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Honest TrustedHousesitters Review + Tips & Discount Code
Read everything you need to know about pet sitting in this honest TrustedHousesitters Review.
I love animals and I love travelling, so the first time I heard about pet sitting I immediately knew I wanted to give it a shot. And it did not disappoint!
My first pet sit was in June 2023, now in November I have four pet sits behind me (altogether 9 weeks of looking after pets) and I have two more lined up for the new year. I love it!
So far, I personally have had only good experiences with the TrustedHousesitters platform, but this is an honest review and I’m also going to address some negative points I’ve found out or read about.
TrustedHousesitters Membership
- Spend time with adorable pets
- Perfect for pet lovers without their own pets
- Live like a local
- Have a unique travel experience
Use the discount code VEGANDERLUST25 to get 25% off your membership fee!
What is TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters is an online platform on a membership basis that connects pet owners with trustworthy pet sitters who house sit for free. It’s not the only platform that offers this service, but it’s the most popular house-sitting website.
It operates on a mutual exchange basisāyou take care of someone’s pets and home while they’re away, and in return, you get to stay in their home for free.
This gives pet parents peace of mind that their pets are well-cared for in their own environment, and it offers travelers a unique and affordable way to experience new locations.
While my personal experience with TrustedHousesitters has only involved looking after cats and dogs, the platform caters to a wide variety of pets. This includes smaller companions such as rabbits, to larger animals like horses and goats, and even exotic pets like reptiles.
From city apartments to rural farmhouses, TrustedHousesitters technically offers opportunities all over the world. Practically, it’s more popular in some countries than in others, but more on that later.
š¶š± Use the discount code VEGANDERLUST25 to get 25% off the TrustedHousesitters membership!
Getting started with TrustedHousesitters
1. Get a membership
To get started with TrustedHousesitters, you’ll need to sign up for a membership. There are two types of memberships available: one for sitters and one for home owners. Then there’s also a combined membership for people who are both.
The annual fee for a membership is between $129 and $259, depending on what plan you choose. The main perk of the most expensive plan is the sit cancellation insurance, so you get money from TrustedHousesitters in case a sit gets cancelled.
In case you don’t feel ready to commit yet, you can also get a free account with which you can look at housesit opportunities but you can’t apply for a house sit.
š¶š± Don’t forget to use the discount code VEGANDERLUST25 to get 25% off!
2. Set up your profile
Creating a profile on TrustedHousesitters is a straightforward process, but it’s essential to take your time and provide as much detail as possible to increase your chances of securing a housesitting opportunity.
Start by uploading multiple clear profile pictures. It’s best to include some pictures of you with pets. In case you travel as a couple, make sure to upload pictures of both of you. I really recommend taking advantage of the 10 pictures and uploading as many as possible.
Then write an engaging summary about yourself. This is your chance to introduce yourself to potential hosts and really make a good first impression. Highlight your experience with pets and why you’re interested in housesitting.
Important note: Sitters from the US have to get background checks done, sitters from outside the US do not. As I’m not from the US, I don’t have any personal experience with these checks.
3. Get References
Before you can start looking for house sit opportunities, you have to get two references from friends or family.
You get a link, to give to a friend or family member and once they click the link, they get to a form where they give you a star review and they write a paragraph about you.
I’ll be honest with you, I think those references are completely pointless. Firstly because obviously your mum for example would give you a good review and secondly it’s a link, people can easily just falsify it and write it themselves.
Anyway, I and my partner have two great reviews from our moms on my site now since we take care of their pets when they’re on holiday.
3. Apply for sits
Once your profile is set up, you can browse through the available sits based on your preferred location, dates and what kinds of animals you feel comfortable looking after. You can easily adjust the filters for your sits.
When you find a sit that interests you, make sure to read the listing properly to know all the details and to know what is expected of a pet sitter. If everything sounds good to you, you can start the application process by sending a message to the homeowner.
It’s important to personalize your application message. Explain why you’re interested in the sit, demonstrate that you’ve read their listing thoroughly, and highlight relevant experience that shows you’re a good fit for the sit.
I always ask for a video call in the first message, as it’s a good way to get a feeling for each other. During the phone call, you introduce yourself and then usually the pet parent asks if you have any questions.
So, it’s great to have a few questions prepared to show that you’re interested in the pet and that you read the listing properly.
One more tip: Download the TrustedHousesitters App and save your searches. That way you can apply as soon as a new listing shows up. Believe me, good places get so many applications and sometimes the listing is only online for a few hours before it has enough applicants.
4. During your house sits
During a house sit, it’s crucial to follow the homeowner’s instructions and routines for the pets and property. This can include feeding and walking pets at their usual times, watering plants, and maintaining the cleanliness of the home.
It’s also a good idea to stay in regular contact with the homeowner, I send daily pictures of their furry friends with little updates.
Make sure the house is clean when you leave! Cleaning the house a bit before you leave really goes a long way.
š¶š± Use the TrustedHousesitters discount code VEGANDERLUST25 to get 25% off!
Important tips for new house sitters
If you’re new to housesitting, here are my top tips to set you up for success.
Firstly, flexibility is key. Be open to housesitting opportunities in various locations and expand your dates if possible. This allows you to explore more opportunities and increases your odds of securing a sit.
Secondly, when starting out, it might be a good strategy to go after sits with few applications first. On TrustedHousesitters, you can see a badge on listings indicating low competition.
It can be challenging to secure a sit with high competition, especially if you don’t have any reviews on the platform yet.
At first, we wanted to do some housesits in Portugal, Spain or London, but we simply didn’t have a chance without excellent reviews.
Our first few housesits were in rural England. We normally, wouldn’t have gone to those places, but we ended up having a great time. So, we discovered new places in England (my partner’s home country) and got some amazing reviews from lovely people.
With just three excellent reviews from the TrustedHousesitter platform, we got a 3-week house sit in the Algarve in Portugal, which was amazing. And we have a 6-week house sit lined up in London, which is also super competitive.
In conclusion, applying for these low-competition sits could be your gateway to gaining experience and building a solid reputation on the platform as well. Remember, each successful sit will reward you with a review and enhance your profile’s attractiveness.
Pros of TrustedHousesitters
- Affordability: With TrustedHousesitters, you get to stay in someone else’s home for free in exchange for taking care of their pets. This saves significantly on accommodation costs, making travel more affordable.
- Unique Experiences: TrustedHousesitters offers the opportunity to experience life in different parts of the world as a local, not just a tourist.
- Pet Love: If you are an animal lover but don’t have your own pet, house-sitting provides the joy of spending time with pets, which can be a great source of companionship during your travels.
- Variety of Options: The platform caters to a wide range of housesitting needs, from city apartments to rural farmhouses, and for a variety of pets.
- User-friendly Interface: The website is easy to navigate, and the process of setting up a profile and applying for sits is straightforward and user-friendly.
- Save Favourites: You can save your searches and get a notification if a new listing meets your saved search criteria.
- 24/7 Vet Advice Line: free chat and video call to vets for Standard and Premium Members, in case you have any questions.
- Sit Cancellation Insurance: The platform provides cancellation insurance in the Premium Membership. In case a sit gets cancelled you get up to $150 compensation per night.
Cons of TrustedHousesitters
- Membership Fee: Although the benefits of membership can outweigh the costs for frequent travelers or sitters, the annual membership fee might be a deterrent for some, particularly those who only plan to use the service occasionally.
- Competition: The platform is popular, and desirable house sits can be highly competitive, particularly in sought-after locations. This can make it challenging for new sitters without reviews to secure their first sit.
- Limited Local Opportunities: Depending on your location, there might be a limited number of local sits available. I’ve found that most sits are in North America and the United Kingdom, in mainland Europe there aren’t that many opportunities.
- Responsibility: Looking after someone else’s pets and property is a significant responsibility. Any mishaps can have serious consequences and might cause stress during your stay.
- Unpredictable Pets: Pets’ behavior can be unpredictable, especially when they are adjusting to a new caretaker. This can present challenges, particularly for less experienced sitters.
- Commitment: Once you accept a house sit you have to commit to the agreed dates. Well, I guess you can cancel but then you’ll get a very bad review and you’ll have difficulty finding another house sit in the future.
- Cancellation Policy: There can be situations where homeowners cancel the housesit after you’ve made all your travel arrangements, which could lead to potential inconvenience and additional costs. Only the Premium Members have cancellation insurance.
My Experience: TrustedHousesitters Review
As I said in the beginning, luckily, I’ve only had good experiences so far with TrustedHousesitters.
My first house was in the countryside of England, in a small village which is not accessible by public transportation. We took care of two adorable Cocker Spaniels. We just loved going for walks with them through the fields. That’s when I realised I love being a pet sitter!
I’m always doing housesitting with my boyfriend, Jack, and I think it’s a great way to do it as a couple. That way you have company, you can share the experience and in case of an emergency you’re not on your own.
Jack works online and I’m working on my blog while we housesit. So, sometimes I go on day trips while he stays home with the pets. This works out perfectly for us, as Jack needs to work during the week and I can explore new destinations to write about on my blog.
Most pet owners don’t mind if it’s a couple, but some say they prefer solo sitters. So, I just stay clear of those housesits.
Over the past couple of months, we’ve saved so much money on accommodations. It’s just the best way to save money as a remote worker who loves animals.
Who is TrustedHousesitters for?
TrustedHousesitters is an ideal platform for travelers who have a genuine love for animals, value unique experiences, and are committed to respecting the privacy and property of others.
It’s most beneficial for those who possess a level of flexibility in their schedule and who are willing to embrace the responsibility of caring for someone else’s pets and property.
TrustedHousesitters is not for people who only want free accommodation and don’t care for pets. It’s also not for people who intend to do sightseeing all day long during their sit as the pets can’t be left alone that long.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t leave the pets alone at all. Just make sure to ask the pet owners how long the pets can be left alone and do not leave them longer.
Keep in mind that you don’t overpack when you do long-term housesits, you can just wash your clothes at the house. That’s one of my tips for minimalist traveling. I travel anywhere with my 25L backpack from Patagonia.
TrustedHousesitters Pricing
There are different membership plans with different annual fees. I put together the most important parts of each plan. You can find more detailed information on the house-sitting website.
| Premium Sitter | Standard Sitter | Basic Sitter |
| $259 per year | $169 per year | $129 per year |
| ā
unlimited housesits worldwide ā 24/7 free video-calls and chats to vets ā Instant alerts for saved searches ā Dedicated member support ā Accident & third party liability protection ā Sit cancellation insurance ā 2 global airport lounge passes ā Premium badge on profile | ā
unlimited housesits worldwide ā 24/7 free video-calls and chats to vets ā Instant alerts for saved searches ā Dedicated member support ā Accident & third party liability protection | ā
unlimited housesits worldwide |
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
Final Thoughts: Is TrustedHousesitters Worth It?
Yes, I think TrustedHousesitters is worth it! It’s a great opportunity to experience life abroad like a local. You live in someone’s actual home and look after their pets.
If you love animals and unique experiences, and you have a level of flexibility in your travel plans, I sincerely believe TrustedHousesitters could be your ticket to a whole new world of travel.
So why wait? Embark on your housesitting adventure today!
