure whether it’s urgent, ask the owner before heading to the vet so they’re aware and okay with covering the cost.
6. If you break something, mention it (or replace it)
You’re human so you might break something! It happens. Most homeowners are understanding and won’t mind (as long as you offer to reimburse it). The important thing is that you’re honest about it.
I normally don’t mention broken items until the HO gets back — I prefer to keep their vacation as stress-free and problem-free as possible. If you can find the item and replace it, even better.
Funny story…
I once did a pet sit with my ex boyfriend in Spain. At one point during the sit, I noticed that the handle to the bathroom window was broken. I didn’t know if it was like that before or if I had done something.
I assumed it was my fault and freaked out. My ex and I spent like allll day looking for a store where we could buy a replacement handle so he could fix it. We finally found it at some random shop. But it was a full-on scavenger hunt and caused a lot of stress.
When the homeowners came back, I told them what had happened (but reassured her that we had fixed it). And guess what? She told me that the previous pet sitters had broken it!
All of that stress… for nothing. But at least we got a 5-star review out of it! The homeowner was super kind and appreciative as well.
7. Leave the home in the same condition as (or better than) you found it
You’re getting rated on cleanliness and homeowners want to come home to a clean, tidy house. So before you leave, make sure to vacuum or sweep, mop the floors, clean the sheets and make the bed. Try to leave the house in the same condition as (or better than) it was left to you.
I’ve found that most homeowners are reasonable but some have unrealistic expectations of how much cleaning should be done. On my first pet sit, the homeowner left the place a mess to us. I’m pretty sure we left it much cleaner than she had left it to us but she STILL complained that we hadn’t cleaned enough. She said we should have cleaned things like the inside of the bookshelves and the door gap.
I just nodded my head in agreement but was secretly thinking:
“Umm excuse me?! We’re not professional cleaners…”
This lady had worked on yachts for many years (where things have to be SUPER clean at all times), so I think (well, know) she just had unrealistic expectations.
(That story gets even juicier BTW… more on that in a second.)
On Reddit, someone mentioned that they took photos of the house upon arrival and just before they left. And before heading out, they sent photos of the cleaned house to the homeowner. So if the animals made a big mess, they would know it wasn’t their fault. OR if the homeowner left a bad review complaining of cleanliness, then the photos would prove that the sitter left the house clean. Although not sure that would do anything since TrustedHousesitters won’t remove any bad reviews.
So what is your responsibility as a pet sitter… and what’s not?
I’ve heard stories of pet sitters who basically ended up doing free (unpaid) labor. Don’t let that be you. You’re not there to run chores for the homeowner or be their personal assistant. You’re not there to do a professional cleaning job. You’re not there to stock their fridge with food or shower them with gifts.
This type of behavior sets a precedent and the expectation that future sitters should do the same. And other times, it can even backfire. Can’t remember the specific story I read but some sitters went above and beyond their responsibilities and the homeowner wasn’t happy about it because it ended up causing them more problems in the end.
Sure, if you loved the sit and the homeowners were great hosts, then go ahead and leave chocolates or a small gift for them. But you don’t need to leave a bouquet of flowers or deep-clean their entire house.
You’re there to take care of their pets and home. And that’s it. So don’t let homeowners take advantage of you.
I made this mistake on my very first sit (the one with the crazy cleaning expectations)…
The homeowner lent us her car but during the sit, she asked us to drive to her other house (about a 15-minute drive away) every few days to water her plants. She also asked us to run other errands like take the dog to the groomer and get her car fixed. Which ok, we had use of the car. So we were happy to do those things.
But after the sit was over, things started to get really shady.
Here’s what happened:
The homeowner was moving out of her apartment and looking for a place to live. We were hoping to stay in the area longer and didn’t have a place to stay. She found an apartment with two bedrooms and told us we could stay there and pay part of the rent. We liked her (well, I did) so we agreed.
But when we got there, we found out that the “bedroom” was more like a closet. Literally, I don’t think it legally could count as a bedroom, as there was barely any space to even open or close the door. Plus, there was construction just outside our bedroom door that started at 8AM and continued all day.
But just wait (it gets better)…
This woman charged us 375 euros (or maybe more, can’t remember) for the so-called “room.” Then she told us she was going to Sicily for two weeks to visit a man she had met. She asked us to look over her dogs while she was gone.
First I agreed (I’ll admit, I can be a bit of a pushover lol). But then my ex boyfriend talked some sense into me. He said we needed to be compensated for that (especially because he wasn’t working at the time).
So I told her we would like 20 euros a day to watch over the dogs while she was gone. Sounds fair, right? After all, we were paying rent…
But she said she couldn’t afford to pay us. We reluctantly agreed to help out anyway but kindly asked her to at least leave us a positive review on TrustedHousesitters for all that we’d done.
She left us 5 stars… but 3 stars on cleanliness!
Needless to say, my ex and I were *not* happy about that. Especially because we had left the place much cleaner and tidier than it was left to us (I think anyway). And we went above and beyond for her throughout the sit (which she never mentioned in the review). And we agreed to watch over her dogs for free after the sit was over – even though we were paying rent.
Definitely a unique situation… but I learned a few valuable lessons through that experience:
Set boundaries. Never move in with a homeowner (LOL). And choose homeowners who seem to be gracious and appreciative of the work you’re doing (you can normally get a sense of this through the listing and initial conversations).
From time to time, you’ll likely run into demanding, hard-to-please homeowners — unless you do a really good job at filtering them out. But even then, it can happen.
FAQs about TrustedHousesitters
1.“Can I do the sits with someone else?”
Yup! But if you’re going to be doing the sits regularly with someone, it’s best to add them to your profile. Otherwise, you can mention in the initial application message or on the call that you would be doing the sit with someone.
I’ve found that most single people tend to prefer single sitters (especially if there is just one cat). While many couples (or those with multiple pets) tend to prefer couples.
Just don’t bring over guests unless you ask the HO for permission before. I normally don’t even ask because I don’t want to put the homeowner in an uncomfortable position where they feel they have to say yes. But if the sit is longer (like more than one month), it’s prolly okay to ask.
2. “What if I’m in the countryside? Will I have to rent a car?”
Many times, yes. But sometimes, generous homeowners will lend you their car to use.
3. “Will they pick me up from the airport?”
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I would speak about this with the homeowner beforehand. Ask them how far the house is from the airport and what the cost would be for a taxi. If the homeowner doesn’t offer, be prepared to front that cost.
4. “Will I have to arrive a day early or spend the night at the homeowners’ house?”
Most of the time, yes. The homeowner will probably want you to come a day early to walk you through everything. If they have a spare bedroom, they will likely allow you to stay there for a night. Although if you prefer (or that’s not a possibility), you could stay in a nearby hotel. Unlikely the homeowner will pay for it unless they are super generous.
5. “What if the sit gets cancelled?”
Fortunately this hasn’t happened to me before. But I have heard of sits where the homeowner had to cancel their trip or the pet died or something else happened and they still let the sitter stay there. Of course there’s always a small risk this could happen… but it doesn’t seem to happen often.
6. “Will I have to pay for utilities?”
No! You should NOT pay for utilities. You may find the occasional listing with stingy homeowners who ask you to chip in for utilities… if that’s the case, I would run FAR in the other direction.
The only time where this would maybe make sense is if you’re there for a long period of time (like 6+ months) and you don’t have much responsibility or pets to look after. But otherwise, the homeowner should absolutely cover the utilities expenses.
7. How do I respond to a negative review?
If you get a negative review (unfortunately, it may happen if you use the platform long enough), you should always respond to the review and share your side of the story. But don’t respond with emotion. Just state the facts, not how you felt.
For example, here’s how I responded to the 3-star review that woman in the south of Spain left on my profile:
TrustedHousesitters Review: The Verdict
Sooo after all these crazy stories I’ve shared, you might be wondering…
Hmm is TrustedHousesitters really worth it?
Absolutely (or I wouldn’t still be using it). The vast majority of pet sits I’ve done have been positive experiences. And the 119 euro membership fee I pay (per year) pays off tenfold with all the sits that I’ve been doing.
If you wanna join, I have a TrustedHousesitters discount code that will give you 25% off your first year (and gives me 2 free months). Here’s the linky link.
(I’m not an official affiliate BTW but I am part of the Refer a Friend program.)
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