Whenever I have posted a sit in the past, I usually get several applications pretty quickly, (along with notifications that sitters have saved our listing), no matter the time of year, but I have a sit up right now that hasn’t received any applications. We’ll often even get multiple local sitters that are just trying to build up their reviews.
I know gas prices are high, inflation is up, etc. Is this affecting sit accept rates? Is the THS model becoming less attractive? Any other thoughts?
I’ve several saved searches just for observational purposes. Many of them have zero or very few applications. Can’t infer much from that, but I have a sense that recent increases in membership may have skewed more towards HOs and not sitters. The result is more sits are available, but sitters haven’t increased at the same rate and then there are the other factors, some of which you mentioned. It may also be that sitters without premium membership are much more choosy about sits they have to pay a fee for.
THIS right here makes total sense along with the other world challenges. I can only hope that THS recognizes this and starts changing their marketing approach to balance this out. If they do not, eventually it will all catch up and the Homeowners will cancel too. Guess I will take the extra step now and send an email to support@trustedhousesitters.com to express my concerns. Ughhhhhhh.
Thank you for this reply. Does my having a premium membership cause a difference on the sitter’s end?
I’m having the same problem. I believe it’s a myriad of things going on in the world right now. I’m going to post a sit for September in a week and see how it goes.
No, but if you don’t need the 2 lounge passes that come with it you can offer to transfer them to sitters. Otherwise makes no difference to them.
@lala123 All it means is you don’t pay a booking fee at all but any sitter who applies and is not a premium member, may have to pay a booking fee depending on when their renewal date is.
It’s only a hypothesis, but something seems to be going askew. It may be the law of unintended consequences at work. Advertising and the introduction of sit fees may have produced unforeseen results. Interestingly THS is offering all sorts of incentives to members who deactivate automatic renewal, or who decided against renewing. They need to drive membership upwards toward the one million target, then THS will be ripe for sale.
In the US? Certainly in the US there are fewer people coming in from other countries. Also job loss has hit remote jobs just as it has hit non-remote jobs, and many people with previously remote jobs especially jobs that went remote during COVID are being forced back to the office.
@lala123 A host’s premium membership does not factor into my decision of whether to apply for a sit. However, many sitters will not consider international sits, for a variety of current issues within the USA. As a Canadian, I am choosing not to consider sits in the US. Others from Europe, for example, have similar concerns for a variety of reasons, including political, flight costs, and general uncertainty in today’s world.
I live in the US. I’m always looking for a reason to escape. Unfortunately, high airfare costs are keeping me grounded, so I have to find other ways to keep me sane. Then again, maybe embracing insanity may be wiser for my mental health.
That’s totally understandable. 
As a sitter I have been treated quite badly by at least 5 HO’s. Each time I end up spending extra money on things I shouldn’t have to. For example, a HO not telling me they have a severe rural rat problem that can damage wiring in cars. Has happened twice… the first time it cost us almost $500 to fix the car and we were without a vehicle for a week. HO gave no warning, no apology and did not offer her car. So far incidents like that have racked up to about $4000 over 6 years. I’ve had enough. I myself am using other platforms now as THS encourages HO’s to treat sitters like unpaid labor whom are homeless and desperately need housing. Many sitters have left the platform. Short term sits are not worth it anymore financially especially if a car is needed and not provided.
I’ve been sitting in the U.S. for three years, but will be letting my membership expire. That’s because on principle I won’t pay booking fees to take care of anyone’s pets or home.
For me, THS is expendable and I can sit without them and do nonsit travel.
I’ve done nearly 30 THS sits, all five stars. Now, THS will have to do without me sitting and without my membership fee.
Expect emails offering much reduced renewal charges. It happens.
We’ll see. But in any case, THS needs sitters like me more than I need THS.
For all the grousing about sit fees, 5 application limits, entitled hosts, … I think it comes down to a simple case of supply and demand. THS expanding membership guarantees a widening gap between hosts looking for sitters versus the number of active sitters on the platform. Add the wind down of remote work compounded by the world and out-of-control inflation. All in all, it only makes sense that there are fewer sitters available at the same time the number of hosts continues to climb.
There are lots of cool places in the US to see.
I quite agree, the loss of experienced sitters with an impeccable history will be a disproportionate loss to THS. The history they take with them can’t be easily, or quickly replaced.
Totally agree. National and many State parks are absolutely amazing. Just got back from Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks. Not a sit though.