HI, I have 2 applicants for 1 sit. I messaged with the first one and we agreed to a Zoom meeting tomorrow based on the applicants availability.
I messaged with the 2nd one and we set up a Zoom meeting for tonight.
I really connected with tonight’s applicant! We had several things in common and I just really felt comfortable with her. I’d like to confirm her. My question is, should I still Zoom with the first applicant or decline them without a meeting? I don’t want to waste their time if I have already decided but would that be rude of me?
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If you also like the Profile of the other applicant, and you would like to consider the other applicant for future Sits, you want to be careful how you handle this situation.
Personally, I would send the other applicant a message, stating that you chose a different Sitter, but you would like to consider the Sitter for future, so please reapply if you ever see my listing again! Cancel the Zoom meeting.
Alternatively, if you really want to give the other applicant a chance, carry on with the scheduled Zoom meeting, and go from there. Give the other applicant a chance, and then choose between the two applicants.
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If you’ve already made your decision, confirm the sitter and let the other one know. If you’d like still to have a video chat with a view to future sits, then give the other sitter that option but be very clear that you’ve already appointed someone for this sit.
Don’t be surprised if the declined sitter doesn’t choose to chat. Things have to align for sitters to be able to accept sits, and chats are time-consuming. We wouldn’t consider chatting if you’d just chosen another candidate over us.
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Thanks for the input @PVGemini. I do want to encourage them to try again as they had a lovely application. I just really connected with this one tonight.
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You’ve already made your mind up, you know they are the right sitter for you, so accept them and WAIT until they confirm/accept it back. Because you never know they may have accepted another sit in the meantime. It isn’t a done-deal until you both agree to it.
THEN decline the other one, but pop them a nice message to say what’s happened, and wish them well.
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My advice: it’s all about respect & transparency.
I would send a note to Applicant #2 and explain that you think you’ve found your sitter. However, if s/he is amenable, you’d like to Zoom with them for future needs.
We have done that as HOs and Sitters.
As HOs our #1 choice cancelled one week before the sit (we were going on an international trip so pretty upsetting.) Thankfully our #2 sitter was still available and we agreed to let them come a day early, stay a day later to accommodate their needs. Very grateful!
As Sitters we have done a Zoom JIC - and we DID do a follow up sit another time for them - in fact several. So we were glad we accepted the conditions of the Zoom.
Again, it’s all about transparency & respect, letting your No. 2 choice know the situation, giving them the option.
Best of luck!
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Hello, 
This exactly happened to us last year
and we sent a message to give our choice before video call,
we had a very nice response and the petsitter is still on our like list,
we invited him as a priority this year before submitting our dates online,
but he is not available,
communication is always very important for us
and when we have a good feeling with people
we choose them as a priority 
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Thanks so much for the advice. I did let them know but also told them I would love to be able to consider them for another sit. They were very gracious.
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Thank so much for the reply. I did send them a nice note thanking them and telling them I hope our paths will cross on a future trip.
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Thanks so much for the reply. I agree that respect and transparency are of utmost importance. I did tell both applicants that I was considering more than one applicant when we first communicated. In the end I did send a very nice note to the declined applicant thanking them and telling them I hoped our paths would cross again in the future.
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That’s a great way to handle it!
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@dland44192 our most regular repeat sit is one where our application was declined the first time we applied because they were already talking to someone who applied before us. We will be sitting there for the 4th time at Easter. You have done the right thing bring honest and upfront with your other applicant.
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I would accept her and then once the sit is fully confirmed, message the other sitter immediately and tell them the situation. I would not change anything until that sit is confirmed though…
It’s not confirmed until it’s confirmed so there is no point cancelling the other sitter if you don’t have someone locked in.
Just be aware thought that the moment sitter #1 confirms, everyone receives a decline, hence why I mention to contact them immediately after the first sitter is fully confirmed.
In the follow up message (assuming HS 1 is confirmed), I would do as @ASASG suggested…you could still meet or offer to keep them on your shortlist for future sits.
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That is a very good point that the alternate will automatically get a “decline” message when the other sitter is fully confirmed. That message comes quickly, perhaps even as an alert on the phone, so be careful everyone, when wading through these waters.
Better to have good communication throughout, be honest and upfront.
We all know that the Owner can only choose one of the applicants. If I had a Zoom call scheduled (had blocked out time later in the day for the Zoom) and suddenly got a decline notice, that would be slightly annoying and impersonal.
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Yea. I normally just respond directly after that decline goes through and it hasn’t been an issue as the HS knows what happened right away. 
I got a message on Saturday saying they were away for the weekend but would contact me on Tuesday. I got nuked on Monday. Some HO’s just don’t care, they’re getting free labour. Good Luck