Housesitting is a great way to travel the world on a budget, as you get free accommodation in exchange for caring for someone’s home and pets – but it’s not always the easiest way to save money while travelling! I have done several housesits for friends of mine, and decided to try TrustedHousesitters to do some more housesitting in the UK and Europe. Here is my honest review of TrustedHousesitters, with some tips for getting started on the platform and how to become a house sitter!
Quick Summary
If you don’t have time to read the full article, in summary, I love using TrustedHousesitters to find house and pet sits, especially in Europe, the UK and the US.
I’ve got a Trusted Housesitters coupon for you save 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25 – or you can create a free profile to browse available sits before you buy. I recommend the Standard or Premium membership options as they include lots of useful extras and don’t cost much more than the basic option.
Make sure you read the details of any prospective sit carefully and read any reviews from previous sitters.
What is Housesitting?
Starting with the basics, housesitting is temporarily living in and taking care of someone else’s house (and in most cases their pets) while they are away from home. It typically involves staying in the homeowner’s residence and taking on various responsibilities to make sure the property and animals are safe and properly looked after during their absence.
The housesitter’s main role is to provide security, care for pets, maintain the property, and perform any necessary tasks or duties specified by the homeowner, like watering plants, collecting mail and keeping the house clean and tidy.
Some housesitters stay in the house for a short period like a couple of days, while others might stay for weeks or even months while their owners are away on vacation, business trips, or any other time they cannot be around to look after their home and/or pets.
Some house sitters may be paid for their services, but it is more usual to just have free accommodation in exchange. Usually, this is in the home they are caring for, but occasionally this could be in a different part of the property or in something like a campervan or caravan.
Trusted Housesitters Discount Code
SAVE 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25
What is the Difference Between Pet-Sitting and House-Sitting?
The main difference between house-sitting and pet-sitting is that pet-sitting involves caring for the pets as the primary responsibility. House-sitting isn’t always pet-sitting as some home-owners just want someone to watch their home while they are away and don’t have any animals to look after.
Pet-sitting usually also involves some care of the house as well as the pets, especially if the pet-sitter stays in the home with the animals. For the pet owner, it is also considerably cheaper to have a pet-sitter come and stay than it is to pay for a cattery or kennels for the pets.
For the purposes of this article, I’m going to stick with the term house sitting, as that can also include pet sitting.
As I’ve only used Trustedhousesitters as a pet sitter, this review is based on that point of view, although I’ve included relevant information for house and pet owners in the membership prices section and wherever relevant.
My TrustedHousesitters Review
Trusted Housesitters is one of the world’s biggest and most popular house-sitting platforms and one of the best pet-sitting websites from the perspective of both pet owners and pet sitters.
They have been running for more than 10 years, and have over 180,000 members, where pet owners post when they need a sitter, and sitters can search for available sits.
I’ve only done pet-sits for cats through Trusted House Sitters, but there is a wide range of animals who home owners are looking for help with. While most sits are for dogs and/or cats, you can also find sits for chickens, lizards, horses, goldfish and all sorts of creatures!
Outside of Trusted Housesitters, I looked after some tortoises for a friend of mine and loved watching these little guys munching their food!
How TrustedHousesitters Works
TrustedHousesitters is free to browse, so you can search for potential sits or sitters before you sign up. You can also create a free account when you join as a member before you go ahead with a yearly paid membership.
Once you have signed up to become a paid member, you create a profile to show who you are and what kind of pet and house experience you have had. Then after have done some house sits the homeowners can leave you reviews to show that you are a good house-sitter, which gives you more chance of securing future sits. Pet sitters can also leave reviews for the home-owners.
Is Trusted House Sitters Legit?
100%, Trusted Housesitters is a legitimate website and not a scam.
However, as with all peer-to-peer sites, there is some element of risk that the house sitter or homeowner might not be exactly as you hope.
Make sure you read reviews of the house sits carefully and always arrange a video interview before confirming a sit to make sure you are comfortable either having that person in your home, or indeed staying in that home – especially if you are a solo female traveller.
If you are concerned about a sitter or a homeowner cancelling a sit, the Premium Membership plans include some cancellation cover that could be worth it if you plan to do a lot of sits and/or want some extra peace of mind.
How Much is Trusted Housesitters?
Trusted Housesitters pricing depends on whether you want to be a housesitter, whether you are looking for a housesitter, or whether you want to do both with a combined membership.
I’ve got a Trusted Housesitters coupon for you save 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25 – so all prices below will have 25% taken off when you use my code.
For each option, there are 3 levels of membership – Basic, Standard and Premium. Make sure you choose the correct option, for Pet Parents (home owners), Sitters, or a Combined Membership.
All membership levels include a Money Back Promise which means that if you do not confirm any sits within 14 days of making your 5th application as a sitter, you’ll receive your money back with no strings attached.
Or for pet parents looking for a sitter if you do not receive any sitter applications within 14 days of posting your first owner listing, you can also claim your money back with no strings attached.
TrustedHousesitter Sitter Membership
Basic Sitter Membership starts at £99 GPB / $129 USD for a year, and includes a year of unlimited sits, in return for caring for pets and homes.
For extra peace of mind, I recommend choosing the Standard Membership at £129 GBP / $169 USD per year as a minimum as it includes extra benefits like:
- free phone, chat or video consultations with veterinary experts, 24/7, anytime you need it.
- Instant alerts for unlimited saved searches via the app or email when house sits which match your criteria become available
- Dedicated member support – in addition to TrustedHousesitters basic support, get extra assistance to secure your first sit quickly and easily.
- Accident & third party liability plan – 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).
Trusted Housesitters Discount Code
SAVE 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25
and Premium Membership at £199 GBP / $259 USD per year also includes
- Sit cancellation plan where you receive compensation should the pet parent cancel the sit. Trusted Housesitters will provide up to $150 compensation per night to cover the cost of alternative accommodation, up to $1500 per sit. (Terms and conditions apply).
- 2 global airport lounge passes for two people
- The Premium Badge logo on your profile
TrustedHousesitter Pet Parent (Home Owner) Membership
Basic Pet Parent Membership starts at £119 GPB / $149 USD for a year, and includes a year of unlimited pet & home care from verified sitters at no extra cost..
Again for extra peace of mind, I recommend choosing the Standard Pet Parent Membership at £199 GBP / $229 USD per year as a minimum as it includes extra benefits like:
- Home & Contents Plan which means you covered against property damage, theft, and public liability if a sitter has an accident in your home, up to $1 million USD.
- Free video calls with vets, available for you and your sitter, 24/7, anytime you need it
- Dedicated member support – in addition to TrustedHousesitters basic support, get extra assistance to secure your first sitter quickly and easily.
- The option to boost your listing in search results to increase the chance of finding a sitter
- View a list of sitters who have saved your listing, so you can invite them directly.
and Premium Pet Parent Membership at £249 GBP / $299 USD per year also includes
- Sit cancellation plan where in the unlikely event of sitter cancellation, TrustedHousesitters provide up to $150 compensation per night to cover the cost of alternative pet care, up to $1500 per sit.
- 2 global airport lounge passes for two people
- The Premium Badge logo on your listing
Trusted Housesitters Discount Code
I’ve got a Trusted Housesitters coupon for you – save 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25
Trusted Housesitters Discount Code
SAVE 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25
Is Trusted Housesitters Worth It?
Although the initial membership fees can seem high, if you plan to travel often, TrustedHousesitters can be a great value as the cost of one or two nights in a hotel can easily cover the annual membership. If you have several sits in a year it is definitely a worthwhile investment as you can save a lot of money on accommodation costs.
Is Trusted Housesitters Safe?
Nothing in life is 100% certain or safe, but I think that TrustedHousesitters to a great job of making their site as safe as it possibly can be. They have a page dedicated to trust and safety which shows the steps they take to ensure TrustedHousesitters is safe.
You can read reviews of potential pet sitters and home owners left by previous owners and sitters, and since November 2023 these should be even more accurate as now reviews are hidden until you write your own review – so there is no risk of “revenge reviews” where someone leaves a bad review because they’ve had a bad review from that person.
It shows that sitters (in the US) have background checks, and all sitters have their ID and contact details checked and verified. Sitters can also have external references and reviews from people that they have done house sits for outside the TrustedHousesitters platform, or other relevant people like landlords or employers.
Pet owners on the Standard or Premium membership plans also have a Home and Contents plan included in their membership. There is also a helpdesk you can chat with at any time, a useful help centre with tons of information about finding sits and managing the platform, and access to 24/7 calls with a vet on the Standard and Premium membership.
Occasionally you do hear of bad experiences on TrustedHousesitters, but these are quite rare. In the cases I’ve seen, TrustedHousesitters tend to give the homeowner the benefit of the doubt but it really depends on the situation.
Trusted Housesitters Insurance for Home Owners
For homeowners looking for house or petsitters, Trusted Housesitters include a Home and Contents insurance plan as part of their standard and premium pet parent membership which covers property damage, theft, and public liability if a sitter has an accident in your home, for up to $1 million USD. Learn more about that here.
More Trusted Housesitter Reviews
I’m not the only one who loves Trusted Housesitters, as you can see on Trustpilot they have a rating of 4.5 from more than 19,000 reviews at the time of writing.
Looking at the negative reviews there are occasionally there are problems with irresponsible housesitters or home owners or housesitters cancelling at short notice, but sadly these things do happen occasionally.
Using TrustedHousesitters to Find a House Sit
I like the Trusted Housesitters website and the app, they are both easy to use and manage your account.
Create a Detailed Profile
Once you have chosen your membership level, the first thing to do is to create your account and complete the information sections so potential sits can see who you are and what kind of experience you have with animals and homes.
This is the most important part of being able to secure a house sit – people want to know that the person they choose is a real person who is reliable, caring and friendly, so do your best to let your pet-loving personality shine through – with lots of photos of you with animals you have cared for or spent time with.
Another thing that really helps to elevate your profile is having reviews from previous sits. If you’re just getting started and don’t have any reviews from previous sits, you can also link to your Airbnb profile and social media profiles, and ask other people you know to provide a reference for you, which is a great way to help newbies get started on Trustedhousesitters.
When I didn’t have any reviews through the platform, I asked a couple of my friends who I have done pet-sitting for to leave me a review on my TrustedHousesitters profile which helped to build trust and get me my first sit.
I’d also recommend linking your Airbnb profile (assuming you have positive reviews on there!) and having lots of pictures of you with animals to show that you are comfortable around animals and can care for their beloved pets.
Once you have done a sit, don’t be afraid to ask for a review to help build up your profile even more, sometimes pet owners forget or don’t have time unless you ask them to do one for you.
Search for Sits
The search function on TrustedHousesitters makes it easy to find suitable sits to apply for. You can search by location, date, duration of sit, and the type of pets you want to care for, as well as adding filters like if a sit is family friendly, has high-speed wifi and is accessible by public transport – which is essential for me as I don’t have a car!
The results are displayed in a map and a list so you can narrow down your search to find the best options. The results also show if a sit request has a low number of applications (so a higher chance of accepting you), and if they are new to the site or looking for a last minute sit that starts in the next few days.
Once you’ve found a sit or sits you like the look of, read the details carefully. Look out for specific information that may make the sit more complex, such as medication for the animals, set feeding or walking times or lots of different animals. See what the sleeping arrangements are – do you have your own spare room or will you use the home owners bedroom.
When you click to apply for a sit, the system tells you how many people have applied, which can be a useful way to gauge how likely you are to be accepted. Homeowners often choose more experienced sitters, so don’t feel disheartened if you don’t get your first choice!
As you’re writing your application, TrustedHousesitters has some tips to help, like:
- focus on why you’ll be a great sitter
- reference pets by name
- mention your relevant experience
If the pet parent likes your application they may reach out to get some more information or arrange an interview before you go ahead. If you download the TrustedHousesitter app you can reply from there which makes things easier and quicker.
During the Sit
The key thing I’ve found to help successful sits is communication. If the pet owner wants to have photos or videos sent every day, then make sure you send them.
The great thing about Standard and Premium membership is that it includes free video calls with a vet at any time of the day or night which is great if you need to talk to someone about the pets. I haven’t had to use the service yet, but it is so good to have the option there.
On my last house-sit I had to take one of the cats to the vet but I’d already spoken to the owner about that possibility so I knew where to go and she quickly reimbursed me for the costs, but you never know when something might happen, especially with outdoor animals like cats!
After the Sit
Once the pet parents return home and see what a great job you’ve done of looking after their animals and home, you go your separate ways. Each of you now has 2 weeks to leave a review, so if you don’t hear anything then don’t be afraid to follow up (nicely!) so you can hopefully get a great review for your profile.
Previously, you could see what the other party had said about you before you wrote your review, but since November 2023 the TrustedHousesitter review system works more like Airbnb, where the review is hidden until you write yours. This should mean that reviews are more honest, without any risk of retribution and leaving a bad review in return for a bad review, which is a much better way to do it!
Anything I Don’t Like About TrustedHousesitters?
The only limitation I’ve come across with TrustedHousesitters is the number of sits available in countries where I want to go. There are plenty of sits available in the US and the UK for example, and some in Australia, but when I look for specific places I want to travel like Colombia and Mexico there are fewer opportunities for pet-sitters.
This website is in English so it makes sense that there are more sits available in English-speaking countries, although you can also find several in Europe, so if you want to go to a specific destination while house sitting I suggest you browse for available sits before you buy your membership.
Don’t forget that new sits come onto the site all the time, so keep checking, and set up alerts to get notified if you have the Standard or Premium membership.
Tips for Success Housesitting with TrustedHousesitters
Be Flexible
For sitters, the more flexible you are about location and duration of a sit, the more likely you are to find something. If you are looking for a specific destination or time period, there is less chance of finding a sit that matches your needs.
Choose Opportunities Carefully
Before you agree to a sit, remember that you will be staying in someone’s home, so you need to be comfortable with the arrangements as well as the homeowner. Check where you will be sleeping, and do some research on the area where the house is located.
Create a Detailed Profile
As I mentioned earlier, having a detailed profile is vital to help you secure a sit. Make sure you have lots of photos of you (preferably with your smiling face) and with animals if possible.
Be as detailed as you can about your experience and confidence when dealing with animals – and be honest! If you’ve never looked after horses before then saying you’re a confident rider would be a big no-no.
Write a Personal Application
When you have found a sit that you want to apply for, make sure you write a detailed and personalised application, mentioning the pets’ names and how much you’d love to come and care for them while visiting the destination.
Prepare for an Interview
It’s a good idea to have a video interview before confirming a sit, so you can ask any questions about the arrangements, the animals and the home. Make sure you know what requirements are for looking after the pets – for example how many times they need to be fed or walked each day, what the routine is.
If you’re hoping to be able to take days out then you need to make sure that the pet care doesn’t make this impossible, and that you feel confident with any special needs of the animals such as giving medication or handling difficult or nervous pets.
And of course, you need to make a good impression on the pet-parents too. Focus first on the needs of the animals and then your requirements to show that you care about the pets and you’re not just looking for free accommodation!
Prepare for the Sit
A week or so before the sit I like to send a questionnaire to the home owners to make sure I have all the information I need written down, like contact details, medical information, feeding times and so on. Some pet owners who have had regular sitters may have their own information ready to send you but it’s good to make sure you have all of your questions answered.
Conclusion
I love using TustedHousesitters to find house and pet sits, especially in Europe, the UK and the US. It would be nice to see more sits in other countries like Mexico for example, but with alerts set up I get notified when sits become available to apply for.
Don’t forge that I’ve got a Trusted Housesitters coupon for you save 25% on Trusted Housesitters Membership with the code TALES25 – or you can create a free profile to browse available sits before you buy. I recommend the Standard or Premium membership options as they include lots of useful extras and don’t cost much more than the basic option.
Want More Work Exchange Travel Tips?
If you want to discover other ways to get free accommodation while travelling, check out these blog posts to learn more about Work Exchange programmes, or click here to read all of my work exchange posts.