Hi All, after several years of using THS, having great experiences, and telling everyone I know about it, I am done. For the last year and a half and 2-3 trips, I have had only 3 replies from potential sitters. Three. This does not work for me anymore. I will let my subscription expire, a waste of Good Money, as they say. Bon Voyage! Sarah
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You might want to see if you can make the most of your remaining membership. The interior photos include clutter, which would make some sitters skip your listing, especially when there are a number of sits in the Seattle area all year long. And itâs even more competitive during holidays.
I know your neighborhood and city well and have sat there and have an upcoming one booked there as well. I look for sits in the area, because I used to live in Seattle. I have a good sense of what sits are available there and theyâre often tidier homes.
Itâs become more competitive for hosts, because there are now more sits than sitters. You can tell by how many low-application sits there are and by hosts who complain about getting fewer applicants (or none) when they used to have no trouble in previous years.
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Some owners that struggle to fill their sits sometimes ask for feedback on their profile from forum members, why donât you try doing that before your subscription expires.
I had a quick glance at your link, and found your âIntroductionâ has less than 20 words in it, that is probably the problem. Some sitters (including us, we sit as a couple) simply wonât apply, because it doesnât let us know anything about you as a person, whereas your pets and location parts are great. We need to know a little about who we are sitting for, especially as we get reviewed from you.
I know it will be harder when you originally had success and then things changed. But if you happen to stay I would tweak your Intro.
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No longer available
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Iâm confused by your post â 2-3 trips, I have had only 3 replies from potential sitters. â is that total? Youâve had great sitters, why not have them back? Me, I pause my listings after 2 applications. Iâd do it after one as the sitters are all so great. Often I get applications too fast.
I donât think your house looks too messy. I wonder if itâs a review issue? Ones youâve left or ones you have been given? Not sure how all that works?
That is a question for sitters. Can you see reviews HO have given? Maybe some are to picky?
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Seems a lovely sit and good reviews, so probably connected to competition and that there are more sits than sitters. Seems from the headline that you looked for a Christmas sit the last time you looked for a sitter (?) a time that is highly competitive. I see that some of your previous sitters have done multiple repeat sits, so a possibility could also be to ask them by private invitation. One really only need one good applicant. Best of luck.
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I agree. I think the go-to when someone says they are struggling to find sitters is to look at the listing and pick it apart. Every sitter is different, but there is nothing in the listing that would put me off sitting for Sarah, it looks like a magical sit and Tiki is adorable.
I think the issue is that it is a highly competitive time and my sense generally is that the pool of excellent home owners and sitters has been diluted somewhat recently. There seems to be more of a disparity than ever before and communication with some members on this site is shockingly poor. For example, I have been a member for several years and have some sits booked up in 2026 already but have really struggled to find a sit at Christmas. I must have applied for six in total and have received only one satisfactory response, with others ghosting or auto-declining. I can only speak from the perspective of a sitter, but I fully understand why Sarah would decide the site is no longer for her.
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This is the current competition in Seattle. I always suggest that folks check against existing competition, because if your listing isnât as good or better, itâs going to be hard to land a sitter.
It has nothing to do with picking apart a listing. Itâs about being realistic about what youâre up against. Seattle sit homes often are well furnished, well lighted, with little clutter. I say that, because I look at those listings a lot.
BTW, Christmas sits are highly competitive for hosts to fill in cities such as Seattle, D.C. and San Francisco. Thatâs because those cities have LOADS of people who moved from elsewhere for good jobs. They often return to their familiesâ homes for holidays.
Relatedly, it can be near impossible to book space for paid care or professional sitting in such cities if you want reputable people. Like you have to book many months ahead for some. There are so many people with pets in such cities and many can pay if needed.
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I donât see why youâd not get plenty of applicants! Your home is lovely and just one cat is the easiest possible sit! Seattleâs a great destination too!
My listing has some âmessyâ photos too, but I just leave them up to set expectations lowerâŚlol. (itâs always tidied and clean when sitters arrive tho)
Iâm not signed up as a sitter, but as a homeowner, and I have a new grandchild in Seattle. If I didnât already have a bedroom to use in my sonâs home, Iâd jump at the chance to sit for you occasionally!!
Someone mentioned maybe saying more about yourself. My intro has four sentences.
- Iâm a retired ****** living in *****
- I love finding good folks to hang out with ****
- Why I want to travel frequently (new grandchild)
- A little about my neighborhood.
I live someplace similarly desirable and always get 5+ applicants.
Exactly this. I wouldnât be deterred by a home that has âmessyâ photos. Actually, homes that looked lived in are appealing to me. They also suggest a level of cleanliness that is attainable!
I think itâs less to do with the photos and more to do with elements such as how long the sit is, the animals (one cat is preferable to many people than several energetic dogs, for example) and how the home owner comes across in the introduction and reviews. Every sitter is different of course but, as far as I can see, there is nothing in this listing that would put me off applying.
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Iâm curious about something. Does TH put your home as Seattle or did you choose Seattle as your location? As a sitter who has done multiple sits in Seattle, I honestly find the presence of a number of sits in the suburbs difficult to navigate while Iâm looking to sit in Seattle.
On the other hand, Iâm sure there are a number of sitters, with cars, who prefer to be in the suburbs and donât find your listing. If someone is looking for Wallingford, they may not find you.
Every sitter compares listings, so looking at one listing in isolation doesnât actually offer good feedback.
If this listing were competing effectively, the OP wouldnât be posting about leaving. Theyâre saying theyâve listed multiple sits and have gotten little interest over time, despite having one cat and a solid location.
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Wallingford is in Seattle â itâs a neighborhood, not a suburb.
You canât possibly speak on behalf of âevery sitterâ. I donât compare listings. I take each as it comes and determine whether it is suitable for what I am looking for. I donât view listings as âcompetingâ against each other.
Your approach to this house sitting and this site is different from other sitters, we all vary in our outlook and circumstances yet you speak as if you are the ultimate authority. I posted my perspective, I donât need this to be challenged. I would ask you, as I have in the past, not to respond to my messages because I find your replies combative rather than constructive.
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So you donât look at listings and figure out which to pursue? Thatâs what comparing is. If you randomly pick sits and donât look at any other sits, then youâre actually not a typical sitter. That makes offering feedback moot.
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Comparison is pitting two listings against each other and determining which is preferable. I do not do this. Each listing, each home owner and each sitter is different. I take each as it comes.
What gives you the right to suggest the feedback someone offers is moot? How do you know what constitutes a âtypical sitterâ?
I will not be engaging with you any further. Evidently, you feel the need to be ârightâ more than you feel the need to show respect for your fellow sitters.
Youâre free to engage or not.
Iâm actually trying to help the OP, or if not, maybe some other hosts can use perspective on why theyâre not getting applicants.
There are already more sitters than sits. If a host doesnât optimize their listing against others in their area, theyâll struggle even more.
This host has one cat, a home in a good location â Wallingford is a nice neighborhood. And they wrote a strong description of nearby attractions and amenities.
They can make relatively small changes and potentially get a sitter. Hope they can if thereâs enough time left on their membership.
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Thank you for your replies and suggestions! My pictures used to be more cluttery and I still had lots of replies. My intro could be longer, more detailed.
I donât know if sitters can be specific and look up âIn cityâ listings. When I tried looking, my in-city neighborhood was included with suburbs and far-flung towns and cities. Not helpful at all.
Seattle is very popular and I am sure there are more sits than sitters. Planning 6 months ahead is great if you can do it, but not always possible. THS used to solve these last minute sitter needs. THS has grown, which can be a plus and a minus.
The good newsâMy immediate neighbors have twin 12 year old grand-girls visiting from abroad for a month and they are thrilled to get the job, and I am grateful and relieved.
Thanks again. Happy Christmas and 2025 to you all!
Sarah
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A number of hosts have posted about no longer being able to get sitters as easily or at all (at least sitters they want). Itâs because the ratio of sitters has changed vs. sits â the more sits / hosts join disproportionately vs. sitters, the more selective sitters can be.
If so, hosts need to make their listings more attractive or risk not getting sitters (with the exception of those in the most popular areas, which tend to have few sits relative to demand).
Of course, if youâre happy with the neighborâs grandkids taking care of your cat, then allâs well. Happy holidays!
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It might help if you tidy up, declutter and take new photos, especially the kitchen.