Is TrustedHousesitters too good to be true?

Loving pet care in exchange for accommodation? To many, it can all sound a little too good to be true. But luckily for you, fellow pet lover, it’s more than good, and completely it’s completely true. 

So, if you were wondering - is TrustedHousesitters legit, take a look below to explore external reviews, member stories, and exactly how this pet-loving platform works.

Is TrustedHousesitters legit?

Yes, TrustedHousesitters is legit - TrustedHousesitters is a platform for both pet owners and verified sitters who exchange pet care for a place to stay. 

Both the pet parents and sitters on the platform pay a yearly membership fee, with hobby pet sitters ID verified. 

The platform also offers background checks for US members, and thousands of external reviews and countless member stories are available for everyone to read.

Take a look below for more information on how we ensure both sitters and owners get peace of mind when connecting, and exchanging loving pet care for accommodation.

Are pet sitters a good idea?

Yes, for many pet parents, welcoming a sitter has been the pet care solution they’ve been searching for. Take a look below at some of the benefits of welcoming a pet sitter for both owners and their furry family members.

Better for pet parents, better for pets

For many of the pet owners here at TrustedHousesitters, pet care once meant asking neighbors for favors, or relying on family members for help when vacation time rolled around. 

For some, it even meant uprooting their pets and taking them on planes, trains and long car journeys, as resistant vacation companions. 

Understandably, pet parents the world over were looking for something more convenient, and better suited to their home-loving pet families. 

And as vets agree pets are better off at home surrounded by all the comforts, sounds and smells that make them feel safe, TrustedHousesitters is exactly what many pet parents have been looking for.

Benefits of pet sitters

• Vets agree pets are happier at home. The sounds, smells and a predictable daily routine makes pets feel safe and secure, and welcoming a pet sitter means none of that gets taken away during your vacation.
• No more stressful catteries or kennels. Unfamiliar animals, multiple caregivers, new routines and a lack of 1:1 care is anxiety-inducing for pets, and there’s no need to put them through that with an in-home pet sitter. 
• 1:1 TLC. All of our pet sitters stay in your home, meaning not only does your pet happily stay put in their favorite place, they’re also provided with 1:1 care - something that’s never possible in a kennel or cattery.
• Pet parents enjoy peace of mind. At TrustedHousesitters, pets are looked after by sitters who are here for the love of animals, not money. In fact, each and every one of our sitters pay a membership fee to be part of this community - they’re hobby pet sitters with a deep love for animals, who care for new furry friends because they adore doing it.
• No more asking for favors. By choosing from thousands of pet sitters who are keen to care for your pets, there’s no need to feel like you’re burdening friends, family or neighbors, and you no longer need to worry about fitting your vacation into their schedule.

How can you trust a pet sitter?

So, we’ve established that TrustedHousesitters in fact isn’t too good to be true, and that connecting with a sitter is a whole lot better for pets and their owners. But can you trust the pet sitters here? Thankfully, it’s a yes on this one. 

Each and every one of our sitters are asked to complete ID verifications, and our US members are asked to complete background checks. Each of these completed and verified are displayed clearly on sitter profiles, for pet parents to see. 

For more information about the ways we make sure all of our pet sitters are who they say they are, and can provide the best care for pets and homes, take a look below.

• ID verifications. This cross-checks and verifies sitter identities using an official government ID.
• Background checks. Our US members are asked to be background-checked, which includes a criminal record check.
• Phone and email verifications. Sitters are asked to verify the email address and phone number they’ve provided.
• External references. Sitters are asked to request external character references from an employer, landlord or a pet owner they’ve sat for before. These are visible for pet parents on sitter profiles.
• Reviews. For sitters with pet care experience, owners can leave reviews on sitter profiles for all to see.
• Video calls and meet-ups. Pet parents and sitters have the option to arrange a video call or in-person meet up to get to know each other before a sit.
• 24/7 vet advice line. At all times during a sit, both sitters and pet parents have access to our vet advice line, where veterinary nurses are on hand for a phone or video call to advise on any concerns.
• Sitter memberships. Our sitters love pets so much that they pay a yearly membership fee to be here and care for new furry friends - it’s their hobby, so owners have peace of mind that they’re here for all the right reasons.

What’s in it for the sitters?

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to wonder why our sitters pay to be here. Well, believe it or not, all of our sitters are true pet lovers - they’re part of this community because of their shared love for all members of the animal kingdom. Many of our pet sitters care for pets locally, looking after nearby furry friends and enjoying the company of new pet pals. Lots also enjoy the time with new four-legged friends around the world, with pet sitting filling the pet-shaped hole that many long-term travelers are looking for. 

You’ve heard it from us, so now let’s turn to our sitters - real life pet lovers who are here simply because they love it.

“The most memorable aspect of my stay was undoubtedly the opportunity to connect deeply with so many cats.” - Julia, sitter.
“Best of all, we love the time we get to spend with pets. Before we started sitting we’d had to have our elderly cat put to sleep and the time around animals allowed us to process that and fill a hole in our lives.” - Jess and Tom, sitters.

“My favorite thing about pet sitting is the joy and companionship that comes from spending time with animals. Being able to care for and bond with different pets brings so much happiness to my life.” - Nina, sitter. 

“TrustedHousesitters has such a great sense of community and this is something that we didn’t take into consideration when we signed up, but we have formed some great friendships with all of our pet owners that we will always cherish.” - Eion and Aisling, sitters.

“We thought going into travel pet sitting that our favorite part would be traveling and seeing new places; while that’s obviously been incredible, we’ve actually most enjoyed meeting new people and their pets.” - Julie and Jake, sitters.

What is TrustedHousesitters like for pet parents?

So, what do real pet owners have to say? People who’ve connected with real-life sitters for themselves, and experienced the TrustedHousesitters platform, first-hand? Well luckily for pet owners new to TrustedHousesitters like you, there are thousands of external reviews on TrustPilot to read, and member stories to get stuck into. For a taste into what life is like for our pet parents and their furry friends, and to hear from our loving sitters (and just why they love taking care of pets), take a look below.

• “Not only was our home being looked after, but Hero was being loved and cared for by a genuine pet lover in her own environment.” -  John and Tatiana, owners.
• “I am beyond impressed with the care of my dog while I was away! From the start, it was clear that my sitter was not only professional but truly passionate about animals.” - Kirk, owner.
• “My heart was so happy to know they were safe, happy, loved and appreciated and I’m free to enjoy my travels.” - Barbara, pet parent.
• "Our first experience was with a couple from Ontario, Canada, and after that, we were sold” - Liza and Tom, owners.
• “I couldn't have been more satisfied because I had peace of mind knowing I could trust her to take care of my animal family and care for any house needs.” - Kay Non, owner.

How to connect with pet sitters

As pet-loving people move away from traditional pet care solutions like catteries and kennels that are less than second-rate, many are turning to pet sitters. And with nothing exchanged between sitters and pet parents but TLC for pets and a place to stay, we’re sure you’re wondering exactly how you go about connecting with an in-home, verified sitter of your own. 

Here are the simple steps you’ll need to take to find a pet sitter to suit you and your furry family members:

1. Choose your membership plan. Opt for the plan that feels right for you, and welcome as many sitters as you need at no extra cost.
2. Post your listing and receive applications. Tell sitters all about your home and pet needs on your listing, and watch the applications roll in.
3. Enjoy peace of mind. Connect with a sitter and rest assured your furry friend is being looked after by a true pet lover.

For more detail on how finding a sitter works with TrustedHousesitters, click below.

Can pet owners go house sitting?

Yes! Some of our pet-loving members not only have pets (and sitters) of their own, but they also go on house sitting adventures themselves. All possible with a Combined membership plan, some members even bring their own furry friends along with them - pet parents permitting, of course. 

So, if you’re a pet parent and house sitting sounds like your idea of a travel dream, take a look below to find out how it works.

Useful resources

• How to find a pet sitter for free
• Are pet sitters trustworthy?
• House sitting guidelines: pet parents edition