Just curious - when we joined this platform almost 3 years ago, we’d get 6 responses within 24 hours, and most were great candidates. But this year, we’re struggling to get any responses, and they’re very slow to come, often taking weeks. I’m also seeing more of this: people apply, ghost my request for a call, and then withdraw. I feel like the platform is certainly losing its credibility.
I find that a lot of hosts are saying this. One of my repeats advertised when I wasnt available and no-one applied, normally has lots of applicants. It appears that THS has a lot more hosts than sitters now , I believe due to mass advertising. Since they now charge booking fees a lot of sitters are sitting off site especially for repeats and quite a few has left THS.
We’re hearing this a lot lately, tbh. It’s projected that various conditions are at play: wars/global instability, increases to cost of living/travel, political situation in the US is suppressing international tourism to the country, booking fees have driven sitters off the site and/or curtailed applications for short sits, & increases to subscription fees have led to a loss of the more “casual” or occasional users. I also believe THS marketing focus has perhaps led to an increase in new pet owners on site, which hasn’t been matched by an increase in new sitters, so more competition…but I have zero data on that as THS doesn’t publish numbers.
As an aside, I’ve viewed your listing & think your home & pets look amazing, and have favorited it for future as I’d love to visit the area some time. While my schedule is often very flexible, unfortunately your upcoming dates won’t work for me this time around. 
Fingers crossed though that you get someone; I’d think many would jump on it, so hopefully it will work out & you’ll find someone spectacular! 
There are more house sits available, more choice for house sitters, which means that House owners have to make their listings better to invite people to apply.
I find that all the super nice ones that are listed go quite quickly, the less desirable ones will take days to weeks and the ones that are slave labour dressed as a perfect getaway are the ones that barely get any applications.
This is all over the Facebook group too. I think some sitters have left over the booking fees, and lots are sitting off platform now.
Despite current issues with sitting in the USA border control etc I’ve favourited your listing as it seems nice.
I also viewed your sit in relation to another thread and Luna and Tito are my kind of pets. Would apply in a heartbeat if you weren’t in the US. I know there are plenty not travelling to the states but it does suprise that there are not more US sitters. Maybe THS should start advertising amongst retirees in the US, for sitters, not just hosts.
I agree, looks like a great sit. I wonder if hurricane season in Florida puts some off a sit near the beach. I have also favorited it and will be in Florida in January. Good luck!
I absolutely agree! We live In Bend, Oregon - a very popular spot - and have been active for the past four years. Never failed to get a great sitter. Right now, we have a sit open for the end of this month and have zero applications. Our reviews are very high, are two dogs are chill, and our home is lovely. I don’t get it.
Hi @bkas, sorry to hear that. I believe Oregon is very beautiful.
Out of interest were your previous sitters from the States or from overseas?
I’m fascinated by the name ‘Bend’ which I’d never heard of before I joined THS but see very many sits listed for this location, why is it such a great place, just curious really?
Hmm none of that appeals to me… so I’m still curious. The food carts is an ‘odd’ attraction…as is the Blockbuster store. I’m mystified.
I’m not outdoorsy, but it’s beautiful and many folks like natural beauty. Very relaxing. It’s about three hours from us and we go for long weekends sometimes. Nice place to hang out with our dog.
Oregon is known for food cart culture — all types of cuisines in casual beer garden-type settings. People often bring their dogs. That goes with Oregon’s relaxed attitude when it comes to hanging out.
The Blockbuster is a nostalgic oddity. It was the precursor to Netflix, with stores nationwide.
BTW, one of the easiest, quickest ways to check out a place is with Google image search. Takes maybe five seconds. Like if I’m road tripping and wonder whether to stop somewhere I’m unfamiliar with, if the Google images suck, it’s an automatic pass for me. By contrast, if the photos look compelling, then I probably will do further searching.
I’d love to return to Bend, I stayed there 4 years ago for a few short days and determined to return as it looked fabulous. I see there are a lot of sits listed and I’ve favourited some of them as well as saving a search with dates.
If sitters don’t to go to Bend then other locations must be struggling even more. As others have said, the ratio of hosts to sitters has changed as a result of marketing so that are now proportionately fewer sitters. The sit fees haven’t helped either, they certainly pushed me towards more repeats, more referrals and more off platform sits.
@BonnyinBrighton, Bend OR is a really lovely spot. Natural beauty. Nice communities. Attractive properties. Ample places to walk dogs. A few years ago, we completed multiple housesits in that area. Happy days. Were we considering US listings - which we are not, and don’t expect to anytime soon - then we’d return to that area.
@bkas, welcome to THS Forum. Sorry to hear about challenges. There have been a steady stream of similar threads on THS Forum over recent whiles - encourage use magnifying glass ‘search’ function at top screen to find prior threads. More broadly, low applicants is often a great catalyst to refresh your listing - photos, amenities, text, even terms (willing offer arrive early/leave late, use car) - to target domestic housesitters. Good luck!
Hey there! I have your listing as a favorite as well. I’m shocked you aren’t getting applicants! I live in FL as well but on the Gulf side and I only apply to local ones that are dreamy to me or I would apply for ones like yours that are on the beach!! Your dates don’t work for me this time. I’ve only done the Ocean side once as it’s a 3 hour drive which isn’t bad but when not local, I have to go on my own and over a week is a bit long away from my husband! He gets lonely! Ha! We want to do this more once we fully retire so now it’s dependent on our schedules. Try not to get discouraged!
Yes, many attractive homes in Bend. It’s also out of the way, about three hours from the bigger city of Portland. There aren’t many great paying jobs in Bend, so people tend to retire there with money (often from more expensive places, like California), or maybe work remotely. The median cost of a home there ($700k+ USD) tends to make it unaffordable for many folks, especially because prices shot up during the pandemic.
Food carts are a huge part of PNW culture, particularly Oregon. It’s a great way to meet with friends without having to agree on cuisine 
or worry about splitting the bill.