Are you a pet owner who enjoys traveling but hates leaving your furry friends behind? How about if you’re a traveler on a budget who loves exploring new places and also happens to love animals?
If either of these sounds like you, TrustedHousesitters might be the perfect solution for you. This membership-based service connects pet owners with trustworthy individuals who are willing to house-sit and care for their pets while they’re away.
As a pet owner, you’ll be able to travel without worrying about your pets’ well-being. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your pets are in good hands and that your home is being looked after.
And as a pet sitter, you’ll be able to trade your petsitting services for a free place to stay while you explore!
But is TrustedHousesitters worth the money it costs to become a member?
In this article, I’ll do a deep dive into how the membership works and also provide how my THS experience is going so you can ultimately decide if it’s the right choice for you.
This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!
Table of Contents
What Is TrustedHousesitters?
For pet parents, Trusted Housesitters is a membership-based service that connects pet owners with trusted sitters who can take care of their pets and home while they’re away.
For sitters, the service offers a unique and ultra-affordable way of traveling by allowing you to stay in someone’s home for free in exchange for taking care of their pets. As a traveler, this can save you a lot of money on accommodation costs while also giving you the opportunity to experience local life in a different part of the world.
To become a member, you need to sign up for a membership and create a profile on the Trusted Housesitters website. You can sign up as a pet parent, pet sitter, or both!
From there, the magic happens! Pet parents can list their travel dates and find pet sitters from all over the world who’ve applied to stay in their homes and care for their fur babies.
TrustedHousesitters: Pros and Cons At-A-Glance
For Pet Parents:
PROS
- Great value: a THS membership is cheaper than the cost of most petsitting fees for just one trip
- THS is the largest international house sitting website with sits across 130 countries.
- Platform offers a large pool of potential sitters to choose from, you’ll have very good chances of finding a sitter
- allows pet parents to find reliable and trustworthy sitters for their pets while they are away
- Trust and safety is a key value: ID verification, two-way review system, secure messaging
- Trusted Housesitters provides insurance coverage for damages or accidents that may occur during the sit
- Sitters pay to use the platform – the level of commitment shows they are serious about being a member of the community!
CONS
- Finding the right sitter can be time-consuming, as pet parents may need to sift through applications.
- There is always a risk involved when leaving your pet with a stranger, even if they have good reviews and references.
For Pet Sitters:
PROS
- Great value: the annual subscription costs less than a couple of nights at a mid-range hotel in major cities
- Pet parents pay to list their housesitting jobs – shows they are serious about being a member of the community!
- Trust and safety is a key value: ID verification, two-way review system, secure messaging
- Sitters can build up their reputation on the platform by receiving positive reviews from pet parents, which can lead to more opportunities in the future.
- They provides insurance coverage for damages or accidents that may occur during the sit.
- Detailed Welcome Guides (written by pet parents) are provided for sits
CONS
- In more popular cities/destinations, you may experience more competition, for house sits.
- You will likely need to do shorter, local sits to build up your positive reviews (in order to be competitive)
- Lots of shorter sits, longer sits have been harder to find more recently
- Sitters may need to be flexible with their travel plans in order to accommodate the needs of the pet parents.
- Very little presence in Asian, African, and South American countries. Sits in these places exist, but are more rare.
TrustedHousesitters: How Does A Membership Work?
If you’re considering joining TrustedHousesitters for yourself, you might be wondering how the membership process actually works. Here’s a breakdown of how it works for both sitters and pet owners.
How Does A Membership Work For Sitters?
As a prospective pet sitter, you’ll need to first create an account with either your email or Google or Facebook. That part’s free.
With an account login, you can then browse house-sitting opportunities in your preferred location — even without officially committing to a paid membership!
The website has listings from all over the world, with pet sits ranging from dogs, cats, horses, lizards, chickens, and even fish… so you’re sure to find something that suits your preferences.
Find a house sit you like and want to apply for?
From there, you’ll need to actually sign up for a membership in order to start applying for house sits. There are two membership options for you: a standard sitter membership and a combined membership.
With the standard membership, you can apply for unlimited house sits and have access to the Trusted Housesitters community. However, you won’t be able to post your own listing to find house sits.
With the combined membership, you’ll have access to all of the standard sitter membership benefits, plus the ability to post listings for when you need a housesitter to care for YOUR pets.
Once you’ve signed up for a membership, you’ll need to fill out your profile and get through a quick background check. Once all that’s done, you can start browsing house sits and applying for ones that interest you!
Keep in mind that competition can be fierce for popular house sits, so it’s important to apply with a thoughtful intro in your application and have references if possible!
How Does A Membership Work For Pet Parents?
As a pet parent, you’ll need to sign up for a membership to post your own listing and start looking for sitters. There are also two membership options for pet owners: a standard membership and a combined membership.
With the standard membership, you can post your own listings to find prospective sitters to care for your pets on date where you’ll be out of town. You’ll also have access to the Trusted Housesitters community. However, you won’t be able to reach out to sitters directly and will need to wait for them to apply to your listing.
With the combined membership, you’ll have the ability to apply for house sits when you’re feeling in the mood to travel yourself. It’s the best of both worlds, perfect for pet parents that get bitten by the travel bug from time to time!
Once you’ve signed up for a membership, you can start posting your own listing and searching for sitters. You can either explore sitter profiles and invite people to sit for you, or post a listing and wait for the applications to roll in!
When crafting your pet’s profile and listing your home, it’s important to be clear about your expectations and provide detailed instructions for sitters to ensure a smooth and successful house sit.
Other Features For Members
Community Forum
The Community Forum is an online community of THS members where pet parents and sitters can connect, share advice, and ask questions about housesitting and pet care.
The forum is divided into different categories, such as “Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat”, “Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat”, “Last Minute Sits”, and “Meet-Ups and Events”, among others.
The forum can be a valuable resource for both pet parents and sitters who are looking to be successful in their roles. Here are some ways in which the forum can be useful:
- Getting advice from experienced sitters: This can include advice on how to communicate with pet parents, how to handle difficult pets, and how to deal with unexpected situations.
- Learning from other pet parents: Parents can share advice on how to find the right sitter, how to prepare their home for a sit, how to be a good host, and how to ensure that their pet is comfortable and well-cared for while they are away.
- Finding travel tips: The forum also provides a space for sitters and pet parents to share travel tips and recommendations for different destinations around the world! It’s a whole travel community!
- Connecting with other members: Whether it’s to arrange meet-ups or simply to share stories and experiences!
Easy-to-use Mobile App
Trusted Housesitters also offers a mobile app that makes it easy to stay connected with your house sitter and manage your bookings while you’re on the go. The app allows you to communicate with your house sitter, receive updates on your pets, and manage your account.
If you’ve favorited certain houses or destinations, the app will notify you when a new housesit matching your preferences becomes available.
Safety Features
One of the best things about Trusted Housesitters is that they take safety and security very seriously. They conduct background checks on all house sitters and pet owners to ensure that everyone is trustworthy and reliable. They also have a two-way review system that allows both parties to leave feedback on their experience.
My Personal Experience With TrustedHousesitters (As A Sitter)
Signing up for TrustedHousesitters as a sitter was easy, but tedious, because of all the setup steps involved. But I get it, this is a trusted community, and trust doesn’t come easy!
The first parts of the process were completing your profile, obtaining references, and getting a background check completed.
Filling out the profile and getting references took the most time for me. They suggest really fleshing out your profile so that pet parents can better understand who you are — this obviously helps with your success in getting sits.
After providing thoughtful answers to all the questions asked in the profile portion, I then had to wait for my references to provide their testimonials on the website (an email is sent to your references, they click a link and fill out their comments about you) — this took a few days of waiting for them to get done.
Finally, I could start applying! Well, after lurking on the app for a month or so, I was finally ready to try out my first housesit. Since it was my first sit (and my first experience engaging with the THS community, I strategically hunted for a short and local sit.
I did this for two reasons:
- I chose a local sit so that I would have my car with me in case anything went wrong and I needed to get out of there or head to the vet with the pet.
- I chose a short sit in case the home or pet was not what was advertised — a low commitment to test out the waters!
I applied for a housesit in San Jose, CA and was contacted by the pet parent in just a few hours. He asked if we could do a quick Zoom call or Facetime to meet and discuss the sit. While I’m usually not big on video calls (too many Zoom calls over the past few years for work!), I was actually impressed that meeting on video was part of the typical THS protocol!
It showed me that there really is an element of trust in this community, and for that, I was happy to hop on a call with the pet parent!
After our quick 10-minute call where I asked questions and he described his house/pet to me, he accepted my application. After the application was accepted, a Welcome Guide was sent my way via the app and website.
The morning of the sit, I was sent a handful of familiarization videos by the pet parent. (Due to timing, we weren’t able to meet in person, so the videos subbed in as the introduction to the home and doggie!)
I thought the Welcome Guide was helpful as it was, but all these additional videos that were sent over by the pet parent were AWESOME. It made finding the house and taking care of the dog (who had special needs) super easy!
Throughout the sit, we maintained communication through text. I provided quick photos/video clips of their pup sunbathing, going on a walk, etc. and the pet parent really appreciated that!
In terms of house chores, all I really did was pick up a package outside when it was delivered, and made sure animal control came to pick up a trapped skunk outside (the pet parent apologized profusely for the bad timing!). Don’t worry, I never had to look at or interact with the skunk!
Overall, I had an incredibly seamless experience from start to finish with my first housesit. I’m already scheduled for 2 more sits this summer, which I’m super excited about!
Features I Like
The ability to browse before forking up any money
Before handing over any money, you have the ability to browse through the worldwide house sits available. On the top banner, when you click “Find a house sit”, you will be taken to a list of all the live international house sits that are still available.
This means you can double-check that there are actually destinations that you want to visit available on the site before committing to an annual membership! When I saw housesits in San Diego, Seattle, France, Hawaii, and New Zealand, I was sold!
To give you a taste of the types of sits, here’s a peek at some of the listings I saw in France:
And here are a few in California:
Home Owner Welcome Guide provided
This is an online guide that the homeowner completes with all the information and instructions you need for your upcoming house sit. You can request it in advance which is also useful, in case it prompts questions that’ll help you be a better sitter.
Topics covered within the Welcome Guide are “my home”, “my pets”, “transport”, “neighborhood” and “emergency contacts”. It’s got ALL sorts of useful information — even restaurant recommendations and ideas on things to do in the area!
The Community Forum
Love this feature! This is where you can often find honest accounts from people who have had a lot more experience than you. It’s not uncommon to find lots of nuggets of gold in there that’ll help you be more successful at your house sits!
Features I Don’t Like
Too many notifications if you favorite a destination
I find that if you don’t strategically “favorite” destinations within the app, you’re going to get a ton of notifications all day long. If you favorite a broad destination such as “England”, “Washington”, or “Hawaii”, chances are you’ll get 15+ notifications throughout the day of “housesits matching your preferences”.
I found this to be distracting, especially if I was not in the mindset to take on a housesit in that moment!
Overall Thoughts
I don’t regret committing to my Trusted Housesitters membership whatsoever. There are too many benefits to being a member of this community.
Not only does dogsitting allow me to get some (forced) exercise and time in the sun, but I’ll be able to travel without having to worry about budgeting for accommodations. SCORE!
If you’re on the fence about grabbing yourself a Sitter or Per Parent membership (or both!), don’t be! The yearly membership costs the same amount of money, if not less, than:
- a 1-night hotel stay in places like SF, Boston, or New York
- a 2-night stay at an Airbnb almost anywhere
By doing just one housesit, you’re already getting your money’s worth!
GET 25% OFF ANY MEMBERSHIP: New members can take advantage of a 25% discount – no code required, you’ll just need to click here to apply this offer!
TrustedHousesitters: How Much Does A Membership Cost?
Sitter Memberships
There are three different membership levels: Basic Sitter, Standard Sitter, and Premium Sitter.
- Basic Sitter – $129/yr
- Standard Sitter – $169/yr
- Premium Sitter – $259/yr
Basic Sitter Membership features:
- Unlimited house sits worldwide
- Free background check
Standard Sitter Membership features:
- Includes all the features of the Basic membership.
- Free video calls & online chat with vets when pet sitting
- Instant alerts for unlimited saved searches
- Dedicated member support
- Accident & third party liability protection – read more about this feature here
Premium Sitter Membership features:
- Includes all the features of the Standard membership.
- Sit cancellation insurance
- 2 global airport lounge passes
Pet Owner Memberships
- Basic Pet Parent – $129/yr
- Standard Pet Parent – $199/yr
- Premium Pet Parent – $259/yr
Basic Pet Parent Membership features:
- Unlimited pet & home care from verified sitters at no extra cost
Standard Pet Parent Membership features:
- Includes all the features of the Basic membership.
- Money Back Guarantee – if you do not receive any sitter applications within 14 days of posting your first listing, you’ll receive your money back with no strings attached.
- Free video calls & online chat with vets when pet sitting
- Dedicated member support
- Home & Contents Protection – read more about this feature here
Premium Pet Parent Membership features:
- Includes all the features of the Standard membership.
- Sit cancellation insurance
- 2 global airport lounge passes
Combined Memberships – Sitter AND Pet Owner
There are three different membership levels: Basic Combined, Standard Combined, and Premium Combined.
- Basic Combined – $189/yr
- Standard Combined – $229/yr
- Premium Combined – $319/yr
Basic Combined Membership features:
- Unlimited pet & home care from verified sitters at no extra cost.
- Unlimited house sits as a sitter.
- Free background check
Standard Combined Membership features:
- Includes all the features of the Basic membership.
- Offers priority customer support from the Trusted Housesitters team.
- Free video calls with vets, anytime you need
- Instant alerts for unlimited saved searches
- See who saves your listing
- Accident & third party liability protection – read more about this feature here
- Home & Contents Protection – read more about this feature here
Premium Combined Membership features:
- Includes all the features of the Standard membership.
- Sit cancellation insurance
- 2 global airport lounge passes
TrustedHousesitters Review: Is This Membership Worth The Money?
Hands-down, YES, TrustedHousesitters is totally worth the money! For both Sitters and Pet Parents! Let’s dive into why… if you’re not already sold!
First, Trusted Housesitters offers various membership options starting at $129. This fee may seem steep, but it can be extremely cost-effective if you plan to use the service frequently.
Even if you plan on just using it once or twice during the year, you’ll still get value! It has the potential to save you so much money on accommodations while offering you the chance to spend time with furry friends.
Worried about safety? THS considers safety as one of its top priorities. They provide identity verification and ID checks for both homeowners and sitters, ensuring safety on both ends. Additionally, for pet owners, it offers sit cancellation insurance for added security.
While I only have the Sitter membership (because I don’t have pets at the moment), I’d highly recommend TrustedHousesitters to Pet Parents too!
In fact, I referred my cousin to THS — she has a senior chihuahua with some special needs. She’s hosted two different Sitters and has LOVED the value that she’s been getting from THS. Her one-year membership is less than how much she’d been paying dogsitters on Rover or Wag!
GET 25% OFF ANY MEMBERSHIP: New members can take advantage of a 25% discount – no code required, you’ll just need to click here to apply this offer!
TrustedHousesitters: Tips For Success
If you’re considering becoming a member of Trusted Housesitters, it’s important to know how to make the most of your membership. Here are some tips to help ensure your success:
1. Create a detailed profile
Your profile is the first thing homeowners will see when considering you as a potential housesitter. Make sure it’s detailed and includes relevant information about your experience with pets, any certifications you have, and your availability.
You’ll definitely want to add a photo of yourself closer up so pet parents can see your face when screening your application.
And if possible, get some references so you can prove that you know how to care for animals!
2. Do some local housesits to build up your reputation as a sitter
As a newbie, you’re not going to have any reviews under your belt. Doing local housesits on Trusted Housesitters can be a great way to build up your reputation on the platform and increase your chances of being accepted for sits in other locations.
When you complete a housesit, the homeowner will typically leave a review of your performance, which can be seen by other homeowners who are considering you for future sits. By completing local housesits, you can build up a strong portfolio of positive reviews that will demonstrate your reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to care for pets and homes!
This can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of being accepted for sits in more desirable locations.
Additionally, shorter local housesits can help you gain experience and confidence in housesitting, which can be valuable when taking on more challenging or longer-term sits in other locations.
3. Be flexible with your travel plans
If you’re looking to housesit in a specific location, it may take some time to find the right opportunity. Be flexible with your travel dates and consider housesitting in other locations to increase your chances of finding a match.
4. Communicate clearly with homeowners
Once you’ve been selected for a housesit, it’s important to communicate clearly with the homeowner. During your first virtual meeting, be sure to ask any burning questions you may have about the pet or the home.
Make sure to discuss any specific requirements they have for their home or pets, and keep them updated throughout your stay. For longer stays, pet parents usually appreciate check-ins and photos of their pets!
5. Leave a detailed review after your stay
Leaving a detailed review after your housesitting assignment can help increase your chances of being selected for future opportunities. Make sure to include information about your experience with the homeowner and their pets, and any other relevant details.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success as a TrustedHousesitters member. Remember to be patient and persistent, and you’ll soon be on your way to enjoying free accommodations while caring for adorable pets.
TrustedHousesitters: Frequently Asked Questions
Is TrustedHousesitters a legit service?
Yes, TrustedHousesitters is a legitimate service. The company has been in business since 2010 and has over 1 million members worldwide. They have received positive reviews from both homeowners and house sitters, and their website is secure and easy to use.
Are there any TrustedHousesitters discounts for new members?
Yes, for a limited time, you can get 25% OFF ANY MEMBERSHIP. Just click here to apply the offer! No code is required, the discount will apply automatically – however, this is only available for new members, not renewals.
Is money exchanged between sitters and pet parents on Trusted Housesitters?
No, no money is ever exchanged between sitters and pet parents. TrustedHousesitters is one of only a few sites that explicitly prohibits an exchange of money for house-sitting services.
How does TrustedHousesitters compare to Rover for pet parents?
TrustedHousesitters and Rover are both online platforms that connect pet owners with pet sitters. However, TrustedHousesitters is focused exclusively on house sitting, while Rover offers a range of services, including dog walking and pet boarding. TrustedHousesitters also requires its members to pay a membership fee, while Rover is pay-per-transaction.
With TrustedHousesitters, no money is exchanged between the pet parent and the pet sitter.
Is there a free trial for TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters does not typically offer free trials, but from time to time, they do. Check this page of their website here to see if they are running any limited-time free trials.
They also do offer a 25% discount on their annual membership fee for new members. Just click here to take advantage of the new member discount!
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