Some helpful advice to new hosts on platform etiquette. If you receive a great application letter, clear comms to connect, have a nice long video call, they offer to sit, and you then say for your parting shot as the call closes “We have other interviews for this particular sit and will make our decision by the end of the week”, please don’t be surprised if your sitter (who has 50+ 5 star reviews unlike your good selves) then cancels their application. Even when you live in a rare and highly desirable location. This then leads you to rapidly offer them the sit but the damage is done. This is an unpaid mutual exchange and not a job interview process! #dontlookagifthorse
@Cuttlefish Am I right in thinking you’ve just had this experience?? Definitely their loss if you have. 
Good advice.
We sort of did the reverse as sitters recently, however.
We applied, had a video chat that went very well and they offered us the sit on the spot. We asked if we could answer them in a couple of days as we had to see if we could line up the dates with another sit who had flexible dates.
I guess, unlike hosts, we “throw our hat in the ring” to see if we’ll even get offered the sit but not always 100% certain it will be a match and sometimes want to talk it over privately before accepting, not to embarrass the host. There are sometimes things we hear during the conversation we have to mull over (example; dog will bark at all the backyard animals or anyone approaching the yard and doesn’t stop unless you pick him up). We have to weigh the pros and cons of such a sit.
Would you consider this bad form?
We also once were offered a sit during the video call, and accepted. Then the confirmation never came. Two days later we got an auto message “sorry you weren’t selected this time” - what? Very confused, and somewhat insulted, I stewed over that for days…and then a MUCH much better sit came along and we were so grateful the first one didn’t confirm us! Ha.
Good advice.
I had a video chat a long time ago like that. The first-time hosts said I seemed great, but they thought it polite to talk with other applicants. Then they were disappointed when I was no longer available, said I would be great for repeat sits. But I’d already moved on.
Shrug, live and learn. There were/are plenty of sits in their location, and even if not, I don’t have must-have locations for sitting. If I really wanted to go somewhere, I would’ve already been there long ago, without sitting.
No I don’t think that’s bad form if no one has made a decision or you’re all mutually open. This whole call was full of confirming details, arrival times, plans the night before, logistics, all laid out. No more questions required and they were sitters themselves so know the drill that side. It would have been far better if they’d said “we’ll just have a quick chat & let you know in an hour”. It was the lordy “we have other interviews over the next few days” and “we will make our decision by the end of the week and let you know”. I’ll tell you what, we’ll make it for you 
As an aside, we squeeze each others knees during the call if it’s “off” in some way. We both feel better for having walked away. #somethingwasoff
I mean, I did exactly as you said with my first sit and got a great, highly experienced and rated sitter. OK, not exactly - I think I didn’t say the word interview because I’d been reading the forum, and it was 3 days not a week and I might have said it at the beginning of the chat, but overall this is how it went.
On a later sit I did lose out on a sitter who seemed awesome because I was speaking to too many applicants. I still ended up with a fab sitter, but the experience did make me adjust how I approach the process.
I was browsing sits in an area we are interested in travelling to and saw a listing that stated something along the lines of “I like to interview several applicants before making a decision”. At least this saves people the trouble of applying!
I understand if hosts may want to speak to multiple applicants if they feel more than one could potentially work for them–I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. In particular, while a sitter may have already decided they will definitely do the sit if all goes well, hosts really do not know that prior to connecting.
However, they should do their best to make this process as short as possible–stretching it out over days is not the ideal way to go about it.
I would likely not withdraw, however I would not wait for them if I saw another sit I liked. I can only recall two instances over the years where we reached the stage of a call and were not chosen for the sit.–these sits were many years ago. So I usually feel pretty good with our chances. And in my experience, we almost always get an answer the same day, usually within a few hours.
Sometimes this prolonged process could be the result of the various sitters’ availability, rather than theirs. In this instance, if the host connects with a great sitter that seems like a good match–who also was quick to schedule a call-- and they tell you they would want to do the sit, they would be smart to lock them in. They should not feel like they are obligated to talk to the rest of the sitters.
I get sitters feeling frustrated though. I think one of the main issues is that the type of information that each side needs to share to determine if it is a match–specifics regarding arrival times, etc…-- naturally makes the conversation sound like it is a done deal and the chat is more of a formality.
Also I think hosts and sitters are in different head spaces, and they may not realize how things work on the sitters’ end. For example, a host whose sit is months away may not think taking a few days to decide is an issue, not realizing how many sitters plan farther ahead and how waiting on an answer for one sit can delay the process of applying for other ones.
@Cuttlefish, yep we’ve been there too.
A few times, we’ve found that newbie professional pet parents appear to start the process with a pre-determined project plan … we’ll shortlist applicants per criteria … then have calls with X, Y and Z … then we’ll choose. Good luck with that!
Often we don’t think that they’re trying to be rude, rather simply misunderstand process (marketing, ugh). But there is unquestionably a portion have employer-mindset (can’t conceive someone saying ‘no’) … withdraw application.
Last time, we politely told pet parent that we understood their position (totally their choice), but that we had concurrent conversations (true) and would let them know if we confirmed another housesit. Could visually see the penny drop. Huh. We all learn.
I agree with some of this but the hosts were sitters themselves plus it’s a remote island three continents away and we’d already compromised for them on arriving very early morning; taking care of an early wake up animal; them, them not wanting to host us despite saying they had a spare room ?! and a couple of other things. In hindsight we were probably more out out because we’d bent for them and then they delivered the punchline. #youliveandlearn
I suspect this too. It’s the same as some hosts seem to think they need to wait for 5 application to start reviewing. Just yesterday I have withdrawn an application after the host finally reached out offering a call for a sit we applied like 10 days ago (first application they have received). Left it unopened for several days, then waited some more till they got 5 applicants, then finally reached out.
In 10 days sooo any things can change for a sitter…
I agree with @GotYourBack that new hosts who don’t fully understand the process, or who are perhaps not yet confident in their own decision making, may prefer to talk to more than one sitter.
However, when an experienced host states up front in their listing that they like to interview several applicants, this strikes me as indicative of an employer mindset and a perceived power imbalance. This means we are not a match.
We have over 100 reviews, but actually disagree. I find it totally reasonable that owners want to talk to multiple people, after all they confide you their home and beloved pet.
We’ve had a few interviews of 45+ minutes where the owners afterwards said they had a few more lined up, but didn’t consider it bad form.
In most of the cases, we get the sit, but even if we don’t, we’ll be disappointed but will never think it was bad form. After all, owners just want what they feel suits best for their pets.
Don’t have any issue with someone else getting the sit or talking to multiple people. Have an issue with being led along as if it’s confirmed and then dangling a carrot 
for several days as if it’s only their decision to make. #differentstrokes
Omg this just happened recently! I have so much experience and only 5-stars with 50+ sits (plus separately I get paid to do pet sits) and they wanted to put me through a week wait and interview process. I just cancelled. Seriously, it’s not a job interview if there’s no money where I am waiting for a week for you to decide! I am a rare breed hehe and that’s not being arrogant. My reviews are all glowing and some are ten star in the comments. I have earned my stripes and always deliver and delight.
However, I totally accept they can do what they want. I just rarely hang around for that. I receive so many great opportunities and the job interview vibe just puts me off from the joy of the exchange.
Why not just leave the application there, so what if they don’t get back to you for a week it doesn’t prevent you from applying elsewhere and most homeowners consider the video chat to be the “interview process” it’s nothing more than is usually done anyway. In other words, by cancelling you lose an opportunity for a sit and don’t really gain anything whereas if you just let things sit you don’t lose at all.
I totally get it. I guess for me, and I respect everyone’s feelings for themselves is that I do this because it’s fun. The moment it’s like a job, the fun goes away for me. I got another opportunity that I prefer. It always works out. You are right though… if you really want it, definitely wait!
Well said.
I think that is a bit presumptuous to assume that something they are specifically looking for in a sitter was not clearly gathered from your online video conversation. Im a top rated sitter and If someone isn’t immediately accepting my offer to sit after a video, that does not ruffle my feathers. There could have been something you said that made them think you might not enjoy their home or animal, let’s say you mention your allergies and the sit is with three cats. Or you say you are a clean freak and they are insecure about the cleanliness of their home, or you mention you love to cook and they do not eat at home often so they are not really set up for someone who cooks daily. Who knows, it could be anything. They could be saving you from things that might disappoint you. On the other hand, you could have said something offensive or come across in a manner that rubbed them the wrong way. I would not put too much stock in someone turning you down if you have such fabulous high ratings. Obviously you wotn have a hard time finding your next sit. I would be more open minded and just go with the flow.
They didn’t turn us down. They offered us the sit. Totally fine with being turned down, not okay with being messed about. Absolutely agree that good sits need to be the right feel from both sides which is what we explained to them when we declined it. The conversation was great, they were sitters too so knew the drill, no off moments that gave pause. All the good stuff which you can read 5 years into full time sitting. It was simply poor handling of the decline/accept of the sit so it no longer felt like a balanced relationship. I have a job and I don’t work for a THS host. #yousnoozeyoulose