How to Get Your First House Sit (Even With No Reviews)

Your first house sit is the hardest to get because you don't have any reviews yet. Once you earn that first five-star review, getting accepted becomes much easier. Here's the strategy I used to go from zero reviews to consistently getting accepted for sits.

I got my first house sit with zero reviews by stacking the odds in my favor instead of competing where everyone else applies.

1. Build a Profile That Removes the Guesswork

Homeowners aren't looking for the most interesting applicant. They're looking for the least risky choice. Your profile and your application messages should do the same job: make it easy for someone to feel confident leaving their home and pets with a total stranger.

Avoid long travel manifestos about your bucket list or life philosophy. For a deep dive into writing a complete, standout profile, read my full profile tips article.

2. Invest the Time Upfront: Get References and Start Local

Before you apply anywhere, it's worth spending a little time building real credibility. Reach out to three people who know you well, like past employers, neighbors, or friends who've trusted you with their pets or home, and ask them to leave you a reference. A profile with strong, specific references reads very differently to a homeowner than a blank one.

If you're not in a rush to travel, consider completing a few sits close to home first. Local homeowners are often more comfortable choosing someone who can meet in person before the sit, you're not competing with every long-distance traveler for those listings.

3. Start with Cats and Short Stays

Cats are usually much easier to care for, and fewer things can go wrong. Homeowners are generally more comfortable trusting a new sitter with a three-day cat sit than a three-week assignment caring for multiple dogs.

Why short stays work for beginners:

• Lower risk for the homeowner (less commitment)
• Easier for you to manage as a first-timer
• Faster path to getting that crucial first review
• Less competitive than long-term sits

4. Choose High-Demand, Low-Competition Locations

This is one of the most underrated strategies for getting your first sit.

• Off-Season Cities: I happened to be in Austin, Texas for a work project during the middle of summer. It was brutally hot, competition was low and homeowners had fewer applicants while many locals escaped to cooler destinations. The timing worked in my favor.
• Less Famous Areas: Target local suburbs or smaller cities where fewer applicants are competing.
• Peak Travel Windows: Apply for sits during major holidays when many homeowners are looking for help at the same time, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or summer vacation season.

5. Be Flexible with Dates

One of your biggest advantages as a new sitter is flexibility. If you can adjust your schedule to fit what the homeowner needs, mention it:

• "I'm flexible with arrival and departure times."
• "I'm happy to arrive a day early for a detailed handover."
• "I'm happy to extend if your plans change."

This removes friction and shows you're easy to work with.

6. Apply Early and Often

New listings receive the most attention. Turn on alerts and apply as soon as a suitable sit is posted. Since many TrustedHousesitters listings stop accepting applications after receiving five, applying quickly gives you the best chance of being seen. Once you have your profile and message template ready, you can use AI to apply quickly to competitive sits.

Don't be discouraged by rejections. Even experienced sitters get rejected regularly. Read my article on why applications get rejected to understand the factors, many of which are completely outside your control. Keep applying to the right types of sits: short, less competitive, and off-season.

7. Get Your Review, Don't Just Hope for It

This might be the most important step of all. As soon as you finish a sit, write an honest, thoughtful review for the homeowner. In many cases, they'll return the favor.

If some time passes and nothing shows up, and you know the sit went well, don't hesitate to follow up. Homeowners have just returned from their trip and are settling back into daily life, it's easy for writing a review to slip their mind. It's rarely personal.

TrustedHousesitters has a built-in Request Review feature for exactly this situation. Or, if you built a good relationship with the homeowner during the sit, send a short, friendly message such as:

The Snowball Effect

Here's what changes after your first sit:

• You have a verified five-star review.
• You can reference real house-sitting experience in future applications.
• Homeowners can see that someone else trusted you with their home and pets.

After a few sits, you'll notice the dynamics begin to shift. You're no longer competing as someone with no track record, and you'll be a much stronger candidate for longer stays and more popular destinations.