Hi I guess my question is not new but I can’t find any information on this topic
How do I get HO to respond asap on an application?
It’s frustrating having to wait and not hear back from them for days or not hearing anything at all (rude) especially when you have multiple applications set out
I know it takes time to find a suitable sitter but just a quick update on their behalf would be much appreciated
Could I mention this in my profile?
Thanks, Corina
You can’t force anyone to reply.
I have done this as an experiment: Mentioned in a friendly way in my application that I apply for multiple sits and move on quickly, depending on hosts’ response time. When I’ve done that, I got quick response, but of course can’t tell whether that was cause and effect.
Check out previous threads like this one: Response Times for Applicants - #18 by Lilywize
Personally, I withdraw my application within 48 hours if a host doesn’t get in touch. I consider speed of communication part of my criteria for hosts.
And there are plenty of hosts who reply promptly, by contrast. Like I withdrew my application for a sit last week and quickly found a significantly better sit, with a host who replied immediately, saying they were very interested in me sitting. We’re now confirmed for a sit.
Some hosts have commented in this forum that they’re busy, so they lag in replying. Lots of people — including sitters — are busy. And no one is obligated to wait on anyone else. As a sitter, you also get to choose which hosts to potentially partner vs. not.
I was looking at listings last night and noticed that a sluggish host had posted dates — I’d withdrawn from another of their listings maybe a year ago. (They’d read my application without responding, so I’d withdrawn. Then they immediately replied to say they were sorry to see me withdraw.) This time, I just skipped their listing. I noticed that it had low applications.
Some hosts probably end up with fewer applicants over time, because some sitters will skip them, knowing that they’re sluggish. That can be especially problematic for hosts in locations that aren’t popular.
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There have been several topics on this problem. seems to be a common theme. HOs don’t seem to realise that if they delay, then sitters will move on. Also, is it a ‘red flag’ that the HO is not fully engaged, is poor at communication, is not considering the sitter POV? Do you think thats a good match for you?
Have a read here:
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Brilliant idea!
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Personally I wouldn’t mention it in your profile at all, because it could make you sound a little entitled, or frustrated so HO’s may get a negative feeling about you from that little additional insert. However, you’re in contact with them now anyway with applying so you could pop them a friendly message to them and ask them if they have had chance to consider your application, but word it in a light hearted, friendly way, not in a I-need-an-answer-quickly way.
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What you described could be done only having waited beyond a stretch. For my purposes — and a number of experienced sitters’ purposes — we would’ve already moved on in such cases.
I never frame it as a question. In my application, I simply note as a friendly heads-up that like most sitters I apply for multiple sits at the same time, and I move on depending on hosts who reply promptly.
If I were a host, I’d presumably want to know if applicants were going to hang around waiting or not. Some hosts might not care, or they might not want such sitters. But that’s actually perfect to me, because the whole point of THS is to find good matches and rule out bad ones.
Logically, no one should get their feelings hurt if they don’t happen to match — it would be delusional to think the anyone would match with everyone.
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In my entire “THS career” (
), I never had to wait longer than a day to get a reply. Most of the time, I received a response within the next four hours. Even the one person who took a day apologized profusely and was worried that they had already messed it up and that we had found something else.
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How to make someone else do what we want… That’s the $1M question.
We cannot control what other people do, but we can be in control of our actions and behaviour.
Create a strong profile, keep applying to sits that aren’t too prized (fuggetaboud London, Paris, Venice 
), consider low application sits, and come up with a timeframe that works for you. If after a certain number of days they haven’t replied, fuggetaboud them too.
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@co_ri_na, in our experience then most Pet Parents respond with 48 hours. There may be exceptional circumstances - e.g international time zones - that are valid. And expectations may vary depending on ballpark timeline - e.g. does housesit start next week vs next year.
We find that significantly delayed response is typically a red flag. Perhaps Pet Parent is not ready to commit to housesit (e.g. not booked their trip). Or perhaps Pet Parent is actively progressing dialogue with another prospective housesitter, with you as non-declined backup. Or perhaps Pet Parent is a poor communicator.
Some housesitters simply withdraw applications after an initial period. We reflect on our appetite. If it’s a spectacular housesit opportunity, or we know of a credible reason for untimely response, then we’ll give greater latitude.
Consider reaching out to Pet Parent with polite message. Regardless, suggest start exploring a Plan B.
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In my experience, for the sits that are actually confirmed and that I’ve done, the host has reached out within 24-48 hours (often within hours), and often also scheduled a videcall, had the videocall and confirmed the sit within 48 hours.
So in my experience, where I haven’t heard from the host within 48 hours, it amounts to nothing more often. A decline or complete crickets. So for me it has made sense to either withdraw my application or just leave it as is and move on. Apart from the fact that it really hasn’t lead to anything, I don’t want to have an agreement with poor communication style and that disregard the work I’ve had applying and my efforts and time waiting for an answer. I believe it is a sign (bad one) for what a sit would be like.
The response time stated by THS terms is that a member should answer a fellow member within 72 hours.
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Thanks for this, it’s helpful to know im not the only one
At least i know it’s not because im doing something wrong 
Good to know I’m not too impatient
To me it feels like if you go through a lot of trouble creating a really good profile the keast a HO can give you a ‘no thanks’ 
I find the softly softly approach works best
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okay that’s something I can work with
I’ll fuggetabout it 
Now that’s something i can work with 
Great! Thank you 
Usefull! Thanks for that 
Sounds logical, thanks