Please write that in your listing.
And then I won’t apply.
10 Likes
Some sort of message with a ‘decline’ is polite. Why lie? Pick a sitter, then let the others know you’ve selected someone. “Hi, thanks for your application. We’ve selected a sitter.” 
You have so many options to choose from that I am surprised your plan A is to block the sitter from even seeing your listing.
There have been suggestions of both HOs and sitters that we should have the option to block people so that they can’t message us. I think that would be both technically easy to solve and useful when someone is being harassed or someone who doesn’t fulfill the criteria of the listing keeps applying or sitters keep being invited for unsuitable sits.
I strongly agree with @ABGM
But in this particular case, @Couple_travels_fulltime reasoning
goes even further. If I don’t get a personal message from someone who knows me personally I would definitely get the message and never again apply.
@TexasTed, it’s clear that you don’t want to offend the sitter but it also seems that you are not particularly happy with their life style and that’s not easy (probably not necessary) to communicate. IMO, if you just say your needs have changed, the message will be both clear and polite enough. Actually, that’s what you have said on the forum.
I find most of the time OPs come up with the answer to their own questions and communicate to the forum something they find hard to tell to the interested party.
4 Likes
Always be honest with sitters. In your ad state that you want a sitter that is quiet and will stay at home a lot. That you are not looking for ppl that will go out clubbing etc.
If your sitter applies again, be honest with them and ask if their clubbing habits are still the same. They may have changed also.
If you just dont want them back, be polite and thank them for sitting for them before and state your needs have changed and you prefer a quiter person and wish them well.