Would appreciate any feedback on my HO listing - have not had any sitter applicants thus far. Recognize that the holiday period has a lot of competition (and dozens of homes are listed in and around Seattle), so eager to hear if there is anything I can do to make my listing more appealing to potential sitters. Thanks!
Your listing looks truly lovely, and Tobin seems like such a joy! Appreciate the comprehensiveness of the wording. If I were to nit pick, I would say that 1st January isn’t the most convenient time for many people to leave a sit, so that might be an impediment for some sitters. Otherwise, as a first listing, you’ve done a really good job. Hang tight, I imagine you’ll get some applications as the date gets closer.
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I would agree that the dates could be challenging for anyone who is not local due to cost of travel at that time of year. Perhaps offer to for them to come a little early/stay late if needed for transport costs. I’d also add how long doggo can be left alone in the home. You mention that she can, but not a max time, which would help people. You may also want to mention how dog friendly cafes, public transport, and stuff in the area are. I’ve not been to Seattle in ages so I have no idea but being able to take her out places with would help sitters who want to explore but don’t want to leave her alone for long periods.
I would describe exactly how long she can be alone for, what exactly walks she is used to (when, how long) and in what form her «reactiveness» to other dogs take form and how to handle.
For me the sit would be a no because of reactiveness ( but might be possible if I knew what it was). I also often pass on guest rooms (unless I am given the choice of master or guest room) and I pass on animals sleeping in the bedroom. My dogs don’t sleep in mine.
I find it puzzling that a sitter should sleep in the guestroom and also the dog. Is that the room where the dog normally sleeps, and why can’t the sitter - or the dog - use the master is the questions I think of reading the profile. In a normal situation I would think that and then scroll to the next listing.
There are sitters that are ok with these things, but since you ask what possible hurdles could be… 
. I think it could have an impact of possible pool of sitters.
I agree on starting day as a possible challenge. It is an expensive time to travel and people that have plans for New year might find it difficult to do a handover on the 1.
Edit; I checked Seattle for the time period, and for a sitter there’s a lot of options for a sit. Seems like many of them have Low applications. So a sitter who would like to go to Seattle can be picky. It could be useful to «check out the competition» and see if there are tweaks your are willing and comfortable doing. I didn’t see until HappyDeb mentioned it that it is a pull-out bed that is offered. A comfortable bed is really important to many sitters, and a pull-out is not comfy.
I also notice another listing in Seattle at Christmas time says that a sitter is welcome to have family over during the sit. That could be an option - to open to families and/ or saying you are open to guests during sit (after agreement, should you wish to). Think of what could be the reason for choosing your sit over the other listings. Christmas sits can be of interest to locals that are expecting guests themselves. Then one can leave ones own home to inbound children or whatever and stay at a sit nearby.
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Yes I agree with the others, it’s not the holiday period that is a problem, there are a lot of sitters who would love to sit at your place to be nearer to family, or to escape them. It’s your ACTUAL dates. Your asking your sitter to travel on the 23rd Dec when all the roads/airports/train stations are manic, and then again you return on the 1st Jan, which is a bank holiday, and so there is very little public transport available, so their option is to travel by car/taxi… but it’s a bank holiday.
That aside, your listing looks lovely. Maybe a better image of the bed would be good with neater pillows, to help it look slightly better with it being a day bed, but your profile is already good.
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Oh dear it’s the dates. Too close to Christmas and then leaving on New Year’s Day 
If they are your dates then that’s all you can do - at least you have your ad up nice and early. Also the pull out bed is usually an immediate no for many people. Those ikea beds can be a bit uncomfortable especially for two people.
With a holiday sit we are looking for a good range either side so we aren’t travelling through the bank holidays which is a nightmare and also trying to avoid shopping and cleaning around those times.
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Just want to point out that this isn’t a huge issue in Seattle, although the rest of the points about the dates are valid. Holidays operate on a Sunday schedule, which is less than a weekday, but not less that any departure on a Sunday would be.
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The only thing worse —leaving on NY eve. Sure, who’s covering my $500 hotel room?
Problem is that loads of people are travelling all over at the same time period, so it is booked early and prices rocket.
yeah, any transport on NY day is going to be WAY more expensive than the average Sunday. It’s a holiday, it’s going to be $$$
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Thank you all for the feedback. Many of these (besides the dates) are fixable!
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You might want to delete your dates and then re-list so that you no longer have the scarlet letter Low Applications tag and your listing shows up as new.
What is public transportation like to the airport or to the Amtrak and bus stations? If it’s challenging and you’re willing to pick people up, you might want to add that.
Good luck!
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