Trusted Housesitters Review: A Game-Changer for Traveling Families with Pets
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Here’s my honest review of TrustedHousesitters after having used it regularly for over four years plus tips for getting started.
My friend Kelly told me about TrustedHousesitters in 2021 when she was actively traveling and taking care of people’s cats in exchange for a place to stay. I have to admit it sounded too good to be true at first.
I was really curious about the program from the pet owner side. We had three horses, chickens, two cats, and a guinea pig at our house at the time (yes, we are extreme animal lovers). The cost of hiring someone to come take care of them all was preventing us from traveling as much as we wanted to.
So I signed up for a pet parent membership with Trusted Housesitters in 2021 and booked our first sit immediately! Four years later we have had 13 different pet sitters through this program and I can honestly say that every single one was fantastic.
In this post I’ll share how the program works, what to expect, the cost to join, and share an exclusive promo code for 25% off – so be sure to read to the end.
What is TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters is an online platform connecting pet owners with trustworthy sitters who care for pets in their own homes.
Pet owners post listings; sitters apply; both parties review profiles and agree on terms. Sitters go through a background check and share reviews of past sits.
The only cost involved in petsitting is the annual membership fee for the site. No money changes hands beyond that – sitters are caring for someone else’s pets in exchange for a nice place to stay.
While it isn’t “free”, if you use it for even one trip of a few nights the membership will easily pay for itself!
Benefits for Busy Families with Pets
From the pet parent side, the benefits are many:
- Cost Savings: Eliminates the need for expensive boarding or pet-sitting services.
- Peace of Mind: Pets stay in their familiar environment, reducing anxiety for both pets and owners.
- Convenience: Flexible arrangements that fit various travel schedules and destinations.
- Community Trust: Access to verified sitters with reviews and background checks.
Aside from the money saved (which has added up to thousands of dollars per year for us), our pets get the absolute best care while we are away from folks who love animals as much as we do.
Real-Life Experiences
We have met so many kind people through Trusted Housesitters. Our first sitters were a family from Australia traveling through the States. Their kids loved our animals and they took incredible care of our place, leaving it cleaner than they found it. They even gifted us flowers and a necklace for my daughter. I was blown away!
Each sitter after has taken equally good care of our pets. My partner loves to receive lots of pictures of the dogs when we are traveling and he has been so happy with the constant stream of photos from our various petsitters.
What I’ve learned in the over a dozen sitters we’ve had is that only true animal lovers are drawn to this site. It is so great to connect with other people who prefer to stay with animals when traveling just like we do!
We’ve had a variety of folks sit for us, from digital nomads to “road schooling” families to retirees. But what they’ve all had in common is that they’ve take the best care of our critters.
How to Get Started & Tips
Here’s how you can get started with Trusted Housesitters if you are a pet owner:
- Sign-Up Process: Create an account and choose from various plans that offer different levels of support and features.
- Create Your Profile: Share info and photos of your pets and home.
- List Your First Sit: Post the dates you will be traveling and receive applications from interested pet sitters.
- Select a Sitter: Select the right sitter by reviewing profiles and conducting interviews; prepare your home and pets for the sitter’s arrival.
I have lots of tips for having success with the site after having used it for years:
- Take great pictures of your home: You want to show your home in it’s best light so take time to get excellent photos. Be sure to highlight anything unique about your place – I’ve included pictures showing off our hot tub, backyard, shower, kitchen, and lovely neighborhood. When I asked a sitter once why she picked our place she said it was the picture of the tulips blooming in spring in our yard.
- Describe your pets in detail: Share what you love about your pets including their unique personality. This will help potential sitters remember your listing.
- Sell your area as a fun destination: Share why it would be fun for someone to come to your area. Are there great hiking trails close by? Is it walkable? Are there any tourist destinations nearby or great restaurants? Share all of that in your listing.
- Write an eye-catching title for your listing: You want to catch the attention of people shopping around for potential sits. Make your listing stand out with a memorable title. I’ve used: Relaxing getaway with horses in gorgeous central North Carolina for example.
I do want to be transparent that you will have more luck securing sitters if you live in a place that others perceive as desirable. It doesn’t have to be fancy but it should be clean, comfortable, and well appointed.
However don’t be discouraged from joining because you think your home town doesn’t have anything to offer. Many people will do local sits to build their sitting resume and reviews. Don’t be surprised if someone from near by wants to petsit for you so they can build a resume that will allow them to be considered for more competitive sits on the French Rivieria!
How To Find A House Sit
You you want to use Trusted Housesitters as a pet sitter, you can get a sitter-only membership or a combined membership that allows for both.
I have only done one pet sit myself and it was a great experience. There are pet sitting opportunities available all over the US and abroad. You can even find sits with low applications to get started and try local sits first.
Exclusive Offer: Save 25% on Membership
Use promo code FRUGALSOUTH25 to receive 25% off any membership plan. Sign up for TrustedHousesitters here and start planning your next family vacation with peace of mind.
TrustedHousesitters offers a practical solution for families wanting to travel without the financial burden of pet care. It makes traveling more affordabe for both parties – it’s definitely a win-win.
FAQs
- Is TrustedHousesitters safe for my pets?
- Yes, all sitters undergo verification, and you can review their profiles and references.
- Can I choose who sits for my pets?
- Absolutely, you have full control over selecting a sitter that fits your needs.
- What if I have multiple pets?
- TrustedHousesitters accommodates households with various types and numbers of pets.
- How does the 25% discount work?
- Enter promo code FRUGALSOUTH25 at checkout to receive 25% off your membership.
- Is there a mobile app?
- Yes, TrustedHousesitters offers a user-friendly app for managing listings and communications.
