@Shacky Hello! Many sitters have already booked for the holidays. However, you are in Williamsburg! So you have a lot going in your favor.
Christmas is an awesome time to be in Williamsburg so my suggestions are
Change your title to reflect that
Change your lead photo to include holiday themes. Maybe your pup with a Santa hat on? LOL
Be very clear how many hours your pup can be left at home.
Offering use of your car is wrought with risks since you have no idea about their driving record (examples to consider: if sitter has a fender bender, will they pay your deductible; is there a mileage limit for them; will they fill the gas tank, etc.), so think that through very carefully.
We are HOs as well as sitters and we don’t offer our vehicles to sitters. As sitters, we’ve never had that option offered. Other sitters have but there is no “one size fits all” with this.
What would give you an upper hand is being explicit about what makes you a great host - why travelers should consider you. Think of your listing as an invitation to connect with someone you’d really like to match with.
In a lovely and appealing profile like yours, transparency and clearly highlighting your strengths as a host are what people will look for too.
I’m not a combined member, but if I were, my listing, even before someone reads the profile, would show up in searches as a listing without pets, in a historic, beautiful part of the city centre, in one of the most hyped cities right now.
You may not think this is relevant, but it is.. awareness of competition is second to none. Travelers often compare very different setups, sometimes even across states, cities, or countries. What truly tips the scale is the likelihood of a good match and experience, which on your end comes down to being clear about being a good host.
I created a topic about this a few days ago. Which definitely sparked reflection and discussion, but interestingly, not a single host has been able to answer it yet. None of the invitations I’ve received so far have managed to either.
You’d have a big advantage if you can. Good luck and happy travels
I drive my car as I never fly to a location using THS. If I was a PP I would get a copy of their license. Put them on your insurance. Write out an agreement on how many miles a day you are comfortable they can drive the car. Can they take the dog in the car to go places? Maybe it would be fun for the dog. I would also do a search on the forum to read all the good, bad and ugly of people’s experience lending the car. One PP recently wrote on the forum that tolls were billed to her so you may want to agree that sitters pay for tolls. Honestly I would put a tracker on my car.
For a Christmas sit it’s nice to know there’ll be at least a few decorations up so the home feels festive. Can you offer that? Include a photo of a previous years tree?
I agree. I’d rather hear some “stumbly-ness” in original writing than the smooth , vague and glib AI text .
By nature I distrust perfection and slickness which I’ve often found to be covers for less attractive factors.
Peoples’ personalities come out in their writing and if points are unclear or confusing, it is easy enough to ask for clarification (which is another + in considering sitting or hosting : the ability to answer questions and engage with each other prior to the actual sit).
Oh, and I don’t spell or grammar check either ! And if that is evident, so be it.
That’s true. I’m UK based and the season and decorations are seen through a more secular lens, pretty much everyone has them regardless of their beliefs.
As a sitter, I like listings that say something like, “Fido usually gets up at 6 am (but will sleep until 8 am if that is when you get up), and he needs to go out right away for a quick pee. Then we walk him for 30-45 minutes before 9 am, and he gets breakfast after his walk.”
Something like that. Specific.
Also specify how many hours he can be left alone. 2? 4? 6? 8? Sitters want to know.
No worries! It’s the “Why I Host” topic, I’ve included it here as well, just in case
(Why we host / Our values and why we’ve chosen this type of matchmaking)
We host through THS because we genuinely enjoy connecting with new people; Travelers from different places, cultures, and backgrounds. Each match brings its own stories, friendships, and perspectives, and we value the openness and exchange that come from sharing our space.
(Who we are as hosts / What makes us great hosts)
As hosts, we’re organized, thoughtful, and respectful of both time and privacy. Mutual generosity and respect guide how we host and what we look for in a good match.
We understand how important clear communication, careful planning, and smooth logistics are for everyone involved, so we take pride in being reliable and well-prepared. Most of all, we want travelers to feel comfortable, welcome, and free to enjoy their time here - experiencing picturesque Williamsburg like locals.
We find that terms of short, long, etc for dog exercise can often be misrepresentative. Many (most?) Pet Parents consider a “long walk” as longer than a “short walk” Rather than in terms of duration or distance. We always confirm dog exercise in terms of frequency, duration and/or distance during a typical day. Some PP “long walks” have been 5-10 minutes (say if small/inactive dog with “short walk” of a pee break) and some PP “short walks” have been well over 30 minutes (say if active dog that runs, runs, runs). From experience, we now also try to get a sense of typical day exercise and high-low day … as we suspect, from observing tired/hungry dog, that some PP state maximum exercise on their listings.
For dog exercise, listing statements that reflect objective numbers (time, distance) - better still a range - are fabulous for housesitters as they create clarity in expectations.
Your listing shows ‘reviewing applications’ @Shacky. I assume you now have at least five applications. Just in case you don’t know you need to decline any unsuitable ones. If any are of interest to you make contact with them as soon as possible. If you need to see more applications unpause your listing.
Remember many sitters will be applying for multiple sits so communication is key.
