Hi folks, I’ve learned a lot here and am hoping for guidance from the gurus. I am a THS sitter using the site for the first time as an HO. I’m not having much success getting applications. I wonder if anyone has advice, or if it’s just unlikely that anyone would be interested regardless of how it’s presented.
Possible issues:
The sit is for 2 months. Should I post it as multiple shorter sits? I say in the listing that it could be split but I understand that the logistics of this might be complicated and possibly deter sitters.
My location is not well known. It is “close to” semi-major cities (Philadelphia (40 minutes), Wilmington DE (20 minutes), and Kennett Square, PA (10 minutes)) but maybe no one wants that. I am offering my car, so sitters are not trapped!
My cat is geriatric and recently had an infection (she is recovering fine, thank you!). She is very low effort except some outside of box pooping, which sometimes requires 10 minutes per day of cleaning up. Is this too gross for sitters?
My cat is a Sphynx, maybe people think hairless cats are freaks?
The good:
My large house is very WFH friendly.
The neighborhood is pastoral and full of birds, plus foxes and flying squirrels (these are harder to see).
I am okay with families and with sitters bringing a dog.
My cat is a sweetheart who will make a sitter feel loved.
The details:
(Listing has been added to member’s Forum profile by the Forum team as per the posting guidelines)
I have read your listing and I think it is great. I can’t think of anything you can improve. Your cat’s needs are what they are and you are honest about them, which is great.
If I were not booked for that period, I would probably apply. Drakosha looks cute and sounds very loving and the tone of your listing is perfect.
As you too say, there are concerns from a sitter point of view. I will be open of my thoughts to try to help:
As a pet-owner, I think about what surfaces could be affected and the state of the home in general in regard to clean, having a cat with health issues. I say that having had a pet that sprayed inside and not really being able to clean textiles and such. I tried to limit this somewhat with limiting the rooms the pet had access to.
It is a concern that I as a sitter might be responsible for cleaning the home for a handover back to owner, after two months of diarrhea.
It is a concern that it is an older pet and possible health issues and possibly passing away and responsibilities in that regard.
It is a concern that something might happen to the pet and possible consequences of the sit falling through, leaving a sitter without accommodation after having had travel expences, maybe travelling quite far/ expensive.
Possible things to think about:
Say more of what surfaces can be affected. Only hard floors?
Is pet only in some rooms of the home?
Could you offer a cleaner - either during sit or at least for end cleaning? I think that would take a lot of weight off shoulders as that is probably a big issue.
I would say something about health/ vet/ possible end of life. Like - there is an account set up at the vet for emergencies, and we have considered end of life-situation and this will be described in the Welcome Guide.
You might consider whether the sit will be cancelled if something happens with the pet, or say that you will honor the agreement if something happens to the cat, and either way say something about it. The long sits are attractive to experienced sitters/ nomads, so for them it would probably be major to have a sit that might fall through last minute.
Having a sphynx is for me a treat and a lovely opportunity for a beautiful and special cat, so I wouldn’t worry about that.
It would help you if you changed your main/first photo. It is the THE most important photo, and that one photo makes a sitter decide whether to glance at your other photos and text or not. Your first photo is your red room with sofa, but every house we sit in typically has a nice sofa… you need to stand out more. Sitters are much more likely to read more or glance at your other photos if they see a good exterior or cute pets as your main/first photo, and your exterior is amazing so I would use that one.
I think it looks lovely. You’ve done a great job of explaining her situation, and your fear that someone might mistreat her (the thought of it breaks my heart ).
I think it’s super-generous of you to offer your car. As someone who does not have a car, it would be helpful to know where the nearest airport/bus/train station is, and how I would get to your house from there, or if you would be willing to pick us up.
The thing that might put older or less able sitters off would be the climb to the third floor. You might want to think of the possibility of letting the sitters stay in your bedroom (on the 2nd floor, I presume) instead.
My husband would be absolutely jumping up and down with joy to sit for your Sphinx cat if we were in the US currently.
And having a two month sit for many sitters as a positive but I suppose you could offer to try to break it up for more flexibility.
You do sound like you are everything that a sitter could want, and I love the red Living Room PS because I saw somebody mention that maybe it shouldn’t be your first photo-- It may just be that you are in a less desirable area quite frankly. But maybe breaking up the sit might be The thing that gets you more applications. Best of luck to you
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