House Sitters America
House Sitters America Overview
The aggregated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
House Sitters America has 2.4 star rating based on 11 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied.
- Rating Distribution
Pros: Attractiveness of websites, Free service, Good web site.
Cons: Hire thieves, Lack of telephonic communication, No accountability.Recent recommendations regarding this business are as follows: "Use common sense and advance planning", "Be cautious how you tell someone why you didn't pick them", "DONT LET PATRICIA O'FLYNN NEAR YOUR HOUSE OR PETS.", "This company can apparently be trusted.".
The aggregated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
House Sitters America has 2.4 star rating based on 11 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied.
- Rating Distribution
Pros: Attractiveness of websites, Free service, Good web site.
Cons: Hire thieves, Lack of telephonic communication, No accountability.Recent recommendations regarding this business are as follows: "Use common sense and advance planning", "Be cautious how you tell someone why you didn't pick them", "DONT LET PATRICIA O'FLYNN NEAR YOUR HOUSE OR PETS.", "This company can apparently be trusted.".
Review authors value the most Diversity of Products or Services and Website. Consumers are not pleased with Discounts and Special Offers and Customer service. The price level of this organization is medium according to consumer reviews.
Media from reviews
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer
Excellent service from home/pet-owner's perspective
We've used the service a few times, inviting sitters (unpaid) to stay in our home with our dogs. We contacted potential sitters on the website, and we were able to communicate with full transparency, exchanging phone & email addresses and links.
We did our own vetting of house sitters via email, phone, and video calls, and we contacted references as well. Everyone was happy all around.
The sitters enjoyed a free stay in a desirable location, and we had peace of mind knowing all was well at the house. Zero complaints from us, but I do advise people using the service to use judgment and common sense in setting up with a house sitter.
- Free service
- Good web site
- Requires thorough advance planning and open communication
Preferred solution: Nothing, just posting a positive review.
User's recommendation: Use common sense and advance planning
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer
Harassment and Advocating for Unsuitable Clients
I was bombarded with information from a potential house sitter, named "Thomas", who just overwhelmingly sent me his resume, credit score, reviews (which were obviously made up) without even a chance for me to talk to him first. It was just too aggressive, so I told him "I think you oversold yourself" and I was investigated and suspended after they determined I had been rude and uncooperative. foudn I was "rude" to him.
- Wide range of candidates
- Attractiveness of websites
- Unqualified in conflict resolution
- Lack of telephonic communication
Preferred solution: Apology
User's recommendation: Be cautious how you tell someone why you didn't pick them
AVOID
The pictures provided were just a random sample of what we took.
Next morning and during the whole day she sequestered herself claiming she was ill, when we offered to take her to the clinic and get meds she refused.
The night before our leaving we had to drag her out of the room to move her car and to listen to what was needed from her to do while we were on vacation. She moved her car, asked us if we had the manual written, we told her we had and were waiting for her the past two days to shadow us to care for our pets and house, she didn't want to listen to anything, asked us to leave the manual available so she could go back to bed. Next morning before we left, we woke her up, told her we have been waiting with our neighbors so they could meet her and help her if she needed, she said she was still feeling sick so she needed to go and for us not to worry.
(She had never cared for fish, cats and birds) and that is what we have here. Needless to say it was a nightmare trying to get her to answer texts.
She left 2 days before we arrived, find out she lost one of our cats, she trashed our home, missing items that didn't make sense were gone, our neighbors told us they found our cat and brought it home and she was not available. Our Pets were not cared for, our entire house was in complete disarray!, furniture moved, items moved from one floor to another, wine and vodka bottles were found, (we do not drink), new top stove placed 2 days before she arrived was stained and badly scratched, red salsa was spilled from our fridge to the counters to the cabinets to the floor, bathrooms were trashed, dirty gloves with black hair dye were found in one bathroom floor staining it and black dye was spilled onto our clear oak trim staining it forever, same with our new comforter, as she took the liberty to use our bedroom, the red comforter was splatter with all sizes of black spots, ruining completely and if all these is not enough, she made sure she snooped through every closet, cabinet, container down to the smallest trinket box and was obvious about it. She even opened and inoperable over that was wired shut! breaking the wire in the process, ripped the optical cable out of the back of the TV.
This woman is a monster!. All we wanted from the House Sitters of America was to remove her from their system so nobody else had to go through this, but is has been a wasted of time.
Two weeks later due to damage she had created that we were not aware of, our living room ceiling collapsed. After much back and forth with House Sitters of America they finally decided to put 'an official warning in her file' and if they had another complaint they will remove her from their service.
Now we noticed she has updated her profile to include experience with cats, fish and birds. By the way the picture she has there must be an old one because when you look at her you would not want her in your home, but for us it was too late.
She came as blond and she obviously left a brunette (as per her hair dye she left all over our bathroom and bathroom shower). She then had the audacity to contact us, the first time via email, demanding a 100 percent positive endorsement and using a veiled threat she would report us for animal neglect. (The only neglect we have ever had was leaving them with this monster!), the second time on Dec 13 2019, via certified letter.
This time she was demanding our negative report to House Sitters of America to be removed and to give her 100 percent positive endorsement or she would sue us for defamation of character. House Sitters of America response to all these, they stick by their "warning in her file" (where nobody else can see) and 'they are sorry we are having this issue'.
So Be Aware that this Free Service can cost you thousands as it has done us !.
- No accountability
- No proper background checks
- No way of knowing who you are getting
Preferred solution: Restitution, Reviews Enabled, Remove 'Cid Rode'
Omg…as a pet sitter that was considering using this service, maybe I should stay away. I’m so sorry, this happened to you. We are not all cut from the same cloth.
Replying to
TERRIBLE HOUSESITTER PATRICIA O'FLYNN
PATRICIA O'FLYNN STOLE FROM US, SHE STOLE MONEY AND JEWELERY AND OTHER THINGS. I WILL NEVER TRUST THIS PLACE EVER AGAIN.
SHE LEFT A LOT OF *** ON OUR COMPUTER WHICH SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TOUCHED AND OUR POOR DOG MUST HAVE BEEN TREATED SO BADLY HE WAS STILL SHAKING A WEEK AFTER WE GOT HOME.
SHE IS ONE SICK INDIVIDUAL. DO NOT USE THIS PLACE YOU MIGHT GET THIS SICKO.
- Hire thieves
- Hire thieves
Preferred solution: IF YOU HAVE THIS THIEF STILL ON YOUR BOOKS GET RID OF HER, THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND WHO USED YOUR SERVICES FROM THIS THIEF. DO NOT BOTHER PHONE OR EMAIL. REVIEWS ARE GOING ALL OVER THE WEB.
User's recommendation: DONT LET PATRICIA O'FLYNN NEAR YOUR HOUSE OR PETS.
Homosassa, Florida
Refund of erroneous charge.
A spurious charge was made to my account, under another name and address (other than my own). House Sitters America ultimately and courteously issued a credit for this charge. Correspondence with real people, a satisfactory resolution of a real problem.
User's recommendation: This company can apparently be trusted.
Exemplary response to a problem.
An erroneous charge to my account was just reversed by House Keepers after a brief E-mail exchange. It is refreshing to encounter such forthcoming, courteous response to correcting such a problem. June, 2020
- Honest response to a problem
- Prompt
Preferred solution: Nothing required
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Awful Sitter Experience
Pet sitter, after several phone calls to clarify expectations, was more interested in vacationing than pet sitting. Sitter accused me of stealing something of hers as I left my home, she accused my dog of having fleas though she had just been to the vet and groomer and is on flea preventative, and worst of all stopped communication with me for five days.
I had no idea how my dog was doing until I had a friend call and speak with the sitter. My dog lost weight and house was not left as the sitter found it. I have never left a bad review for any business before, but I don’t want another person to go through what I did.
Housesitters of America would not let me leave a bad review for this particular sitter. They only accept endorsements.
Wow…As a pet/house sitter I am mortified. They should allow bad reviews and terminate sitters like that. I’m so sorry.
Plymouth, Minnesota
I suggested my daughter who is an experienced pet sittered sign up to be a sitter she paid fee
She applied to 3 homes and never got a reply. Is this company a total SCAM?
The most amazing vacation
Why does this site have a negative prompt asking me if I reported my experience back to the Housesitter people? We all had a great time, housesitters, owners, pets.
We all made new friends.
This was a few years ago however we still email. We will also get together in a few weeks.
We've had a similar experience--good care, good experience, new friends. We planned far in advance and did our own vetting of sitters. So far it's been great.
No way to let others know about bad sitters.
We needed a sitter and we had so many responses from sitters right away, exchanged emails, met in person, etc. There is no way to warn others about these sitters. They know our address, and who knows what psycho and those who has nothing to lose can do to us.
We carefully went though their profiles and started to contact persons who we thought was best match.
They were liers and simply homeless and/or has huge debts needing money. One guy had great profile, good response until we started asking questions which he had to reveal the truth. He was a psycho. Other guy was super nice when we met in person, but as soon as he found out he cant get what he wanted, he revealed true himself. He thinks dog outside in 100 degree is not an issue. One guy's age on profile was a huge lie (30 yo was mid 40's). One lady just simply cancelled on the day SHE WANTED to meet us. Some people ask for money. Some people said they have great references and committed to do the house sit, until we actually asked for the references.
The whole experience was such a waste of time and stressful.
We just decided to go with neighbor's friend by paying reasonable amount of $.
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
Supposedly they are going to fix this next year 2020, but meanwhile we had a sitter trash our entire house, lose one of our pets, either steal or throw out a bunch of our property. House sitters response; they will put a negative warning in her file, (that nobody else will see) and if they have any other complaints they will remove her, (she still there).
No-Show, Dishonest Sitter
I don't recommend this site because they don't allow homeowners to post negative reviews. The sitter "Ellen" sounded great on her profile, phone calls, and emails.
She was a nightmare. She postponed her arrival by two days. She harassed my neighbor by phone, expecting my neighbor to care for my dog until she got there. She then lied to me and claimed I'd told her the neighbor would be a back up.
I was 2000 miles away and had to have a friend go into my place and remove my dog because this sitter kept pushing back her arrival date, finally by two days. When I told her that I had made other arrangements and that she should not come, would have no way to get in, etc., she sent a nasty text. I contacted service, all by email. They said she denied everything and gave her a warning.
I suggested they allow negative reviews and resonses by both parties (as most online services do).
The customer service people seemed naive and didn't seem to get it...that this person put my dog's life at risk. Thank goodness I found out and was able to make other arrangements.
I am considering signing on with the service as a sitter. There are bad apples in every batch.
Just wondering your thoughts, from my view point, what do I need to look for? Thanks!
Unable to leave review for dishonest sitter
Hired a pet sitter through this site who left 20 days early, stole cash and supplies from home and dumped my cat in boarding. I had to cut my trip short and pay airline fees and boarding costs.
Web site doesnt allow negative reviews. Sitter naturally denied my account therefore gets a warning and will only be taken off site if another person complains.
As there is no reason for me to lie and Im the one who absorbed all the cost and worry this is inadequate. Beware, you could get a sitter that steals and wouldn't know it unless you're the second complaint!
I am considering signing on with the service as a sitter. There are bad apples in every batch.
Just wondering your thoughts, from my view point, what do I need to look for? Thanks!
Palm Coast, Florida
BEWARE OF SITTER REVIEWS!!!
Multiple attempts to have my review posted remain unsuccessful. Sitters still have the final word on which reviews are posted to their profile, thereby rendering the company's review system dangerously flawed and biased in favor of sitters. Homeowners seeking sitters have NO IDEA that all negative reviews are screened and rejected by sitters, rendering reviews untrustworthy.
We stumbled upon the house sitting service website, did our due diligence and found what we believed was a lovely couple to house/pet sit during our month-long trip. While they took great care of our felines, unfortunately the sitters left our home in a disastrous state with many items ruined, stained and non-repairable.
But even worse than that is that the site permits their registered SITTERS dictate what reviews are and are not posted on their profile, which is why every review on the site is positive, which in turn gives homeowners a false sense of security when hiring a sitter via the site.
I have had multiple email conversations with the company regarding our experience and my strong desire to post a fair and honest review to no avail. Suffice to say, the review system is seriously flawed and completely untrustworthy.
Preferred solution: The right to post a fair and HONEST review
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You can’t be serious. That almost says Red Flag to me.