Hello. I just came across yet another THS absurdity: that a sitter with an open calendar cannot mark dates as “unavailable.” I wrote to THS and the was confirmed to me. Certainly seems absurd for those with an open calendar.
@RichardNYC, suggest ignore the sitter availability calendar on THS platform. Many Forum threads highlight its lack of purpose - as superfluous in typical process of listing; applications; conversation; offer; accept. Housesitters have no reason to maintain availability calendar. Would be smart if THS simply removed this pointless & confusing functionality.
Ageeed. How often, if ever, does a HO check on the availability of a sitter? If there’s already a relationship, the HO would contact the sitter directly.
Now, if there was one available for HOs, they could mark the calendar with tentative future dates. This way, sitters would know when a potential sit for that home may be available.
@RichardNYC By default, the calendar is set to show a sitter as unavailable. Those who choose to use it then add in dates they are available. Unfortunately, since they removed the legend years ago, explaining that, it really is useless, in my opinion. I did use it for years but gave up when they removed the legend.
The only reliable aspect of the calendar is that a sitter’s booked sits confirmed via TrustedHousesitters do show with a black line through the dates. However, owners can still invite sitters for dates where they are already booked. Duh.
Needless to say, these points reinforce that the calendar really could be deleted and not missed by the majority of members.
Thanks all. My situation is that two HOs for whom I formerly sat want me to return on particular dates, but they have not yet formally invited me and other HOs have reached out to me for those dates.
@RichardNYC, that sounds like a ‘problem’ best solved without the aid of THS calendar!
When we face situations of conflicting potential bookings then we tend to prioritize progression of our preferred option. Encourage determine which listing (HO, pets, location, dates, …) are most attractive and then positively court closure.
The useless calendar has been discussed on the forum time and time again. Pop ‘calendar’ into the search field to find various discussions.
The calendar is totally useless. I block out the whole year and still get invitations to sit. With no key/legend how on earth is anyone supposed to understand it?
Sitters have given up using the calendar as it’s pretty much useless. There are heaps of previous threads on here of people complaining about it but it doesn’t seem to be a priority for THS to do anything about it. Just do like many of us and ignore it.
The THS calendar automatically shows everyone as unavailable- white for all dates.
It only shows available - green - if you go in and add your available dates.
However, without a key explaining what the colours represent, even if you add your availability, hosts may still send invitations for dates you’re not available.
A more user-friendly calendar—such as one that includes a clear key or legend—has been requested for a long time.
@Jenny can you ask the team about this ? Ben did say the product team was looking into improving the calendar - that was in 2021 !!
I passed that feedback over to the team - if there’s any updates I’ll let you know!
Jenny
Sorry, not at all understanding you. Thanks.
@RichardNYC All the white dates mean you are NOT available as that is the default. You have to put into the calendar your available dates and they will show up as green.
It’s just the way it is. You can only manipulate the calendar to set some periods as available and they will turn green, as @temba has explained. If you have confirmed sits on the platform, the dates will automatically appear crossed out.
The calendar is only used by newbies who don’t know it doesn’t work. Lots of people say it’s useless. In my opinion it’s worse than that. It’s misleading.
@temba Hi. Are you saying that my calendar, which is all “white dates,” suggests they are unavailable? That is certainly not what I marked upon joining. And it’s not what this image shows: it shows me as available in May except for the five or six days I’ve been booked, illustrated by slashes.
Thanks
Yes @RichardNYC
white unavailable is the default
That’s what I’m saying @RichardNYC. White means Unavailable because that’s what THS sets as its default.
@RichardNYC this is what THS say in their Help article
