TrustedHousesitters Review: My Experience as a Pet Parent Who Loves to Travel
Curious about TrustedHousesitters? I’ve got you covered!
Whether you’re looking for a reliable sitter or want to explore new places as a sitter, this TrustedHousesitters review covers it all, based on my firsthand experience.
Last month, I tried it for the first time to find a sitter to take care of my dog, Casper, and my cat, Poor Meow Meow, while we were traveling.
From getting signed up, to finding a great sitter, I’ll share my experience and tips as a pet parent to help you decide if TrustedHousesitters is right for you, as a sitter or a host.
Disclaimer: This post is written in partnership with TrustedHousesitters and includes affiliate links. If you choose to sign up, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Spoiler alert: It’s a game-changer for both pet owners and people who love to travel! I loved it so much, I’ve already booked another sitter for my upcoming month-long trip to Spain.
TrustedHousesitters
Overall, I highly recommend TrustedHousesitters to traveling pet parents. It offers reliable, affordable pet care at home with verified sitters and thorough reviews. It’s also a great way to travel and find stays in exchange for pet care! TrustedHousesitters makes travel stress-free for you and your pets.
What is TrustedHousesitters?
First things first! If you’ve never heard of TrustedHousesitters before, you’re not alone.
TrustedHousesitters is a membership platform for pet owners to find verified and reviewed housesitters and for pet loving travelers to find free accommodation in exchange for pet care.
There are over 220k+ members on TrustedHousesitters, and it’s available in over 130 countries across the world!
I first discovered TrustedHousesitters a few years ago, and I’ve been thinking about signing up for a very long time now.
I’d been using Rover, spending hundreds (and even thousands) of dollars on pet care for my pup, Casper. As you might imagine, running this travel blog means I frequently need to travel and find a sitter for my little guy!
The costs of using Rover were really starting to add up, so I decided to find a better solution for my next trip. We’d be going on a luxurious six-day trip to Santa Rosa, California, and needed care for the pets.
That’s when I remembered TrustedHousesitters.
My Experience with TrustedHousesitters as a Pet Owner
Preparing for my housesitter
To prepare for my sitter, I had a house cleaner come on the day of the sit to ensure everything was spotless. That’s not a requirement, but it took some pressure off me.
I wanted to make sure the place was as tidy as possible for the sitter, which required a bit more work and cost on my part, but to me, it was worth it for peace of mind.
The Sit
I received five applications from potential sitters and had to make a tough decision. Each application was detailed, with some sitters having multiple reviews and others with fewer.
I ultimately chose a sitter who suggested a video call, which made me feel more comfortable about the whole process.
She was already going to be in town, so I invited her over on the day we were leaving so I could walk her through our place before our flight. I’m really glad I decided to meet her in person before our trip.
During the sit, she sent me multiple photos and updates each day. Her communication was excellent, and she didn’t hesitate to ask questions. I really appreciated that!
Return Home
When we came home after our visit to Santa Rosa, everything was great! Our sitter had left a few hours before we arrived, even giving Casper one more walk before she left.
She did forget a few things in the fridge, but I didn’t mind. I was so impressed with how easy and effortless the whole process was.
And, relieved. Now I don’t have to think twice about booking my next trip because I’ll be able to find a great sitter to take care of Casper and Meow Meow…. and water our plants!
How did Casper feel about the whole thing? And Meow Meow?
I was really surprised at how well Casper took to the whole situation. I honestly think it was so much better for him to stay at home, where he’s most comfortable, than go to a sitter’s home.
Casper is a pretty anxious dog. He’s a rescue dog. When I adopted him when he was just two years old, he’d already been through a lot.
He’s very attached to me, and it can be difficult to leave him with anyone I don’t know personally.
I was really happy when I returned home, and he seemed as happy as could be, and quite possibly more relaxed than the day I’d left 😆
As for our cat, Meow Meow? She seemed totally unphased! I mean, she’s a cat. She’s as chill as a cucumber.
Meow Meow is an indoor-outdoor cat, so we gave our sitter some specific instructions about letting her in and out. We have an automatic feeder and water fountain for her, so she’s pretty straightforward.
How It Works (for Pet Owners)
It’s easy to get started as a pet owner on TrustedHousesitters. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Choose a Membership Plan
First, decide how you want to use the platform. You can choose to be a sitter, owner, or combined. Then, select from standard, basic, or premium annual plans.
You can browse for free to see available sits or sitters, but you can’t book anything without a membership.
Once you sign up, you’re all set for the year. You can book as many sits as you need within a year’s timeframe, which is an incredible deal that left me reeling thinking about the $1,000+ I spent on dog sitting last year.
I purchased the combined membership (above) because I plan on being both a housesitter and a host.
Pro Tip: Browsing for free is a great way to get a feel for the platform and see what kind of sitters and house sits are available!
2. List Your Place
Create a listing with photos of your home/apartment, travel dates, pets, and general location. You can highlight anything unique or important about your home or pets to attract the right sitters.
For mine, I highlighted the neighborhood. Our place is pretty modest, and I took some quick shots without tidying up, so at first I was worried we wouldn’t get any applications. But I had no reason to be concerned!
3. Applications Come In
Once my listing was live, applications started coming in within a day or two.
Even if you have a modest place (like me!), you’ll likely be surprised by the number of applicants.
You might want to take a few days to review each sitter’s profile, check for background checks, and read reviews.
Schedule video or phone calls to ask about their experience, explain expectations, and discuss any specific needs of your pets.
Pro Tip: Share details about your travel plans and how you can be contacted while you’re away.
4. Confirm Your Sitter
After reviewing all the applications, choose your ideal sitter and finalize any remaining details.
TrustedHousesitters will prompt you to create an online welcome guide for your sitter, including details about your pets’ personalities, habits, feeding routines, and any required medications.
Tada! Congratulations, you’ve just scheduled your first sitter!
Pro Tip: Fill out your welcome guide thoroughly to ensure your sitter has all the information they need.
5. Get Ready for Your Sitter
When your trip approaches, prepare your home for your sitter’s arrival. Hiring a housekeeper isn’t necessary, but it’s a nice gesture to clean up beforehand.
Change the sheets, try to leave a drawer free for your sitter’s belongings, and let them know if they can use your supplies or eat any food you have.
Make sure your pets have enough food for the duration of your trip. You’ll need to reimburse your sitter if they have to buy pet supplies while you’re away.
Pro Tip: Clear communication is key. Let your sitter know about Wi-Fi access, streaming services, and any important home security details, like if you have a spare key available if they get locked out.
Benefits of Housesitting
The thing I love so much about TrustedHousesitters is that it’s really a win-win for both pet parents and housesitters.
There are so many great reasons to sign up as a sitter and great reasons to host your home while you’re traveling. This is the beauty of the global travel community, in action!
For Pet Owners
- Peace of mind: Knowing your pets are in good hands lets you enjoy your trip without worry.
- Best care for your pet: Sitters provide personalized care and attention, keeping your pets happy and comfortable at home.
- Home security: Having someone present in your home adds an extra layer of security, deterring potential break-ins while you’re away.
- Cultural exchange: House sitting gives you the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, enriching your experience.
- Affordable pet care: Save on expensive boarding costs by hosting a sitter who will care for your pets.
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For Pet Sitters
- Travel opportunities: House sitting lets you explore new places at a low cost. Imagine staying in a cozy cottage in the countryside or a chic apartment in the city center—all while enjoying the company of some adorable pets!
- Making new relationships: You’ll make connections with pet owners and their furry friends. These relationships can lead to repeat sits and new friends. I actually know someone who’s been a housesitter for years and she’s become friends with many of the pet parents.
- Flexibility: You can pick sits that fit your schedule and preferences. Whether you want a short weekend getaway or a month-long stay, there are usually many options available. Plus, you can filter by location, dates, and types of pets to find the perfect match.
TrustedHousesitters vs. Rover
Earlier, I mentioned I’d been using Rover for years. So let’s compare TrustedHousesitters vs. Rover.
With Rover, it took me a while to find a sitter I felt comfortable with. Once I finally did, it worked well for a few sits.
But at $65/night plus Rover fees, the cost started adding up, especially since most of my trips are usually longer than three nights. Sometimes, I’m away for two to three weeks or even a month.
Over the holidays, there were extra charges for the holiday rate. I spent over $1000+ on a two-week stay. Financially, it was draining, even though I wanted to stick with my regular sitter.
Then, my Rover pet sitter moved, and her new complex no longer allowed dogs.
I knew I needed an alternative. That’s when I thought of TrustedHousesitters. Spending on the annual fee cut my cost in half!
It was much more affordable, and the added perk is I don’t have to stress about dropping Casper off at a certain time, picking him up, and coordinating that schedule with my sitter. Plus, if we use Rover for Casper, we still have to find care for Poor Meow Meow at our apartment.
With TrustedHousesitters, the sitter comes to us. The only extra work on my end is cleaning up the house beforehand.
That’s a trade-off I gladly take for a reduced cost, and less fuss and stress. Plus, it really feels good to help a fellow traveler find accommodation!
FAQ about TrustedHousesitters
Is TrustedHousesitters safe?
Absolutely, TrustedHousesitters is safe for both sitters and pet parents. All sitters need to complete an ID check, and many also go through a background check. The ID check is global but currently the criminal background check is only a mandatory requirement in the US. You can choose sitters who have only completed a background check if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Plus, you can read verified reviews from other users, which I always do extensively before choosing a sitter. To top it off, meeting in person or having a video call before agreeing to a sit is a great way to make sure everyone feels at ease. This gives you a chance to ask all your questions and ensure you’re comfortable with everything.
How trustworthy is TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters is very trustworthy, with thousands of positive reviews and a solid reputation. They have 19,145 reviews on TrustPilot with an excellent TrustScore of 4.5 out of 5.
As Mollie H. shared in her 5-star review on Trustpilot: “I am so happy that I discovered TrustedHousesitters. Not only is it the absolutely most economic alternative to pet sitting the people that sign up to be pet sitters are truly caring, animal crazy folks. In addition people who choose to sit tend to be very, interesting, adventurous, open people. I have had 3 sits in the past year and am scheduled for 2 more. I’m very happy and so is my kitty!”
How much does TrustedHousesitters cost?
TrustedHousesitters offers different membership plans to fit your needs. You can choose to sign up as a sitter, an owner, or both. The cost varies depending on the plan you choose: Basic, Standard, or Premium.
For pet parents, prices start at $149/yr for a Basic membership, $229/yr for Standard, and $299/yr for a Premium.
For sitters, it’s a little less at $129/year for Basic, $169/yr for Standard, and $259/yr for Premium. Or, you can get combined, which is what I did.
Is TrustedHousesitters worth it?
Absolutely! TrustedHousesitters is SO amazing. This platform has literally solved my huge problem of loving my pets but also loving travel – especially longer stays.
In terms of overall value, the cost of membership is far outweighed by the benefits, including significant savings on pet care and the peace of mind knowing your pets are in good hands.
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Final Thoughts on My TrustedHousesitters Review (As a Pet Parent)
In a nutshell, TrustedHousesitters is a game-changer for both pet owners and travel lovers.
It solves the huge problem of balancing a love for pets with a love for travel, providing peace of mind, personalized care, and significant cost savings.
My experience with TrustedHousesitters has been fantastic, and I wish I had signed up years ago. I’m already working on choosing my next sitter for an upcoming trip!
If you’re a pet parent looking for a reliable sitter or a traveler seeking unique accommodation opportunities, TrustedHousesitters is definitely worth it.
