Cookies, local storage, and session storage
A cookie is a small file a site stores on your device and sends back on later visits. Two related technologies do similar jobs, and we use both:
- Local storage keeps information in your browser until it is cleared. Unlike a cookie, it isn't sent to our server with every request.
- Session storage keeps information only until you close the tab.
Most of what we store is in local or session storage rather than cookies, and almost all of it exists to remember what you were doing so the site behaves sensibly.
Essential: signing in and staying signed in
- __session — a secure, HTTP-only cookie that keeps you signed in. It is set when you log in and expires after about five days, or when you sign out. Block it and you cannot use an account.
- Firebase authentication storage — our sign-in provider stores tokens in browser storage under keys beginning
firebase:authUserso your session survives a page reload. - lhfs_auth_cache — a cached copy of your basic account details so the header can show your signed-in state immediately instead of flashing a logged-out menu.
Functional: remembering what you were doing
- selectedCategory and searchTerm — carry your category choice and search text from the homepage through to the listings page.
- listingBuilderDraft — saves an in-progress listing so you don't lose your work if you navigate away. Draft photos are held in your browser's IndexedDB under
lhfs-listing-builderuntil the listing is submitted. - littlehousesfs_anonymous_user_id — a random identifier used to count listing views without requiring an account. It isn't linked to your name or email.
- lhfs.lead-resource.checklist.* — remembers which boxes you ticked on our interactive checklists.
- lhfs:view-tracked and lhfs:impression:* — stop the same listing view or placement being counted repeatedly in one session.
Preferences: not showing you the same prompt twice
- lhfs_lead_magnet_submitted and lhfs_lead_magnet_dismissed_at — record that you already downloaded a guide, or dismissed the offer, so we stop asking.
- lhfs_lead_magnet_session_pages — counts pages viewed this session so a guide offer only appears after you've had a chance to read something.
- newsletterView:* — avoids counting the same newsletter box as seen more than once.
- cta-dismissed and lhfsPromoPillDismissed — keep dismissed banners dismissed.
- sidebar:state — remembers whether a collapsible sidebar was open.
Analytics
We use Google Analytics on the live site to understand which pages are useful. It sets cookies in the _ga and _ga_* family to distinguish visitors and sessions, and reports pages viewed, time on page, approximate location, and device and browser type.
You can opt out across all sites with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Advertising
We display advertising through Google AdSense and Ezoic. Those providers and their partners may set first- and third-party cookies, tags, beacons, and pixels to measure ad performance, limit how often you see the same ad, and personalise what you're shown. We don't control the cookies they set and can't list them individually, because they vary by advertiser.
- Turn off ad personalisation in Google's My Ad Center
- Use the industry opt-out tools at YourAdChoices and the Network Advertising Initiative
Campaign tags and attribution
Links to our site sometimes carry campaign parameters such as utm_source, utm_medium, and utm_campaign. These sit in the URL rather than in a cookie. If you then subscribe to the newsletter or request a guide, we store those tags with your signup so we know which campaign it came from. Removing them from the URL before you submit prevents that.
Other third parties
Embedded or linked services can set their own cookies when your browser contacts them:
- Google — sign-in, analytics, and advertising
- Cloudinary and BunnyCDN — image delivery
- Stripe — checkout and billing pages, including fraud prevention
- Social platforms — when you follow a share or profile link to Facebook, X, Pinterest, or LinkedIn
Each of those is governed by that company's own cookie and privacy policies.
How to control cookies and stored data
In your browser
Every major browser lets you see and delete cookies and site data, block third-party cookies, or clear everything when you close it. Look for privacy or site-data settings in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Clearing site data for littlehousesforsale.com removes every key listed on this page.
Blocking essential cookies will sign you out and prevent you from using an account. Clearing functional storage will lose saved drafts and dismissed prompts, and you may see offers again.
Do Not Track
Browsers send Do Not Track signals inconsistently and there is no agreed standard for honouring them, so we don't respond to them. Use the opt-outs above instead.
General background on cookies is available at allaboutcookies.org.
Changes to this policy
We'll update this page when we add or remove cookies and storage, and change the date at the top. For anything else about your data, see the privacy policy or the data deletion instructions.