References - House Sitting

Life is busy! I am a bit behind with this page… to see all our up to date references, please visit our TrustedHousesitters profile!. Thank you! I will update this page as soon as I can.

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The following are a mixture of references left for us on our profile on Trusted House Sitters, our Facebook page, or sent to us privately. To protect the privacy of our hosts, we do not provide links to contact them directly, however we are sure any of them would be happy to provide you with a reference privately if you would like us to pass on your details to them.

On our Gallery page and Facebook page (House & Pet Sitters) you can see pictures of us interacting with the animals mentioned in the references.

Anna & Mat, Munich, Germany (July – August 2016)
Seven

We are currently looking after Bear in Munich. Reference will come in due time!

Daria, Milan, Italy (July 2016)
Seven

“It was my first experience with house sitting and I must confess I was a little bit worried. After meeting Maria and Mark I just wonder why I didn’t use this service before, instead of bothering family and friends! We meet via Skype to settle the respective requests and rules where clear on both side since the beginning: it was my first house sitting so they help me think about the information I was supposed to provide as well as the information should be important to know as house owner.

My cat just felt in love as soon as he saw them. Usually he is shy and frightened with strangers but Maria and Mark won him over in few minutes. During their stay they sent me whatsups and photos to update me on the cat or other issues related to the house. He is spoiled (i.e. he wants to eat dry food just from people hands!) and they manged him perfectly. When I came back the cat was just fine, maybe I little be bored I was back! The house was actually clean and tidy : better than when I left.

Maria and Mark are trustworthy people and I would recommend them to anyone.”

Aine, Dublin, Ireland (June – July 2016)
Seven

“Maria and Mark were an absolute dream as a petsitters to my cat Ava. They are super organised and I felt confident that all would go well right from the first Skype call. They take great care before the sit to ensure they have as much information as possible about the pet and the home and that does make a big difference. I was away for a month and I never worried once about Ava (the cat – who I adore!) because Maria sent warm whatsapp messages and photos that tole me Ava was ‘happy as larry’! without me! They kept her entertained with toys and games and managed to wean her off her addiction to ‘treats’ without her even noticing. Maria and Mark are extremely knowledgeable about cats and were able to work with Ava’s quirky personality.

In terms of the the house I can honestly say that it is in cleaner now than when I left it (and I thought I was house proud!). I spent a day with Maria and Mark on my return and it is clear that they absolutely treat the pet and the house as if their own – in the very best sense. They lavish love on both and it is really lovely to see. When I came home Ava was still referring to Maria and you could see the bond that had built up between them. They are gems, I feel lucky they visited and furious that the Irish weather will probably put them off ever coming back again! Because I’d have them back in the morning (please, please!!).”

Antje & Robert, Wuppertal, Germany (June 2016)
Seven

“WOW! Maria and Mark really made a great job!! This was our first time we got the opportunity to get a house sitter of this Website(*) and we were really more than happy. Both of them weren’t faced with the easiest location here in the woods, and the weather was simply terrible here for most of the time – anyhow we knew from the very beginning, that we made the right choice to get Maria& Mark to look after our Cats, Fishes, Chinchillas and all the other creatures around the house here. The first Skypecall a while before our holidays confirmed that the “chemistry” would definitely work for us – from both sides.

All the preparations they did before the arrival, assured us that we would´t forget anything to explain how things work here – as our house is really old (build 1833 in the middle of a forest) there were a lot of little things and tweaks to be explained.

Really everything worked out perfectly – sure we borrowed them our car – got it back with full fuel tank – they looked as well after our plants – even in the greenhouse, they survived thunderstorms and permanent rain for nearly two weeks, and even informed us online about all detail going on here. This all made us feel totally secure and calm about our cats and all the rest – SIMPLY THANK YOU Mark& Maria!!! Hopefully we get the opportunity to see you soon – regardless where – we would really like to book you for our next holiday if possible and promise to organize better weather :))”

Jo & Sue, London, UK (May 2016)
Gerrard

“Maria and Mark looked after our four cats in May 2016. We were kept regularly updated with how things were going and received lots of videos, pictures and messages which was great as one of our cats was ill at the time and needed medication.

They brought their own cat toys to entertain our cats, and were obviously real cat lovers. Our house was clean and tidy when we returned and it was a pleasure to come back. All the cats were chilled and not especially bothered at our return which means that they had a great time when we were away.

Really professional service and lovely people. Thank you Maria and Mark, we would definitely recommend them and hope to have them to stay again.”

Eva & Mark, Epsom, UK (April 2016)
Oakley

“Maria and Mark have been great pet sitters. They looked after our cat Oakley for a week whilst we were on a much needed holiday. Oakley was so happy and content when we got back. House was clean and Maria and Mark bought us some fresh bread, milk and eggs when we got back. They even left a toy that Oakley enjoyed playing with.

Maria would regularly send updates and photos of Oakley which was a lovely thing to get. It really helps to have reliable people looking after your home and your pets when you are away. We would love to have Maria and Mark back and would not hesitate to recommend them to our friends.”

Hannah & Dominic, Battle, UK (March 2016)
Poppy

“This was our first experience using Trusted Housesitters and it’s hard to believe we could have chosen better sitters than Maria and Mark to look after our home and cat.

They were extremely professional, informative, warm and reassuring and put our minds completely at rest by sending regular photos and messages during our time away. They made a big fuss of our cat Poppy, showing her genuine love and attention – she was clearly very taken with them. On our return the house was immaculate and they had even made us a delicious meal.

We would not hesitate to recommend them extremely highly and we would love to have them back again.”

Gemma & Simon, Staffordshire, UK (Jan – Feb 2016)
Fergus

“From the outset Mark and Maria have been a pleasure to deal with and we would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone. We have five cats which is quite a handful for anyone, but they went above and beyond to look after our little ones and made sure they were happy, settled and stimulated with play whilst we were away for six weeks.

We came back to a clean and well cared for house, with our cats all very happy. In fact, our most nervous boy Fergus has completely changed in personality – before he was timid and clingy, and now he comes for fussing, is playful and even likes to sunbathe on the patio which was unheard of before! It’s clear Maria has spent many hours giving him the confidence boost he needed and we are so grateful.

We also have another cat who needs medication every few days and this was handled brilliantly too. They kept good communication with us at all times, and sent updates with photos whilst we were away which was great for our peace of mind. Having never had house-sitters before, we had obvious reservations, but if you are considering Mark and Maria then relax, because your home and your cats are in very safe hands. Highly recommended and wouldn’t hesitate to have them back again – so thankful for their efforts.”

Poppy & Andy, Brussels, Belgium (December 2015)
Monkey

“Maria and Mark were the perfect house (and cat) sitters. We were kept updated regularly throughout their two week stay in our home with messages and pictures of our cat, Lily. They entertained Lily and even bought and made several toys for her to play with. When we got home the apartment was immaculately clean with fresh sheets on the bed and fresh flowers on the dining table. Maria even cooked us some dinner and left it in the fridge for us, as we arrived home late. Maria and Mark were highly communicative and very organised. Our home and cat were treated with the highest respect and we will not hesitate to use them again, should the opportunity arise.”

Terri, Luxembourg (December 2015)
Monkey

“Maria & Mark looked after my apartment and cat for a long weekend in December. There was a lot of communication from both sides before and I feel like I really got to know them. They treated my apartment with the utmost respect, spoilt my cat and even watered my plants. They even stripped the bed, washing the sheets and towels before they left. They kept me constantly updated throughout the weekend away. My apartment was immaculate upon my return. Maria even messaged me to say her hairdryer was broken and asked to borrow mine. In reality, she could have just taken it and I would not have noticed, but this demonstrates the level of respect that they have. I wish them all the best for their future trips.”

Suzane & Richard, Reigate, UK (October-November 2015)
Fox snoozing in the garden

“Our first time using Trusted House Sitters and we cannot have found a more wonderful couple to look after our home than Mark & Maria. They went above and beyond what we had anticipated and could not have been more reliable, trustworthy or friendly. Our home was in even better shape when we got back than when we left. A home-cooked meal in the fridge and a new pot plant as well….. absolutely brilliant. Can’t recommend them highly enough…. would definitely hope to have them back again in the future.”

Sue & David, Marbella, Spain (September 2015)
Smudge and Indie

“Maria & Mark sat for our 2 very timid cats, Smudge & Indie, for a month. It was the first time we had used house sitters and we were concerned how the older cat, Smudge, would cope with having 2 strangers in the house. The first few days he stayed in the safety of the wardrobe but he gradually appeared and accepted them, to the point of totally ignoring us when we came home!!

Maria sent us regular updates and photos to put our minds at rest as we could see how happy they both were. Maria also looked after all my plants and they were still alive when we came home!! We can highly recommend them both to house/cat/plant sit & we would happily use them again.”

Geert & Maryse, Ghent, Belgium (July-August 2015)
Bafana, Pafuri, Mukiwa

“Maria and Mark were wonderful cat sitters! They did not only take care of our 3 furry boys, they also gave them lots of love and joy by playing and “talking” with them. We did get updates with pictures and they made us feel even more relaxed on our holiday. They took care of the little issues our cats had without worrying us and just solved it with our vet.

From the first minute we met, we felt that Mark and Maria would be ideal for our cats and house. And those expectations were even exceeded. The house was perfectly cleaned and cared for as well, the garden was trimmed, the fridge was fully stocked and there were even flowers to welcome us back home!

We can only recommend Mark and Maria for the periods we ourselves are not on holiday, as we hope they always want to come back to cat sit for us :-). They are such responsible, lovely and caring people that we feel they were not just cat sitters but good friends doing everything in their possibilities (and I can assure you that is lots!) to make our cats and us happy.

A million thanks for all you did Maria and Mark. We hope to see you soon! And the cats very much too!”

Amanda & Graham, Cambridge, UK (June 2015)
Jimmy, Lucy and Kali

“We would like to highly recommend Mark and Maria as house and cat sitters. We left our 3 cats in very safe, capable and loving hands. Lucy is 20 and needs attention. Jimmy had an injury needing antibiotics and Kali is a very affectionate and demanding oriental! All of their needs were met with no fuss but such care. We really were able to rest on our long awaited holiday. Maria updated us with appropriate assurances. We returned to very happy cats and a wonderfully kept home … it looked better than when I left it! Maria even prepared a meal for us . We are very grateful for a wonderful first housesitting experience. Thank you Mark and Maria.”

Sue, Arezzo, Italy (May-June 2015)
Anna

“Mark and Maria took great care of my 17-year old blind, and very special, little girl named Anna. They were supposed to watch 2 cats, but Kati, Anna’s sister, had gotten sick and I had to have her put to sleep while Mark and Maria were there. She had been sick for 6 weeks, and everything was uncertain, but Mark and Maria arrived anyway and were willing to take care of her should she get well enough for me to travel. That being said, I was reluctant to leave Anna since the two girls had been together almost 17 years. However, Anna was well taken care of by my trusty pet sitters. I received pictures and texts almost on a daily basis. She was pampered just the way she expects! Everything at the house was in good shape and we had no problems. They are very trustworthy people and I would recommend them without hesitation.”

Charlotte & Aurélien, Paris, France (April-May 2015)
Virus & Pacha

“Mark and Maria looked after our home and 2 cats in Paris for 10 days. They followed all our instructions satisfactorily and kept in regular contact, sending us news and keeping us informed of how things were going at home. They also made the effort to communicate in French to make it easier for us. They took very good care of our pets too. One of them had a little health concern, what seemed like an eye infection, and they looked after him very well, regularly cleaning the discharge and giving him eye drops that they purchased for him. We found them to be efficient and trustworthy and would strongly recommend them to our friends and family.”

Felicity & Markus, Geneva, Switzerland (April 2015)
Babyone, Podae & Fatpuss

“Maria and Mark looked after my three cats at very short notice. They were terrific, and even managed to win over the one cat who is very scared of strangers… within a day he was purring and smooching like best friends. Maria sent lots of pix on whatsapp which I loved, because it helped me see how relaxed and happy the boys were. A highly recommended couple to look after your pets if you want to be relaxed and happy while you are away as well”

Sue, Sydney, Australia (April 2015)
Chickpea, Archie & Teasie

“Maria and Mark are excellent pet sitters, they really love animals and go the extra mile to look after your pets, as I discovered when they took care of my three rabbits. Maria noticed that the baby rabbit, Chickpea had a problem with his foot and took him off to the vet and then administered antibiotics to him.
They also sent some super cute pics of the rabbits and sent regular email updates. They are extremely reliable and conscientious and were very thoughtful in providing a cooked meal for our first night back and freshly made beds. Am happy to recommend them… And know the rabbits would happily have them back”

Rachael & Gary, Singapore (Dec 2014 & Jan 2015)
Thomas & Sachi

“Maria and Mark looked after our home and 2 cats in Singapore over the Christmas and New Year period in 2014. After an initial meeting with Maria and Mark, we were quickly comfortable that we had found the right fit. Clearly animal lovers, our cats were very comfortable with them! We were extremely happy to receive very regular updates on how things were going, including lots of great pictures of the cats. They took special care to ensure that the house was well taken care of, and the extra touches like sending us photos of the mail that arrived was greatly appreciated. It was very clear that the cats were comfortable with Maria and Mark and they even spoiled them with a new toy they can’t stop playing with!I would have no hesitation in recommending Maria and Mark to anyone looking for friendly, professional and reliable house sitters. We certainly hope to have them back in future! We really appreciate everything Maria and Mark did to look after our precious cats and making our time away stress free! Thank you!”

Hamima & Zhafran, Bangkok, Thailand (December 2014)
Stitch

“We were so happy with Maria and Mark that we had to call them to sit for our babies again. The second time was for 2 weeks in December 2014. This sit was longer than the first time and they are already familiar with Dora. They got to meet our new kitten, Stitch for the first time and got along really well too. We were very touched to find some framed photos of our babies, a thank you note and a DIY toy for the cats when we got home. They are excellent house and pet sitters and we would love to have them back again.”

Fiona & Paul, Bangkok, Thailand (November 2014)
Kayfa

“Maria and Mark are two of the nicest people you could want to look after your pet and house. They are so easy to get along with and are very genuine. My cat warmed to them immediately and was looked after so well while I was away (pampered even!). As this was my first time using a house/pet sitter, my mind was put at ease when Maria sent me photos of my fur-baby happily hanging out with them on the couch! Being away for nine days, it was also good to receive photos of my mail in case anything was urgent. They looked after my home as if it was their own, keeping it clean and tidy. Respectful and friendly, I would love them to housesit again if they are available. If you want a reliable, caring couple to take care of your house/pet, I would highly recommend choosing Maria and Mark.”

Hamima & Zhafran, Bangkok, Thailand (October 2014)
Dora

“Maria and Mark are the first professional house and pet sitters we have engaged to look after our apartment in Bangkok and our precious cat, Dora, while we were away for a few days in October 2014. They were precisely that – professional. They were also very reassuring, understanding, responsible, meticulous, clean and tidy. When we were away, they would send photos and videos of Dora to assure us that she was in good hands. They left the house cleaner than it was originally. Our doors are always open for them and we highly recommend them to take good care of your house and pet babies if they happen to be in your area.”

Pam & Ton, Brisbane, Australia (Aug – Sep 2014)
Snuffie

“We had the privilege of spending a short time with Mark and Maria before their 4 week care of our property. We have a large home & swimming pool and they kept both in very good order. They loved an abundance of Aussie wildlife as we did not have pets. We would recommend them as great carers of a home (and we know pets) to anyone around the world. They are very sociable & lovers of their lifestyle. If required in the future we would not hesitate to invite them back to Brisbane.”

Annie, Brisbane, Australia (June – July 2014)
Snuffie

“Mark and Maria looked after our place for 2 months, with two horses, a cat, and a variety of wildlife. The fact that they didn’t have any experience with horses didn’t prevent them from doing a great job – preparing their porridge twice a day, brushing them down and cleaning their hooves, plus a pyjama party every night and a weekly poop patrol on their big field. Our kitty took to them immediately and was happy and content on our return; it was clear she had been pretty spoiled with daily cuddles, brushing, play time, and a weekly portion of steamed fish. Our wildlife was cared for beautifully as well; we have a big variety of birds, a group of wallabies and 2 possums visiting daily for food and fresh water and it was great to find a couple as passionate about wildlife as we are to care for them all during our absence.

They kept in contact regularly, sending us beautiful pictures of all the animals, and we were able to enjoy our holiday, relaxed in the knowledge they had everything under control. They used our car during their stay and returned it cleaner than we had left it! They dropped us off and picked us up from the airport at insanely unsociable hours, left the house immaculately clean, and cooked us a meal for our return. Nothing was too much trouble. We wouldn’t hesitate to ask them again, they will be a hard act to follow!”

Ian & Sarah, Auckland, New Zealand (May 2014)
Bates

“Maria and Mark looked after our house and cat while we were away for 3 weeks. The place was kept very tidy and our cat was kept very happy. Very thoughtful to have cooked us dinner on our return after a long flight. Great communication throughout the house-sit process made it easy and comforting for us, knowing our pet and house would be in safe hands. Highly recommended if you’re after a reliable, considerate and confident couple.”

Greg & Jane, Auckland, New Zealand (April 2014)
Ollie

“Maria and Mark looked after our house, dog (Ollie), chickens and cattle for 25 days whilst we went overseas. They did an amazing job. Maria sent us photos of Ollie and kept us very informed about things happening at home. They were very professional and looked after our home as if it were their own. They went beyond expectations by providing us with a meal the night before we left and also upon our return. The house was left in an excellent condition. We have no hesitation in highly recommending them as both pet and house sitters.”

Margaret Rawiri, Branch Manager, Tauranga, New Zealand (Jan 2013 – Mar 2014)
SPCA Tauranga

“Maria & Mark volunteered their time to the Tauranga Branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 15 months in 2013/2014. During this time they were exceptionally reliable and worked at the Shelter rain or shine without fail. They are very hard working and they supplied a very high standard of care for all of the SPCA animals; they clearly have an affinity towards animals and their welfare.”

Katie, Leeds, England (2008)
Ratties

“Maria took Harry and Larry (my pet rats) home with her and looked after them when I was admitted to hospital for an operation. Being an unusual pet (and one that makes most people want to run for the hills), I was particularly worried about who would take care of my furry babies in my absence, but she rose to the occasion beautifully. My boys were returned to me happy and healthy. I have no hesitation in recommending Maria and her husband to watch over your pets – they are genuinely caring people who will look after your pets’ comfort and wellbeing whilst in their charge, so you can go away knowing they are in good hands!”