Hi @saritrace
The sits will appear as unavailable unless an Owner declines Sitters and unpauses the listing. Data shows that 5 applications give sufficient opportunity for member success.
I want to emphasise that this is a test.
Thanks, Ben
@Ben-ProductManager We saw a sit come up in Ko Samui which we intended to apply for but I think with the pause system we missed our opportunity. We couldn’t apply when we first saw it, as we were at an all day function with friends. We had intended to apply on our return home but the sit has now disappeared. We now are awaiting to see if this sit comes back on.
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Sorry @Samox24 , I thought that the emoji was scowling but I now realise it is happy which is most inappropriate. Apologies
I am also intrigued at this system, I am assuming that this listing would now show as a new listing if the first 5 are declined.
You must think that you would be the best choice and have unfortunately missed out. It is not a good system.
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@Itchyfeet ahh no worries re the emoji, I sometimes have that problem too! 
I think if this listing comes back on it should either show as 0-3 or 4-7 applicants and if so then everyone interested would get another opportunity to apply including us.
There are many fabulous sitters on here so it would be stiff competition i’m sure but it would have been nice to be in the running first time around!
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@Ben-ProductManager In this phase, is it known yet what happens if the sit is favorited while on this hold pattern? Will the sitter be notified somehow when and if the listing is open again?
Apologies if mentioned somewhere I have missed.
Cheers
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So here’s where the work around comes in where you apply with a quick note saying you are interested and that a full application will follow shortly.
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I live in the western US, am applying for sits in the EU. The time difference is 9 hours. If a HO posts in the morning, it’s the middle of the night for me! This may explain why new sits in France have been either nonexistent, or fill instantly. How is this helpful and fair for all sitters?
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No sitter can be on the site 24 hours a day. What you describe happens already. A fantastic sitter applies within the first half hour. They are accepted. You don’t know anything about the sit because you were sleeping.
Keep trying.
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This is why you set favorites and save sits and searches you are interested in. You will get notifications when new sits pop up in your saved searches or when a host posts a new listing, new dates.
do not let that deter you, just apply, save and persist. Not everyone is doing local sits and we also have to remember that HOs also like and enjoy international sitters. They are travelers as well. They enjoy sharing stories and hearing about our travels, where we are from. You have advantages a local person does not.
go go go!
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We are sitting for a couple that used to live in the Yukon. Guess what, travelling plans may have to be changed to include another place. Sounds sublime.
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We have been housesitting since 2006, long before THS existed. I understand how it works. Just last year we were the 7th application, because of the time difference, and the one chosen after a video chat. It seems THS is catering to a few HOs who receive lots of applications, as most of the HOs we talk with receive less than 10. 5 seems a arbitrarily low number, THS own breakdown is 0-3 then 4-7. I don’t see that this is really a necesisity for the majority of HOs. If THS wants to do something that is helpful, perhaps updating how the availablity calendar works so it is easier to read for HOs?
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There is a lot of people out there that disagrees. Have a look at all the comments in the forum alone.
We apply then move on. If they want us they will reply. However, it is frustrating when we are trying to make travel plans and waiting over 11 days for a yes or no.
I can see why THS is making this a priority as it is one way of making the application system quicker. The pet owners have to pay attention to get the applicants. They just can’t wait till the last minute.
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If you don’t see the sit when it first appears due to the time difference I don’t imagine you are able to favorite it. Also if you are notified but it is in the middle of your night it can still be gone before you can apply.
This proposal does not take into account time zone differences. We are 5 hours behind the area we want to sit in, this will have an undesirable impact on sitters like us.
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It is possible to favorite sits without a current listing or with dates that currently don’t match your availability for future listing. I am an international traveler currently sitting 5-6 hours time difference from my home time zone. I do this successfully quite often.
just requires a little work.
and if you save your searches for specific locations, it pops!
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Neither can the sitters. Some work is required to get what one is looking for.
Sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t, just keep moving folks.
@ElsieDownie I can appreciate @Mary.Willmon 's position. I don’t think her point parallels your example. Many of us notice sits that are posted and then gone in what seems like an instant. I’ll give my example of how I read Mary’s point.
Recently in the four hours I was asleep (a rough night), I woke to a sit notification for a location that’s on my saved searches. It was either in the 4-7 range or higher - I can’t remember exactly. Of the locations I have in my saved searches, many go to more than that range within hours.
If the current test pause process was not in place, I would then decide whether I wanted to apply, regardless of the applicant count. With the pause system, it would most likely be unavailable to me.
I am choosing to be patient and watch this new system, but I see how it could adversely affect my options for my current areas of interest. However, I doubt it would have the effect of changing my location choices.
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That is very interesting, I knew you could favorite sits that didn’t match your availability but did not realize you could favorite homeowners without current dates.
Thank you
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yes, do your search then scroll down to the bottom and you will see those that are active with no current sits. If you click on their profile you will see how active they are in their listing, their reviews/feedback, everything, then decide if you wish to save it.
It works.
all the best!
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@PetSitterBug yes a good idea thank you, although not ideal, I think we are just old fashioned!
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@Snowbird you have explained the situation beautifully, thank you 
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