Over the past four years, we’ve had the opportunity to house sit with pets in four different countries, working with a diverse range of animals. These experiences have truly satisfied the animal lover in us during our travels.

We’ve done everything from weekend trips to multi-month stays. In this post, I’ll share a super honest review of our experience with TrustedHousesitters, spoiler alert: it’s not all great.

What is the Trusted House Sitters App?

I’m not going to bore you with the basics, but essentially, TrustedHousesitters is a platform that connects pet sitters with pet owners or pet parents. It allows you and your family to take on roles as pet sitters or hosts in exchange for providing pet care and home stewardship. This way, pet owners can leave their pets in a trusted home, saving on expensive kennel fees and sparing their family the hassle of pet care while they’re away.

As a pet sitter, you get the unique opportunity to explore new destinations, as housing is provided in exchange for caring for someone else’s pets… or, in rare cases, just their home. However, in our experience, the exchange isn’t always balanced house owners often end up benefiting more. I’ll explain this in more detail below.

How Much Does The Trustedhousesitters Platform Cost?

Once you’ve decided to use this platform whether as a pet parent (homeowner), a pet sitter, or both, there is an annual fee. Let’s review the Trusted Housesitters membership options, which is the service we use.

Pet Sitter Basic:

• Annual Membership Fee Cost $129 USD
• Benefits of This Plan
  • Unlimited house sits as a sitter

Pet Sitter Standard:

• Annual Membership Fee Cost $169 USD
• Benefits of This Plan
  • Unlimited house sits as a sitter
  • Free video calls & online chat with vets when pet sitting
  • Instant alerts for unlimited saved searches
  • Dedicated member support
  • Accident & third party liability plan

The standard plan is the most popular option because it provides accident protection and third-party liability coverage for any incidents that might occur during your pet sitting.

The website states, “For extra peace of mind, if a pet causes damage or injury to another person, their property, or pets whilst under your control during a sit, and this is due to negligence on your part, you’ll be covered up to $1,000,000 per incident. Terms and conditions apply.”

Pet Sitter Premium:

• Annual Membership Fee Cost $259 USD 
• Benefits of This Plan
  • Unlimited house sits as a sitter
  • Free video calls & online chat with vets when pet sitting
  • Instant alerts for unlimited saved searches
  • Dedicated member support
  • Accident & third party liability plan
  • Sit cancellation plan
  • 2 global airport lounge passes
  • Premium badge on your profile

The only additional benefits of this plan are the sit cancellation feature and the lounge passes. For frequent travelers like us, the lounge passes don’t add much value since we typically secure them independently.

So is the Extra Cost for this Plan Worth the Travel Insurance?

You’ll need to research and decide if it’s worth the extra cost, especially after digging into the “terms and conditions.” In our experience, you could likely find a travel insurance provider that offers similar or better coverage at the same price. In short, we don’t believe it’s worth the additional expense.

Below is what TrustedHousesitters outlines regarding a pet parent’s cancellation:

“As a sitter In the unlikely event of your pet parent cancelling, we’ll provide up to $150 compensation per night to cover the cost of alternative accommodation, up to $1500 per sit. You’re covered up to 30 days annually over as many sits as you like. Or, if you choose to do longer sits, then rest assured you’re still covered for your first three sits each year, even if they span over 30 days. Terms and conditions apply”

Create a Trusted House Sitters Profile

After purchasing a Trusted Housesitters membership, or opting for a combined membership, be sure to set up your profile with high quality photos, a well written bio, and solid references. 

You can upload up to ten pictures, so if you’re interested in sitting for specific animals (for example, horses), include a photo or two of yourself with them. This tailored approach can help you stand out to pet parents looking for someone with experience with certain types of animals.

Think of your Trusted House Sitters profile like a dating app I know, it might sound a bit cringe, but it really works. Use your photos to showcase your interests and highlight the types of pets you’re excited to sit for. This personalized touch can make your profile more appealing to pet owners.

Craft an engaging bio that introduces you and highlights your passion for pet care first impressions matter! Include references that reflect honest, genuine experiences so potential hosts can truly understand your abilities and love for animals.

What To Look For When Applying For a New Sit? 

Some of our tips are detailed in another post, “Traveling as a Family TrustedHousesitters Tips,” which covers this topic extensively. However, here are a few key insights to help you get started.

We often receive notifications for pet sits that last longer than two weeks and are in family friendly homes. We prefer these extended assignments because they allow us to fully enjoy the pets, the home, and the location. However, we also fill gaps with shorter sits when longer opportunities are lined up along the way.

After we decide a sit opportunity is promising, we assess the home’s cleanliness, the types and breeds of the pets, and inquire about any medications and the pets’ behavior. These basics provide a good initial overview, though you can always delve deeper as needed.

Pro Tip: Always ask pet owners about any medical or behavioral issues. Like food aggression or separation anxiety, before accepting a house sit. Some owners may overlook or downplay these concerns in their listings, so getting all the details upfront helps you avoid surprises later on.

So You Applied for a New Sit or Posted Your First Pet Sitting Opportunity, What Happens Next?

Usually, we include a brief introduction about our family in our initial message to explain why we’re a great fit. If the pet parents like your application and profile, they typically invite you for a short phone call or video call interview to discuss the opportunity further.

Some Common Questions We Get Asked Include:

• What are your travel plans and exact dates, and are you flexible on the end date for the pet parents?
• Have you house sat for specific breeds of pets or horses or cattle before?
• If a pet parent has multiple listings for different dates, can you accommodate all of them or just some?

Is it Easy to Use and Acquire Sits Without Reviews as a Pet Parent or Pet Sitter?

Our very first sit was a last-minute opportunity just up the road from our home in the Puget Sound area. Since it was a last-minute booking, we found it easier to connect with new pet sitters. It turned out to be mutually beneficial, both it was her first time hosting and our first sit, allowing us both to earn valuable reviews and build credibility on the platform.

Your experience may differ, but another effective way to secure your first pet sit is to apply during Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel holidays in the USA. During this time, you’ll find plenty of listings in both large cities and small towns across the nation.

We’ve been fortunate to successfully use a last-minute sit strategy to secure week-long (or longer) assignments in places like Truckee, California, and on Bainbridge Island, Washington. This approach has really helped us fill gaps and build our profile.

What Are Some of The Pros and Cons of The TrustedHousesitters Platform?

After using the platform for the last five years, we’ve gained valuable insights into its strengths and weaknesses. We love many aspects of the service, but we’ve also encountered some significant drawbacks. 

In our review, we share an honest perspective on the pros we appreciate and the cons we’ve experienced, offering balanced feedback for both pet sitters and pet parents.

Pros of TrustedHousesitters:

• Free Accommodation: Enjoy complimentary lodging in exchange for caring for a pet or a house, significantly cutting down travel expenses.
• Family Friendly Travel: It offers a great way to explore new destinations with your family. Places you might never visit on your own.
• Diverse Pet Experience: Get to interact with various breeds of dogs and cats, which is perfect if you’re considering adding a pet to your family.

Cons of TrustedHousesitters:

• Lack of Detailed Information & Accountability: Some pet owners do not provide much detail about their home and pets. The platform doesn’t always enforce transparency or protect sitters from negligent or dishonest behavior, which can lead to challenging or unexpected situations.
• Unreasonable Expectations: At times, pet owners treat sitters as if they are personal servants, creating an environment where sitters feel exploited or undervalued.
• No Competitors: TrustedHousesitters has little competition in its niche, so you get what you get. We wish there were a better alternative offering improved protections for both sitters and pet parents, as this would encourage a higher standard of service and accountability on both sides.

House sitting With Your Family Can Happen All Over The World!

We have house sat in many different countries, including North America, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Grenada. When you explore the Trustedhousesitters app, you’ll notice a high concentration of available house sits in regions like the United Kingdom and Australia. These areas are great options if you’re looking to visit and secure free place to stay while exploring new destinations.

As a remote worker house sitting has given us the unique opportunity to witness experiences that many never get to see. For instance, just as we were about to have dinner in Grenada, a local biologist called to inform us that it was leatherback turtle egg-laying season. She notified us that a turtle was nesting nearby, and we had the incredible chance to experience this live with our kids. It was truly amazing.

You Should Get to Know The Terms of Service and Conditions Really Well

Following and understanding the rules is a fundamental part of any journey. Familiarizing yourself with the terms and conditions can make your house sit run smoothly or, if overlooked, turn it into a nightmare.

For all potential sitters and pet owners, we highly recommend knowing your rights before you begin a house sit. We’ve encountered situations where home owners, unaware of the platform’s terms and conditions, repeatedly violated them during a sit. Sometimes leading to the termination of their membership by Trustedhouse Sitters. Understanding your rights and responsibilities from the start can help ensure a smoother, more positive experience for everyone involved.

Is it Safe to Use and Do They Do Background Checks?

I can say that the platform is relatively safe for users, though only to a certain extent. In America, they do perform background checks, as stated in the terms and conditions quote below. However, while these checks offer some assurance, they may not be as comprehensive as one might expect. It’s important to review the safety measures in place so you fully understand your level of protection.

“3.2.4. the ability for all sitters who reside in the USA to obtain a Background Badge as a result of a third party agency (Evident ID, Inc.) performing, a criminal background check (“Criminal Background Check”) subject to our Criminal Background Check policy;”

The other side of the coin is that for Europeans, Canadians, and users outside the USA, full background checks aren’t performed. Instead, they rely on ID verification or basic ID checks to confirm user identity.

“3.2.3. the ability to obtain a Trust and Verification Badge as a result of a Verification Check;”

The definition of the verification check:

”Verification Check means confirming your email address, telephone number via our 3rd party agency (Vonage), collecting an external Reference(s) for a Sitter, or completing an ID check via our 3rd party agency (Evident)”

This is where the platform is only “kinda” safe. While sitters are required to undergo background or ID checks when they pay for the combined membership, pet parents and home owners do not go through the same scrutiny.

I often wonder why the rigorous checks are only applied to sitters and not to pet owners. In my opinion, for the sake of safety and peace of mind, both parties should be held to the same standard. Requiring full background or ID checks for all entities would create a fairer and more secure environment, likely reducing many of the issues that arise on the platform.

Our Customer Support Experiences with Trusted House Sitters

We rarely needed customer support from Trusted House sitters until we had been using the platform for four years. I won’t go into all the details here (there’s another section for that), but I will note that when we discovered a hidden camera in a house, they promptly answered our call and provided support. Their 24/7 dedicated member support is indeed reliable.

The customer service was available. However, when we called about our situation, it was nighttime in England and no manager was immediately available. Depending on when you need support, you might not get instant managerial assistance.

Due to the lack of robust customer support and other issues, we remain very cautious about taking house sits outside of North America. Although the platform has its merits, neither sitters nor home owners are held adequately accountable when problems occur.

Key Red Flags and Considerations for Pet Sitting on TrustedHousesitters:

• Excessive Reference Requirements: Some pet owners or house owners require pet sitters to provide references with contact numbers, even after you’ve built up several good reviews. This can be intrusive and time consuming.
• Overly Needy Inquiries: If a pet owner asks too many questions or seems excessively needy, it may be a red flag. In our experience, these inquiries often lead to wasted time without any real commitment.
• Poor Boundaries and Entitlement: Some pet owners display a lack of respect for the sitter’s time and expenses. For example, one owner changed confirmed dates at the last minute, after we arrived, forcing us to incur additional hotel costs. This kind of behavior indicates a disregard for fair treatment in the house sitting arrangement.

Understanding these red flags can help you make informed decisions and avoid potential issues when using TrustedHousesitters.

Good Experiences With Our Family!

As I’m writing this, I realize I’ve highlighted many negative aspects and not enough of the good experience. Fortunately, there have also been some truly memorable experiences with TrustedHousesitters. 

We’ve had hosts who were exceptionally understanding, opportunities that allowed us to bond with a variety of pets, and stays that enriched our travels. Let me share a few of these good reviews to balance things out and show that while the platform has its challenges, it can also offer some truly rewarding experiences.

Janet: An Airedale Terrier

After doing a few house sits, we accepted a month-long assignment in Santa Fe, caring for a delightful three year old Airedale Terrier named Janet. We drove from Arizona to New Mexico for the sit after speaking with the owner. 

Janet was the best dog we’ve ever house sat for. Her mix of playful puppy energy and mature character was a breath of fresh air. The home was lovely, organized, and clean, complete with a small garden that needed daily watering.

It was especially rewarding to care for a well trained pet that obeyed commands like a service dog yet still knew when to play. Our kids loved seeing a pet that was both disciplined and fun, proving that not all dogs are untrained. 

The owner also spent an afternoon with us and his trainer to ensure every detail, including specific instructions like sitting at the corner of the crosswalk, was clear before his month long trip to Europe.

Wadi: A Relaxed Mixed Breed

The owners travel frequently with their kids and felt we were a perfect fit for their Christmas getaway to a milder climate. Wadi, their medium-sized mixed breed, was the epitome of chill. He took his medication at mealtimes, and while he followed his usual walk route, he especially enjoyed the nearby trail walk. His calm demeanor and low-maintenance nature truly made our experience stress free.

The home was equally impressive: a well organized space with a loft full of toys and a cozy atmosphere where kids were reading, and the kitchen featured top notch stainless cookware and a double oven. 

The residence even had heated floors and windows all around, allowing us to watch the snow fall on Christmas Eve. With Wadi as our built-in companion, it felt like a vacation dream come true. Overall, it was a wonderful two week trip: zero issues, zero worries, and an amazing experience.

Our Negative Experiences and How to Avoid Them With Your Family

How can you avoid a negative experience if you’ve never done this before? Trust your gut and ask yourself, “Does this make sense?” Remember the KISS principle: keep it simple, stupid. 

If you can’t pinpoint any clear red flags, it might be best to pass on the opportunity. I know it’s easier said than done, but trusting your instincts is key to protecting yourself and your family.

Before 2024, reviews on TrustedHousesitters were often skewed. One Reddit post explains that a lack of reviews is usually a red flag and that you often have to read between the lines to really understand how a sit went since neither party was always completely honest about their experiences.

Now, we feel that the review system has become more trustworthy. Previously, it often felt like a “good review for a good review” cycle maintaining high ratings just to continue getting pet sits or attract pet sitters as a pet owner. It was more like the Uber review system rather than an honest, unbiased assessment.

How to Avoid Negative Situations

Ask plenty of questions during the interview. We always inquire about medications, anxiety, and aggression. This is especially important if you have kids, as older dogs can sometimes be less friendly or unpredictable. Addressing these issues early on is crucial. If a pet’s behavior isn’t managed, it could result in losing a sitter, legal complications, or even extreme measures if the situation escalates. Clear, detailed communication helps set expectations and prevents serious problems down the road.

This is a two way street. Both pet parents and pet owners need to show respect, honesty, and integrity to avoid a negative experience. I’ve written a post outlining our top tips for successful house sits. You can check it out here.

Everyone house sits for different reasons and on various budgets, so choose sits that genuinely interest you and involve pets you’re comfortable with. After completing a few pet sits, even a few challenging ones, you’ll become better equipped to navigate any issues that arise. I highly recommend checking out the Trustedhousesitters Reddit and Facebook groups for advice on handling negative experiences.

Our Negative Experiences 

In many of our previous house sits, we’ve noticed that homeowners often benefit more from the arrangement by limiting services that would typically be available when they’re home. Here are a few examples:

• Cutting Internet Speed: One homeowner downgraded their internet to 1 Mbps, making it nearly impossible to work or even stream basic content.
• Expecting Property Management: Instead of just caring for pets, we were expected to manage their gardener and cleaning lady, handling schedules and payments.
• Controlling Heat from Another Country: In London, a homeowner controlled the WiFi-enabled boiler remotely, keeping the house freezing and leading to mold issues from condensation.
• Not Providing Enough Pet Supplies: Some owners failed to leave enough dog food or medication, forcing us to cover the cost.

Hidden Camera Inside the Home – Our Grenada Experience

One of the most serious issues we encountered while house sitting was discovering a hidden camera inside the home in Grenada. The homeowners had mentioned they had issues with past sitters, but they failed to disclose the presence of a camera: a major violation of privacy and trust.

Upon discovering the device, we immediately filed a police report with local authorities and notified our embassy for further guidance. This situation left the homeowners without a sitter, and rightfully so. Transparency is key in any house-sitting arrangement, and failing to disclose surveillance inside the home is completely unacceptable.

This experience reinforced the importance of asking direct questions about cameras and privacy before accepting a sit. If a homeowner isn’t upfront, it’s a major red flag. If you want to read the full story, click here.

These issues highlight why it’s critical to set clear expectations upfront and ensure homeowners provide the necessary resources for a fair and enjoyable stay.

Should You Use Trustedhousesitters and House Sit With Your Family?

With our honest TrustedHousesitters review, I hope I’ve provided an unbiased and fair perspective to help you decide if pet sitting is a good fit for your travel lifestyle. House sitting can be an amazing way to extend your travel budget, offering free accommodation while caring for furry friends but it’s not always perfect.

Over the past few years, we’ve had both incredible and challenging experiences. It’s been educational, full of life lessons, and definitely a unique way to travel. For families, it can be a great option if you’re looking to stretch your budget and enjoy a home like environment while exploring new places. The key is finding a great pet owner who understands that you’re on vacation too when that happens, house sitting can be a great time and absolute blast!