We have had over 30 sitters, some repeat.
Now we are looking for another one. It seems to be getting harder to find one. Also so far, we have had only one video call, all others were arranged without. We as well our sitters received all 5 star reviews. I don’t get it, really, the profiles and the application say it all, or almost all. I don’t need a video call. It is hard to have one with the time differences and the work my husband does.
Confused about how it seems to go here.
It seems that you’re asking two unrelated questions here.
As far as the video call goes, it appears that most hosts and sitters prefer to have one and it’s been suggested on another thread recently started by a forum moderator that the statistics point to video calls leading to more successful sits than fthose that were not preceded by a video call.
As far as your other question, with the notable exception of hosts who reside within the USA and are affected by new border restrictions, there does not seem to be an overall change in hosts being able to find sitters. There is an occasional post by an individual such as yourself, but posts such as these go back years.
You probably should be asking what you might be able to change about your listing that will attract more sitters.
Where are you located? If by change in the USA, many hosts there struggle, as international travel to USA is down (and by extension, USA sitters have much more choice). Also as work from home is getting more rare, that also limits the pool outside holidays. And we’re all scared and struggling with money right now, that affects sitters everywhere. Would be nice if there was some statistics. (One is that the web searches for THS are down from last year, but that does not really explain why sitters who have already puchased a membership would be less active).
I dont find video calls nessessery, but most of my hosts do. I think one reason why people find them important is because they strongly believe that they can get the “feeling” of someone and find a better match. There are some cases where video call has been beneficial (such as cultural misunderstanding being cleared - without the video call neither would have realized that it existed). Because of this belief (there is not really any data to prove that sits with video calls are more successful than sits without it), you are sometimes seen as suspicious, like you have something to hide, if you dont agree to one.
So better just squeeze the calls to your schedule. But if you are happy with an applicant, go ahead and confirm them before arranging the call. That shows that you are committed, and motivates them to commit. However, do keep a deadline, f e if they dont accept the sit in 3 days, move to the next applicant (if you have one).
I dislike video calls but if that’s what host wants I certainly will do them.i have been accepted with just a phone call and even with no call of any kind.
In fact there is.
Well we did find the best of the best of sitters in over 30sits without video calls, or any calls for that matter.
We reside in Europe. With all the past sits we have had, the applicants were quickly 5 and very interested. Now to get an answer back is like pulling teeth.
Not sure why I should change my listing when it worked as well as it has.
Because it’s not working now.
We are in Switzerland. As said, we have had the best of matches over and over again. Without calls. Repeat people, sitters. Now we don’t get as many as quickly who apply and on top you can see they read your message but don’t answer.
Mine so far 100% TOP sitters and in over 30 of them only one video call. An awkward one I might add. 
Cause they did not really know how to.
Well then advice me to what you would change. 
They don’t know how to speak to a person using a camera and microphone?
Might have been their age and use of a smart phone. But they were fantastic sitters and we will have them back next year.
Having a video chat (or not) is a mutual decision. Just because a host doesn’t want one doesn’t mean they decide unilaterally. Some sitters won’t take sits without them.
As for why you’re not getting bites now, we’d be randomly guessing. Usually sits in Europe are popular. Maybe share your listing here and get feedback that might help you.
If you don’t know how to add your listing:
thank you, have done that now.
I NEED a video call! I would never accept anyone without it.
I want to see the person who is supposed to sleep in my bed and is going to use my bathroom and kitchen. No way would I accept anyone without getting a visual impression of the person. I have never been wrong “judging” potential sitters with my gut feeling. Not only the body language and how they react is a criteria but also what I can see from the surroundings. If everything is cluttered I can imagine what it would look like in my home and it doesn’t matter if its their own home or on a sit. You’re either organized or you’re not.
Also I want to see how someone reacts to my questions or if chatting is easy and forthcoming. If someone seems to be complicated then I don’t consider them a match.
We are easy going and practical people. We try to be online and communicative as much as possible and I usually respond asap. I expect the same from a sitter, especially if situations arise where action is necessary.
We once had a sitter who just wrote the bare minimum during a sit, told me my cat didn’t take her meds and then I couldn’t reach her for 24 hrs. I was furious and I should have known, because she had been complicated from the first contact. Never again.
Hi Jac, I have just had a look at your listing and it looks fabulous. I don’t normally sit cats, I’m more of a dog person who enjoys exercising them. But, I’d definitely make an exception for your pets and home. I’d much prefer a sit in Switzerland than some other European countries e.g. Greece. I’ll keep an eye out for future dates you might have and if I see any that match with my availability I’ll be applying.
Your home and sit look lovely. As you have 3 cats, that can be a more straightforward situation vs a home that has dogs or various other pets, so you’ve likely been successful without a video call.
In your listing you may change your wording to read something like ‘Our sit and cats are very straightforward and we have had many successful sitters that have not needed a video call prior to confirming and we are ok with that’.. Or something like that. The way you currently state it is a little blunt and makes it sound like the sitter is being needy by asking for a video call (which isn’t the case, it’s just that many sits aren’t as clear and straight forward as yours is).
Good luck!
You have a lovely home, easy cats and quite a number of stellar reviews going back almost 7 years. If you are having a harder time finding sitters then sitters are definitely becoming harder to find. There are quite a few reports from hosts over the last year reporting the same difficulties. I think there are a few standout reasons.
THS has been actively growing its subscriber base. My sense and guess is that the majority of new members are going to be hosts looking for sitters and the sitters they do add are new to sitting. Unbalanced supply and demand is the unfortunate result with a glut of sits and a shortage of sitters.
Remote work online that ramped up during Covid is now ramping down. That reduces the number of active sitters.
The surge in post-Covid revenge travel has combined with building anxiety over global instability to substantially shift the demographics of travelers. My guess is that the effects impact sitters more than hosts.
Still, I’ll be shocked if you do not find a great match with a sitter.
Hi there
thank you! Like I said, never ever have we had a “bad” sitter. Always best of catsitters, also with the house. I would love to have you as our sitter anytime
Hello Felinelover
aiiiii I have been told not to be a “diplomat” guess it struck again. I will go and change that right away. THANKS