It is so crazy to me that THS just will not adjust this terrible ‘feature’. They can say that Sitters and Owners like it but please show me those people.
6 Likes
@Bluehorse Since you enjoyed that French sit and like the host you could always ask her to notify you before she lists her dates publically. Or you can always contact her when you know you could be available to see if she has any trips planned around that time. We just did a repeat sit in Spain that was organised spontaneously. We sat for them last summer and still had WhatsApp contact. (But also contact through THS) This year we had a gap in our schedule in their region so we notified them we were around and happy to sit. They immediately organised a trip for that week to make the most of us! We rarely do repeats but this fitted nicely for us all.
6 Likes
Of course I can reach out (and the point here was not about doing a repeat sit), but often enough I have favourited someone, at some point (for example before the 5 appl rule came into effect) managed to get in touch but have not yet done a sit, and so I reach out again to indicate my interest in case they have a sit coming up in the next couple of months. E.g. as a way to find out before the sit gets slammed by the 5 application rule
This hardly ever works… I seldom have an HO taking the effort to personally let me know when their next sit dates will be. Usually, if I have not yet sat for them before, they will just put the sit up on the website and then it’s up to me to notice it in time. Which may well not happen. For instance, a Vienna sit came up about 30 min ago - it’s currently already at Reviewing status.
2 Likes
@Bluehorse OK, it just sounded like you were interested to sit again (but missed seeing dates) Therefore being proactive can help, as we’ve experienced!
I agree -a random reach out is not to be expected from a host you have not yet met, but that does not stop us from occasionally reaching out to hosts of interesting sits. You never know!
Earlier this year we applied for a sit in an asian country we love (very quickly- as we were no.5 applicant) and the next day the host requested a video call. By then, on proper reflection, we’d realised the dates were not ideal so we declined the call but told them we were very open for another time- preferably in European winter. Just recently they reached to us to ask if we’d like to sit over Christmas/NY- 3 weeks! They have not yet posted their dates publicly and are giving us a couple of weeks to work out the logistics. We’re happy they’ve given us first option and will not keep them hanging on any longer than necessary 
8 Likes
I love it when synchronicity falls into place.
Clear communication and good manners do go a long way.
4 Likes
Recently, on way too many occasions, I note a sit I’d like to apply to, leave the keyboard to make a cup of coffee, and when I come back the application process has already been closed since the owner is now ‘reviewing applications.’ When I talk about this with owners they also seem frustrated that applications are cut off after only maybe six. When this is for sits that are for many weeks or months ahead, and often for lengthy stays, that seems crazy. Why has the application process been turned into some sort of speed game? If I don’t check in hourly I might miss a sit that I’m perfect for. Doesn’t seem customer friendly for either side of the sitting process, owner or sitter.
Can someone from THS please explain the rationale for this, and whether it will continue indefinitely?
4 Likes
Before you go make your coffee click on the apply button. Once you have done this you can make coffee and then complete the application. So long as you don’t leave that page or your internet doesn’t drop out you will be able to apply even if 5 others do it at the same time. I normally use another device to thoroughly check out the listing. If you come across anything that then causes you to change your mind you can just close out your application. Hth 
6 Likes
Unfortunately @dmcker you are a couple of years late to the party.
The topic has been discussed at great length. Can’t see a change in policy happening.
2 Likes
Although I at times can not apply for sits for this reason, in my opinion it’s fine that the owner has to make an opinion of the five applicants before proceeding. I don’t think the process will be any more easy for either hosts or sitters if they have to wade through 50 applications. My experience is at times that five seems to be overwhelming enough… 
That being said, hit the application button as mentioned over and go get your coffee.
1 Like
Homeowners previously had the option to pause applications at any time so no never a need to wade through dozens.
A situation could occur where the majority of five applications consisted of sitters asking a question prior to submitting a full application, thereby taking up precious places.
2 Likes
From my experience it seems that several hosts have their plate quite full with answering five in a timely manner.
I see your point of having to apply to ask a question, but that could also bee seen as holding the spot open till you get an answer? Or the host can at any point decline your application, with or without answering. That happened to me recently. Something seemed unclear regarding wiping up after a dog I applied to sit for, so I asked whether the dog did it’s business inside the house. My application was declined shortly after. Which was kind of an answer and the outcome pretty much the same whether host declined or I.
I would think the 5-rule isn’t to invasive for hosts, they can open for applications continously till they get the right match (and have the possibility to reach out directly to other sitters they like). I would think if one should point at a group that maybe feels they can loose, it would be the sitters with very many sits that could feel they would have been chosen over the five.
That being said, I have searches too that often are «gone» before I get a chance to apply. But my way into it is that - well - Even with five the host only needs one. I have been home exchanging decades before coming to THS, so I’m kind of used to not getting the really popular homes. They can pick and choose regardless. It is better to just pay up to go to those places (although I got a dream exchange once - and they where the ones asking us!! 
).
For me, these exchanges give the possibilities that you wouldn’t think of or look for or be able to book on a normal holiday. That is the added value of housesits/ exchanges. The adventures you need to go down exactly this path to be able to find.
So of course that is a backdrop for me not seeing it as that big of a problem.
1 Like
It is a consequence of the growth of the site. THS is still growing, so this policy won’t change.
What they don’t seem to have anticipated is how this measure would change behaviour. How it would make people send rushed applications, that were often not serious.
There is an easy remedy: let people know with a message in the application window that there is no rush. It is incomprehensible to me that THS does not do this. It would be better for everybody, even for the company.
2 Likes
[quote=“Garfield, post:110, topic:48043, full:true”] I don’t think the process will be any more easy for either hosts or sitters if they have to wade through 50 applications.
[/quote]
Let the HO choose how many applications they want to pause at! Why does TH think it has to be either 5 or 50? Some basic logic and a little site programming could have fixed that and saved all the debate.
Wut
There IS a rush. Get in before 5 other people do.
I don’t know what you mean.
No need to rush so long as you actually see the listing before it goes to reviewing. The biggest challenge is seeing it in time. @ABGM
2 Likes
The rush is “only” to be in time to click the application button.
After that you can relax. You can read the listing, study the photos, look up the reviews, discuss with a partner, decide. And then close that window, or write a well-considered and well-worded application. It does not matter if that comes in as number seven or eight.
2 Likes
Ha, yes, all of this! The last sit location I really wanted, I was checking the site a couple of times a day, and when a good match came up I applied on my phone and just wrote a quick greeting and said “I’m going to write you a proper introduction as soon as I fire up my laptop and can type.” That way my application was in and then I had time to write something decent.
We shouldn’t have to do that!
And that wasn’t a high-demand location I guess, and they invited me before they got any other applications. But yeah, we probably never see most of the really in-demand spots.
Interesting for me as a sitter member to read how time-consuming it is for you as a HO. That sounds super annoying!!
5 Likes
Well great. But as @Shannon said, you have to see it in time. Dunno about others but I can’t spend 24/7 watching for sits in Hawaii to pop up. I’m one of those dinosaurs that actually shuts their phone & computer off and goes off and Does Things 
4 Likes
@pietkuip your advice works fine if you are awake when the listing goes up BUT it discriminates against people looking to travel to other time zones. I had no trouble picking up a sit in Paris this week as I’m in France atm… But had I been trying from Australia, I would have had NO chance as the listing went up at 3am Australia time and had 5 applications within minutes. THS lauds itself as an international site. This policy does NOT work well for people trying to get sits in popular destinations in other time zones unless they are willing to stay awake all night.
4 Likes
You can relax and take your time if you are 100% sure (not sure how) that your internet won’t go down, that your device won’t crash, that the THS website won’t have a glitch, etc. I’ve had that heppen, so I don’t “relax.” I send a quick placeholder application, followed by a longer one.
4 Likes
@Lassie We do the same! A quick placeholder msg followed- within half an hour- by a proper application. We always invite the hosts to check out our profile page & reviews and sometimes- even before we’ve managed the proper app- we already get a message requesting a video call!
Definitely a preferable approach (for us) compared to stressing whether we’ve secured a spot or not!!
2 Likes