I found a “new” listing fo a sit 3 months from now. Applications are being “Reviewed” at this time so the link button for me to apply is gone. Regardless of other applications, I still want to throw my hat into the ring. It seems too early (far out) for a pet parent to ignore any applications. Can the H.O. start and stop the review process at will, or are they required to begin an elimination process? Not sure how it works on the other end.
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Basically you can’t, unless they reject the other applicants, and then the sit is open again.
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That makes no sense for the H.O. either. What if the 7th in line is the best, but never gets the chance to have their app seen because the decision to accept OR reject is forced earlier.
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Favorite the listing and you will get a notification if a spot opens.
The host doesn’t really need “the best” - they need one sitter that meets their needs. There isn’t a guarantee that later applicants will be “better” - many stories of missing out on a good sitter because the host didn’t proceed in a timely manner. Anyway - this has been discussed many times and THS would have altered it if they wanted to. I prefer to see the positives - that hosts need to proceed in a timely manner and can’t keep loads of people hanging. Which can be a problem for many, unfortunately.
Hope you get your dream sit. Best of luck.
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It’s been discussed ad infinitum on here. The 5 app rule is one of the most controversial and universally disliked introductions from THS in recent years. There are loads of threads on it. You simply have to wait and hope one of the initial five are rejected and you can then apply @mbalmand #secondchance
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If the HO is not satisfied with any of the first 5 applications they can certainly decline them, opening up space for more to apply. They don’t absolutely have to choose among the 5.
If they find that n° 3 is perfect for them, that’s the solution.
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That used to be the way THS worked, but they changed it to this new system and won’t change it back!
That’s the way it looks to me. If you’re not 1 of the first 5, you’re out of luck and the HO will never see you.
Not universally. We were on THS as hosts over 10 years ago and honestly I prefer this 5 application rule. It was really distracting to have applications continuously rolling while we were trying to choose whom to talk to. I can imagine that it’s a relief for hosts in very popular areas. There used to be color-coded labels to apply to messages in the in box so you could sort the applications and that’s a feature I would love to have back.
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Completely understand it must be a pain to manage endless applications in a super popular area @KChev (& your sit always sounds fabulous when you talk about it), it was really a generalisation (“one of the most”) on how the majority of members feel about the 5 app rule when it comes up for discussion, possibly sitters more than HOs, & that particular OP had no idea it existed two years into its arrival. For us we’re honestly not that bothered if we miss out on a sit as they’ll always be another adventure around the corner, we can’t change it so plan b it is. #whatwillbewillbe
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To explain my frustration another way… I have my THS favorites set up to alert me when the notifications go out EVEN WHEN DO NOT DISTURB IS ON so I can respond IMMEDIATELY, if I choose. 3 hours ago, I was notified by a favorited sit. I immediately scrolled to it and …reviewing…was already showing. How does THAT happen?
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Agree with Garfield completely.
@mbalmand this has been discussed a lot -the explanation that THS has given is that notifications are sent out hourly ( not instantly ) . Popular sits receive 5 applications within minutes…
https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/saved-search-emails-and-notifications-arriving-too-late
https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/brand-new-sits-immediately-in-application-review-status
Once I added lots of details about the house layout, the location, the wood stoves, the need for a vehicle etc. the number of applications went right down. 
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Oh if we ever head to your part of France @KChev and the dates align we are fully applying! 
#loveawoodburner
That happens because there is a seven or ten minute delay between posting a listing and the push notification getting sent out.
Some members are often refreshing their search pages, so that is how the earliest applications come in.
Computer-savvy members may have automated that tedious task with a software bot.
Hi @pietkuip, I notice that you often mention sitters using bots/automation to search or apply for sits. Is this something you do, or do you actually have knowledge of others doing it, or is it just a supposition?
It is my supposition. I have never done it with the THS website, but I think I would be able to find out how to do it.
I think the best ones to ask are HOs in popular locations, the ones that get their applications within minutes. Some of those have complained about sitters immediately reapplying when they had been declined. To me, that is evidence for bot behaviour.
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At 5 applications, THS blocks further applications until 1 or more of the pending allocations is declined or withdrawn. Even then, HOs must unpause applications manually before new applicants can have a go.