Why having references will help secure your dream sit (and how to get them)

Ever wondered what the external references section on your sitter profile is for? Well luckily for you, we’re diving into just that (as getting references is pretty important for your success as a sitter!). Adding references to your sitter profile is easy, and it’ll help pet parents feel more comfortable about welcoming you into their home, giving them the reassurance they need to let you look after their pets. So, what are external references, and how do you get them? Let’s take a look…

What is a TrustedHousesitters reference?

We’ll get into how to request a reference shortly, but first, let’s clear up the most important question - what is a TrustedHousesitters reference? Well it’s a character reference that pet parents looking for sitters can see on the front of your profile. It’s a chance for someone you know well to give a glowing description of you (all accurate and truthful, of course). And with at least three references displayed on your profile, pet parents are able to get a rounded idea of the sort of person you are, and whether they’re happy to welcome you into their home to care for their precious pet family. Along with a couple of paragraphs on you, your reference will also give you a star rating (out of five) for each of the following characteristics: organised, reliable, self-sufficient, tidy, and pet care.

Why are they called external references?

The references you’ll request for your TrustedHousesitters sitter profile can be from anyone who knows you well. While you can request references from pet parents, it’s especially important to have referees who know you as a person, and maybe have done for some years. Why? Well it’s all about increasing that trust between pet parents and you as a sitter. Reading a reference from people you’ve known for years from different aspects of your life helps to build a picture of you that pet parents can trust with their home and pets.

Where do my references live?

Along with the rest of your sitter information, your references sit on the front of your profile underneath your photos. They’re easily accessible for pet parents to read through as, if you’ve got them, they’re the first thing pet parents will get to read about you. And first impressions count!

Why references are important

• Success rate. Yup, it was no surprise to us when we crunched the numbers and found that sitters who have at least three references increase their chances of finding a sit by 20%!
• Trust. Before welcoming you into their home to care for their furry family members, pet parents need to get to know you and ultimately, trust you. By including at least three references, pet parents can learn about you as a person from the people who know you best.
• A fuller sitter profile. The more complete your profile, the more appealing you are to people looking for sitters. The more information they’ve got to go on, the more likely they are to choose you, so get requesting!

Who to ask

These are character references, so not all the people you ask need to be pet parents you’ve sat for before (although that does help, and we’d advise getting a few). Choose people who know you well from different aspects of your life. Consider asking a colleague, neighbour, a long-standing acquaintance in your local community, or somebody you’ve sat for. It’s always best to request character references from people you’ve known for a while, because as the name suggests, they need to be able to comment on your character - only something that longer-standing relationships can truly do well. 

Difference between references and reviews

These two may seem like one of the same, but they’re in fact quite different, and it’s important to try to get as many of both as possible. Let’s start with references - they’re requested externally (we’ll get to how shortly), and they’re a chance for people you know well to talk about your character - to shine a light on who you are as a person to give pet parents the reassurance they need to choose you. 

Now for reviews - these are internal to our TrustedHousesitters community only, and give pet parents you’ve sat for the chance to comment on the experience they had with you as a sitter. After completing a sit, you can request a review from the pet parents, which gives others viewing your profile the chance to find out what to expect from you, from the perspective of another pet parent.

How to request a reference

1. Log into your TrustedHousesitters account and select ‘My Profile’ from the menu that appears when you either click your name or the three lines on the top-right hand corner of the page (it varies depending on what device you’re using).
2. Scroll down to the ‘Your references' section, and you’ll find a button that says ‘Add’ - click on it, then type in the first name of the referee and click ‘Continue’.
3. Now choose how you want to send the all-important reference link to your referee - this is the link they’ll use to complete your reference. It’s vital that you don’t open it yourself, as it’ll expire and you’ll have to start again. Either copy the link into a message to your referee, or click ‘Email’, which will open a new email with the link inside it. This can then be forwarded to your referee to complete.
4. Once your referee has written a (glowing) character reference and filled out the star ratings, it’ll automatically appear on your profile for new pet parents to read.

House sitting abroad?

We’re so excited to hear you’re thinking about extending your adventures overseas! It takes patience and preparation, so here’s everything you need to know before preparing for your international house sit.