I’m wondering if potential sitters can see the number of applications a date received. I got an application and there are excellent reviews but 2 very bad ones. I’ve never had that happen before. So I don’t know whether to say I have other applications ahead of hers, ask about the bad reviews or what. Thoughts?
I don’t think sitters see any of that, once you apply you can’t even see how many sitters have applied anymore. If she has two dreadful reviews that is a reason to be wary. If it’s the sitter I think it might be, do a bit more research on the forum, barking dogs may or may not give more information.
No need to obfuscate. You can just say you don’t see a fit. No explanation needed.
Sitters can see the number of applicants before they apply. But once they apply, they do not. It will just say ‘you have already applied for these dates’ underneath. Listings with fewer than 3 applicants will say ‘low applications’ --this would be visible to sitters who have applied if they were to look at your listing again.
I can appreciate the ‘conundrum’ of hosts who get applicants they would not rule out immediately but also don’t feel super confident in choosing, and would like to wait and see if more suitable people apply.
In instances like this, I suppose the two main options are not making any contact at all and see what happens over the next few days or whatever amount of time you want to wait, or respond to these applicants with a more vague message that thanks them for applying,etc..and you will be back in touch.
Another thing you can do but a lot of sitters don’t like it is to not reply at all. When you confirm a sitter all the others that have replied get an automatic message from THS that tells them they were not the chosen one in so many words. If you read those two bad reviews from that sitter and read her reply to it that she most likely left and you are not comfortable then you can decline her now and give her the opportunity to not think she has a chance and move on. I like what Maggie8K said about just saying thank you for applying but I don’t think it’s a fit. The problem with that is some sitters will then write you and say can you tell me why not. I think that is why some hosts just like THS to notify them or just decline them themselves without any explanation.
Thanks for clarifying this level of detail of what they see. I had thought they do see something in terms of number of applications.
As others mentioned, they can see how many have applied BEFORE they send their app. Two bad reviews is a def 
. However, if you are having issues getting suitable sitters, I would simply reply with a “thanks for you application, i am going through them currently. I appreciate your patience” type message. Its true and you can also wait & see if you get more suitable applications. You can also go ahead and schedule a video chat and I would straight up ASK what happened and also read their reviews of the HO of the past sit that yielded thes bad ratings. It will tell you A LOT about the sitter. If you have a cat and the issue was with dogs, well maybe that is ok. If you learn what the issue was, you can decide if its a good fit for you or not. But no need to DECLINE them if you do not have other good options UNTIL you do a chat and see for yourself how YOU feel about them and your needs. Sometimes people just do not gel. Good luck!!
I don’t think you should recommend not replying at all. There is no reason why the host can’t just message the applicants with bad reviews and be honest regarding reason for declining them.
@SeniorSitter1 please no, please don’t recommend not replying at all. We go to a lot of trouble writing, and hopefully planning, around certain sits and dates so not getting a response is really stressful, not to mention what I see as rude. A day or two I wait now before withdrawing my application maybe but certainly not any longer. Not worth the angst. Courtesy costs nothing. With respect. x
I try to at least write a note and thank them for applying. That said, I immediately decline anyone with any bad reviews - I had a sitter who was absolutely abhorrent, and I can’t believe she had primarily positive reviews, but that was a lesson for me - one review that’s not 5 stars in every category is a “no” for me.
I don’t think a host will then respond to the real reason in some cases nor should they. They are not going to say we find the way you replied to your negative review in an immature way or we don’t like to confirm senior citizens as they have more health problems than younger folks or we don’t like younger folks as we feel senior citizens have a better work ethic. If hosts have choices they will eliminate for a lot of things that sitters having the information has no benefit to them and some will then get combative. I have heard from hosts they would tell the reason when they first started if people asked but then some got combative so they stopped. Some that do tell reasons do it in a diplomatic way which doesn’t tell sitters the real reason anyway. I think just a generic thank you for your application but we found another candidate to be a better fit would appease some but to me that is no different from just declining with no explanation. Obviously you were declined because they connected more to another candidate,
one review that is not 5 star in every category is a no for you?
This could be misleading, as I have completed 59 sits, my last pet owner waxed lyrical about me, has already invited me back, but docked me one star in one category, I see he did the same, with a different category, for another sitter. When I asked about it he said NOBODY IS PERFECT, so basically he doesn’t do 5 stars at all, on principle, and it is no reflection on the sitter at all.
Wise words indeed.
Yeah in cases like that, I’d probably let it go, but I find that there’s a lot of pressure on homeowners to give positive reviews so I take them with a grain of salt. Back in 2019/2020, I had a sitter who literally up and left during the sit because of problems in my neighborhood and basically said, “I won’t discuss it in the review if you don’t review me”. I quit THS at that time and waited 5 years to rejoin, yet not finding it much better.
Sitters used to be able to see the number of applications. They can’t anymore once they apply. The number is only relevant in the sense that after 5 the system won’t allow more and the sit will read as “in review.”
However, this isn’t really accurate. Homeowners can decline applications and get more so a sitter applying – especially to a popular sit – could easily be the 2nd or the 12th person sending in an application.
As a homeowner you can decline any applicant for any reason you want. So if you see a couple of very bad reviews you can simply let the sitter know: “Sorry we’re not a good match.” and hit “decline.” You are under no obligation to consider someone because of the order they came in. Many sitters feel that declining without some reason or explanation is rude, but your reason doesn’t have to be personal or detailed.
I’ve always managed to find great sitters, but I always operate under the premise that I will do something else if I can’t find a “suitable” sitter who meets my standards.
That does sound strict. Especially for sitters with a lot of sits! I have a sitter who is great but not always on top of daily “proof of life” texts which I like to have. The thing is though given her experience I’d absolutely trust her to know exactly what to do if there were an issue or to contact me if needed. She’s got over 50 reviews. I noticed recently that one person did ding her on “communication.” I just feel super-lucky when she’s avaiilable and wants to come back! To me that homeowner is the one who likely to lose out. I’ve also seen vague dings for things like kitchen counters not wiped, which on the one had I could see being an issue – ants – but on the other hand could easily happen when someone is leaving so I read reviews thoroughly – both the reviews left for the sitter, the reviews written by the sitter AND any responses left by the sitter to the reviews.
Yeah if I were to ever get an applicant with that many reviews, I’d definitely be less strict!
Ask yourself, which would be worse, not finding a sitter at all and having to cancel your trip as a worst case, or going on your trip and having your sit fall apart while you’re away? Please be very careful. A polite, this is not a good fit is perfectly fine.
Thanks all. I think I have plenty of input.
That’s because you have a choice, when you don’t, any human who can breathe and walk will do to save you money 