Trusted Housesitters Review From Pro Sitters + A Discount Code
Looking for a truthful Trusted Housesitters review? Wondering if the membership is worth it?
Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve completed over 25 sits total.
In 2023 we completed 15 sits, meaning we spent 53% of our year on sits and the other 47% in our camper van. We wouldn’t be surprised if 2024 looks very similar.
With our extensive experience, we know we can give you an honest Trusted Housesitters review, helping you figure out if the membership is the right fit for you.
Spoiler Alert: We’re big fans of Trusted Housesitters!
But that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone and we’re here to provide you with some perspective so you can make up your own mind.
An honest review of Trusted Housesitters.
Never heard of Trusted Housesitters?
Now before we go and tell you what we think and feel about Trusted Housesitters, let’s take a look at what this pet and house-sitting platform is.
Trusted Housesitters, or THS for short, operates on a membership-based model, linking homeowners with travelers ready to offer pet and house-sitting services in return for free accommodation.
You can transform your travel with Trusted Housesitters! Affordable membership opens doors to unique adventures with adorable animals in beautiful homes.
Here’s a video from THS themselves explaining the platform. However, if you’re here seeking the inside scoop, chances are you might already know about some of this.
Thinking about joining THS but haven’t made up your mind?
No problem! It’s awesome that you’re thinking about turning your love for animals into an economical way to travel and experience the world.
Before you commit, a bit of research can be super helpful. Stick with us here as we, two seasoned house-sitters, share insights to guide you in deciding if a pet-filled travel adventure through Trusted Housesitters is your kind of thing!
Our Trusted Housesitters review is trustworthy.
We joined Trusted Housesitters back in 2019 and loved it so much that we decided to rent out our condo in Toronto and split our time between pet sitting and traveling in our campervan.
Who are ‘we’ exactly?
We’re Donna and Karen, two women in our forties, loving life together as we work and travel in our converted campervan from pet-sit to pet-sit with our 10-pound rescue chihuahua mix, Dewey.
As of January 2024, we will have completed over 25 sits across North America – 10 just us humans and over 15 with Dewey.
Yes, you can even house-sit with your pet! We’ll tell you more about that later.
We’re experienced sitters, ready to share practical tips from our adventures!
Before we go any further, we just want to make it clear that this way of traveling is not for everyone, but if you love animals and travel, then it’s worth checking out.
We go by the name “Nomadic Strays” because we chose to stray away from what many consider a ‘typical’ or ‘normal’ way of life. Ditching the 9-5, we’ve discovered our own path through life with pet sitting and our trusty camper van. It’s what works for us!
And since it works for us and thousands of others, we know that house and pet sitting can effortlessly align with various life and travel styles out there, including yours!
We’re here to provide you with an honest Trusted Housesitters review.
This article covers aspects of house and pet sitting that you may not have considered, emphasizing the responsibility involved in booking and completing a sit.
Whether you’re seeking answers or insights, our comprehensive Trusted Housesitters review has got you covered.
Trusted Housesitters is a mutually beneficial exchange.
We think Trusted Housesitters is a win-win-win mutually beneficial arrangement for travelers, homeowners, and their pets.
By paying an annual fee, both pet parents and sitters can connect with one another through a large global database and through an easy to use app or using your computer browser.
Pet sitters win using Trusted Housesitters.
Pet and house sitting through THS is a great alternative to paying for a hotel or Vrbo-type home rental.
With a membership, pet sitters can use the app or website to apply to stay in someone’s home while they’re away.
Instead of paying for a place to stay, you agree to care for their pets, tend to plants, put out the garbage, collect mail, and look after the home – just like you would at your place, but in a different location and with adorable pets!
There are homeowners from more than 100 countries, so with a Trusted Housesitters membership, you could see the world and not pay for accommodations.
Members can click on the numbers to zoom in and discover opportunities in each location.
As a member you can click on any number and get a closer look at the opportunities in different areas.
As experienced sitters, we believe the annual membership fee is money well spent because we can book unlimited sits all year. Imagine having trips lined up and securing sits for all of them; that’s significant savings on accommodation expenses!
Here are a few ways we’ve used Trusted Housesitters as sitters:
Homeowners win using Trusted Housesitters.
Firstly and maybe most importantly, their pets enjoy the comfort of home. This gives homeowners peace of mind knowing their furry family members are well cared for. Plus, they save a bundle by avoiding expensive boarding and kennel fees.
A Trusted Housesitters membership means access to trustworthy sitters throughout the year.
Like us! You can experience the joy of being a relaxed and happy pet parent or become super sitters!
Check out some of the reviews we’ve received from delighted homeowners:
So even if you’re going away for the weekend, on a week-long vacation, or planning to be out of the country for months or even a year, you could open your home to possible sitters who want to give your pets love while you’re gone.
And you aren’t limited to being just one or the other. For a small additional cost, home and pet owners can also be pet sitters. This is a win-win-win situation!
There’s another winner – the pets!
They get to stay in their familiar surroundings, stick to their routine, and maintain a sense of normalcy even when their humans are away.
So does this make it a win-win-win-win situation?
Trusted Housesitters isn’t just about travel; it’s about prioritizing pets. When humans leave, it’s already a stressful time with packed luggage, chaotic human activities, and shoes scattered everywhere!
Many pets, like dogs and cats, may not enjoy kennels, and some families may not have nearby care options for animals like chickens, horses, hamsters, and birds.
With Trusted Housesitters, animals get to stay in the comfort of their home, maintaining their familiar routine, reducing the added stress of relocation. It’s not just a service; it’s a commitment to the well-being of pets.
As sitters we try and give the pets in our care all the love in the world while their humans are gone and selfishly, we do it because we love it.
Prepare for cuteness in this Trusted Housesitters commercial! Watch as two guinea pigs express love for their sitters and the THS platform. Definitely worth the a watch!
So you’re probably thinking, ‘Sounds great, but what’s the catch?‘.
And well, we’re here to tell you that there isn’t one, or at least we don’t think so.
But there are things you may want to consider and know about so you can make an informed decision on whether a Trusted Housesitters membership is right for you.
For instance, are you good with paying an annual membership fee? Keep reading this Trusted Housesitters review for a breakdown of the membership fees.
A review of the cost of a Trusted Housesitters membership.
We think investing in a Trusted Housesitters membership is not only cost-effective but also incredibly valuable.
With Trusted Housesitters, you get a whole year of membership benefits for the price of or even less than a single night in hotels, Vrbo rentals, motels, RV rentals, or campsites.
In our opinion, it’s a great deal that gives you access to cost-effective pet-sitting and travel opportunities, making it a worthwhile investment.
Three Tiers and Three Categories of Memberships to Choose From
While the three levels of membership – Basic, Standard, Premium – vary in price and what they include, all offer unlimited house sits worldwide.
There are also three categories of membership. You can sign up for Trusted Housesitters with a Sitter membership, a Pet Parent membership, or a Combined membership.
Trusted Housesitters Prices
Sitter Membership Prices
Sitter Membership Prices
With choices catering to different preferences, there’s a membership type that suits every sitter’s needs and budget.
Basic Sitter: For $129 USD per year, you get access to unlimited house sits listed on the worldwide platform.
Standard Sitter: For $169 USD per year, you get access to unlimited house sits listed on the worldwide platform plus free video calls and online chats with vets when pet sitting, instant alerts for unlimited saved searches, dedicated member support, and accident and third party liability protection.
Premium Sitter: At $259 USD per year, you get all of the above plus this membership provides sit cancelation insurance as well as two global airport lounge passes and a premium badge on your profile.
Pet Parents Membership Prices
Pet Parent Membership Prices
Here are the different pricing options for homeowners on Trusted Housesitters. All great options and worth every dollar.
Basic Pet Parent: For $129 USD per year, you get access to unlimited pet & home care from verified sitters.
Standard Pet Parent: For $199 USD per year, you get access to unlimited pet & home care from verified sitters. You’ll also get home & contents protection, a money-back guarantee, free video calls with vets, anytime you need, and dedicated member support, to boost your listing in search results, and to see who saves your listing.
Premium Parent: At $259 USD per year, you get all of the above plus two global airport lounge passes, sit cancellation protection, and a premium badge on your listing.
Combined Membership Prices
Combined Membership Prices
Pet owners can save money on high pet boarding costs and share love with other people’s pets by opting for a combined membership.
Basic Combined: For $189 per year, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. By combining the Sitter and Pet Parent Basic membership you get worry-free care whenever you’re away, plus access to unlimited global sits.
Standard Combined: For $229 USD per year, combining the Standard Sitter and Pet Parent memberships gives you access to everything outlined in both memberships above, including unlimited house sits. This includes finding your perfect sitter quickly or getting your money back. And also enjoying the protection benefits as both a pet parent and a sitter.
Premium Combined: At $319 per year, you get everything included in the Standard Combined membership plus you can travel stress-free with airport lounge passes and enjoy sit cancellation and pet care protection.
FYI – Prices listed are in USD and are subject to change!
We will attempt to keep these prices up to date, but here is where you can find the most up-to-date prices posted on the TrustedHousesitters website.
While you have the option to pay annually or monthly, it’s important to note that your membership is on an annual basis.
At first glance, Trusted Housesitters’ pricing might seem like a big lump sum to pay all at once but think of it as an investment in your future adventures that pays off big time.
Which Trusted Housesitters membership do we have?
Keeping it simple, we’ve chosen the Basic Sitter Membership. This membership doesn’t include any extra perks, but we don’t need those at the moment. Currently, all we need is access to the wide range of pet-sitting opportunities.
Trusted Housesitters not only helps us stick to our van life budget by cutting down on accommodation costs during travel but also provides the opportunity to form meaningful connections with people and pets, adding a ton of memorable experiences to our nomadic lifestyle.
If we ever change our travel approach, like fly to a sit destination, we’d happily upgrade our membership to Premium. This is because a Premium membership adds an extra layer of peace of mind at a reasonable added rate.
Keep reading this Trusted Housesitters review to uncover a few pros and cons of signing up for this platform where you can secure free rent in exchange for pet care.
A few pros and cons of using Trusted Housesitters.
Whether you love to travel or have a furry friend at home, you’re going to want to know about some of the advantages and disadvantages of a Trusted Housesitters membership.
There are many pros of using Trusted Housesitters.
Here are just a few advantages of a THS membership that you may not have considered.
Quality time spent with precious pets.
Trusted Housesitters offers a unique opportunity for sitters to spend quality time with pets, giving them love and companionship during their owners’ absence.
Research shows that spending time with pets is not only rewarding for the animals but also provides positive effects on the sitter and homeowner, bringing joy and comfort to everyone involved.
The platform opens doors to an enriching experience, where forming bonds with pets becomes a source of joy and well-being.
Save money on accommodations.
Comparable to the cozy feeling of a Vrbo rental, house and pet sitting allows you to enjoy the comforts of a home without the cost of owning or renting one.
With an annual membership cost often less than a single night’s rental, you maximize your travel budget and gain flexibility to book multiple sits throughout the year.
We’re currently on a 2 week sit in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. We’re steps from a beautiful beach with stunning views, staying in a 3-bedroom home.
Comparing the cost of a Trusted Housesitters membership to renting a similar home on Vrbo in this area, it’s evident that at $139/night, just one or two nights could surpass or equal the membership fee.
And to seal the deal, the pet sit home we’re enjoying offers additional perks like more rooms, bathrooms, access to a car, and the exclusivity of a private residence.
Remember, for a detailed rundown of all the pros and cons, check out our blog Trusted Housesitters: Pros and Cons.
Trying to cover everything here would be overwhelming, so take a look at this detailed blog to learn more about the platform’s strengths and weaknesses.
Diverse and luxurious accommodations worldwide.
As a global platform with homeowners in 130 countries, THS opens doors to a variety of stays, from beautiful homes overlooking the water, to historic downtown mansions, to farms with lots of land and animals, to homes, apartments, and condos in big cities, there’s a little bit of everything out there!
Our personal experience includes stays at many stunning homes, boasting luxuries like waterfront property, rooftop decks, pools, hot tubs, farm animals, and views all nestled in upscale neighborhoods.
Unique opportunities and unforgettable experiences are a real thing with Trusted Housesitters.
Unlimited sits all the year.
In 2023 alone, we completed 15 sits, taking us from the Redwood forest area of Oakland, California, to the breathtaking landscapes of Vancouver, British Columbia.
As a sitter, you can indulge in unlimited sits, embracing as many cuddly pet-sitting experiences as you can book throughout the year. It really doesn’t get much better than that!
The excitement extends to pet and homeowners who can welcome as many sitters as needed throughout the year.
The beauty of this approach is not just in the unlimited opportunities but also in the shared savings and connections that make this a budget-friendly travel adventure.
Make friends everywhere you go.
With Trusted Housesitters, you’re not just pet-sitting; you’re creating human connections that add a wonderful dimension to your travel experience.
Beyond the interactions with pets, many sitters and homeowners become good friends, creating bonds that last well beyond the length of a sit.
Our own experience attests to this, as we remain in touch with many families we’ve sat for, turning some relationships into great friendships. This means that wherever our nomadic journey takes us, we know we have friendly faces and reliable contacts in certain towns, making our van life travels feel even more like home.
After caring for Oli’s two pugs for six weeks, we became good friends. Now, we support her MNSTR Skate Initiative – a mental health management project for skaters. We join her events whenever we can. Thanks to Trusted Housesitters, we started as strangers and gained a lasting friendships.
A few cons of using Trusted Housesitters
Now that we’ve talked about the good stuff, let’s be honest about some challenges that come with a Trusted Housesitters membership.
There’s lots of competition for housesits.
Securing a housesit on Trusted Housesitters can be tough due to the high number of sitters.
Drawing from our experience, we’ve been rejected for various reasons, like having a dog, the preferences of the homeowners, or the timing of other applicants.
Despite these occasional setbacks, our success rate stands at over 90% booking rate, showcasing the potential of this membership.
When you see a sit you like, you have to act fast as a sitter!
Homeowners entertain a maximum of 5 applicants at a time, closing access after that. To make room for new interest, a pet parent must accept or reject from the initial 5.
In the above example, you can see that the first sit has two sets of dates that they need sitters for and have 3 and 4 applicants respectively.
While the example below the sit says ‘reviewing applicants’, which means they received their maximum of 5 applicants.
We suggesting that rather than viewing the competition as a drawback, see it as a chance to stand out.
We’re currently working on some blogs to help you set up your profile so it stands out and write epic applications so you get noticed!
Not all sits are luxurious, or even clean!
While there are many stunning houses to sit, cleanliness standards can vary.
We stay proactive and avoid applying for sits without pet pictures and clear pictures of the inside of the house, the bathroom in particular. We’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a house by its bathrooms!
It’s also important to do a video chat before confirming a sit bookings. This will give you a chance to see the house, meet the pets, and even get a virtual tour of the home.
Check homeowner reviews for insights on a home’s cleanliness. Fellow sitters offer helpful details.
Out of the 25 sits we’ve done, only one was below our standards for cleanliness.
In our personal experience, most Airbnbs have been dirtier than the sits we’ve completed. We’ve even refused to pay for cleaning fees and have requested refunds at some of our house rental bookings.
While not every place may be spotless, approaching these situations with an open mind has led us to unexpected joys and unique life lessons.
Sits can be canceled, even last minute!
Since the possibility of sits being canceled exists, being adaptable and prepared allows you to handle any last-minute changes seamlessly.
Opting for a Premium membership provides an additional layer of security through compensation in case of cancellations, offering some peace of mind.
We’ve had two cancellations. During one pet sit in California with adorable chihuahua mixes, the homeowner’s sudden change in travel plans due to bad weather on the first day caught us off guard, and led to the sit being cancelled.
Fortunately, as vanlifers, we had our camper van with us, providing a convenient solution. This is just one of the many benefits of pet sitting for free rent as vanlifers.
Although it meant taking time to repack everything we had just unpacked and having to replan the week, having the van made the situation much less stressful.
For those without a van, sit cancelation insurance can be a valuable reason to upgrade your THS membership level, especially when traveling without a home on wheels.
It’s always important to consider flight cancellation insurance.
We encountered another cancellation involving flights, but our insurance made changing them easy. Proactively managing insurance is always a smart move.
But this can happen to a rental house booking too. Cancellations happen!
Once, our Airbnb canceled mid-stay, asking us to leave. We’ve also heard of house rental stays being canceled due to double bookings on different booking sites. While the Trusted Housesitters platform makes double-booking impossible.
It’s a good reminder to be prepared for the unexpected!
Pet and house sitting comes with significant responsibilities.
House-sitting means taking on big responsibilities. It’s crucial to have the time and flexibility to meet the needs of the homeowners. Communication with the pet parent is key to ensuring a good fit for everyone involved.
Choose sits that align with your plans or organize your adventures around caring for a pet. For instance, include pets in day trips or errands, turning your responsibilities into enjoyable experiences for all.
Cats, being more independent, allow for longer day trips, while other low-maintenance animals like rabbits or reptiles offer diverse options.
For those seeking a more adventurous experience, farm sits provide opportunities to care for horses, sheep, chickens, and even donkeys.
Besides pet care, responsibilities extend to household tasks such as watering plants, collecting mail, taking out the trash, and handling unexpected situations like the plumbing issue we dealt with in a recent sit.
While it’s not your home, undertaking a pet and house sit entails a substantial commitment to ensure the well-being of both pets and the property.
Emotional farewells can be emotionally draining!
Packing up and leaving pets you’ve formed strong bonds with over weeks can be a heart-wrenching experience. Their quirky antics, funny faces, and adorable personalities truly paw at your heart, making it incredibly hard to leave.
Despite the inevitable tears shed every time we leave a sit, these emotional moments lead to conversations about all the fun we had with the animals. All of the memories, along with the numerous photos and videos captured, allow us to reflect on the special moments shared with our extended pet family.
Though goodbyes are always tough, the prospect of potential repeat sits keeps us optimistic about future connections.
So as you move forward with your pet sitting journey, remember to embrace the positives, prepare for the challenges, and get ready to create memories that go beyond the ordinary.
Here’s our Trusted Housesitters review in a nutshell.
Trusted Housesitters stands out as a remarkable choice for pet sitters, and we give it a perfect 5/5 rating. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It goes beyond offering affordable travel and furry companionship; it enriches our lives and saves money on our travels.
For us, a Trusted Housesitters membership is a fantastic way to explore the world affordably, connect with various animals, make new friends, and discover hidden gems and destinations we might have missed otherwise. All while working and growing our own businesses.
It’s added such a positive spin to our nomadic lifestyle!
Whether you’re seeking a brief getaway, an extended sojourn, or a prolonged escape, Trusted Housesitters offers the ideal avenue for your house-sitting or pet-sitting needs.
As you can see from this Trusted Housesitters review, we wholeheartedly endorse this platform and are immensely grateful for the experiences it has brought into our lives.
And it’s not just us sitters who love this platform – every pet parent we’ve helped has praised Trusted Housesitters for giving them peace of mind. The platform is great at building trust and creating a community that benefits both sitters and homeowners.
We’ve said it before, and can’t say it enough, Trusted Housesitters is a win-win-win that adds immense value to our travel experiences.
So is Trusted Housesitters the right fit for you?
We trust our detailed review of Trusted Housesitters has helped you figure out if it’s the right choice for your next trip or adventures!
We think it’s vital to ensure that the responsibilities and expectations that come with pet and house sitting align with your character and capabilities.
If you’re still uncertain, consider asking yourself these questions:
We love sharing a positive Trusted Housesitters review with strangers, often highlighting the joy pet-sitting brings to our lives, the great connections we form with pet owners, and the amazing adventures that are available worldwide.
Pet sitting through Trusted Housesitters has been a rewarding experience for us. If you want to find out how to sign up, keep scrolling!
How to sign up for Trusted Housesitters with our link to get 25% OFF.
We love making things easier, and that means making sure you know how to sign up and use the discount code that Trusted Housesitters offers!
Did we miss anything in this Trusted Housesitters review?
We’re here to share our firsthand experience with THS!
Check out our helpful blog Trusted Housesitters: Pros and Cons to learn more about the good and the not-so-good aspects you may not be thinking of.
You can also send any questions via email at hello@thenomadicstrays, and we’ll gladly answer questions and share insights.
The Wrap-Up: Our Honest Trusted Housesitters Review
This is how we see it: becoming a Trusted Housesitter member connects us to a global community of pet lovers ready to share their homes for our awesome pet and house care.
If you’re looking for an incredibly affordable way to explore the world while taking care of somebody’s beloved animals and home, Trusted Housesitters might be for you.
This membership is guaranteed to pay off in more ways than one!
House and pet sitting is an amazing way to travel around and make new furry friends while saving money, especially if you’re living in a camper van like us.
With our Trusted Housesitters review in mind, we highly recommend that you give it a try – it could be the best decision you ever make!
Read more about the Trusted Housesitters discount code here.
