Hi all. We’re in the DMV region, and planning a trip Aug 19-Sep 3 (Labor Day is Sep 1). Despite reposting a couple of times, we have had no bites! Even reached out to past sitters and others who have bookmarked our listing, and nearby sitters, but no luck.
Looking at DC-area listings, almost all of them are showing “low applicants.” What gives, is there a sitter strike afoot?!
Thanks for any tips/suggestions!
Hi @Elise, do remember this is an international site and many of us have no idea where the DMV region or DC area are!!
D.C. = Washington, D.C.
DMV = D.C., Maryland, (Northern) Virginia — it’s considered one metropolitan area, because many people commute for jobs across the region.
D.C. typically has loads of sits all yearlong, so you want your listing to be competitive. You can search for previous threads on how to do that. Plus, take a look at other listings in the area so you can see what competing sits are offering.
You have a really nice listing, great pictures. Looks like you have 2 applications now, that’s great.
Apologies! My husband posted that (normally I post) so think he forgot.
Thanks for explaining the DC/DMV reference! We have been on the site several years so are quite aware of the competition, especially in the summer. Usually we get several applications.
We’ve tried our best to make our listing competitive. One issue may be that we are one block outside of DC and there are over 100 current sits in DC alone. Even if you put our town’s name specifically in the search field, it shows DC sits and not ours. You have to zoom in specifically where we are to see the sit. It is quite frustrating.
Thanks, we had one application but are hesitant due to some mixed reviews on both sides for their previous sits. We did get another application last night that looks more promising so we will see. 
Yes, it’s tough for locations with a lot of competition, especially during holiday timing.
I just took a look at your listing and there are two things you might want to address: Spell out Neil’s medication process, because some sitters hesitate about possible difficulties with that. And at least a couple of reviews mention that two of the cats might try to escape the yard, which might cause concerns about having to look for them. Do they have trackers?
Yes, that would be a red flag for me as well.
Don’t do sits you are not comfortable with, re. mixed reviews.
Thanks, I will add more info to Neil’s medication process (just giving a pill with a couple treats before he eats his breakfast). We had much more detailed information in our listing but were concerned it was TOO much info and it was turning people off so we drastically shortened it.
Only one cat occasionally escapes the yard these days, so she’s only allowed out under supervision. She does have a tracker though. Do you think I need to put this in the listing?
You have a great listing, the question I would have is around the amount of time the cats need access to and supervision outside. I don’t think this would necessarily stop me from applying but would be a question I would address before confirming the sit.
I cared for one cat who liked to go walkabout and who had a tracker. The only reason I didn’t worry myself to the point of no sleep was that the owner said not to panic if she didn’t come in by dark - that she could stay out all night. She did just that on 2 nights out of a 10-day sit. Of course I worried anyway, but I didn’t lose sleep over her.
I fret more about the cats without a tracker who “always come home for dinner or if not, just shake the can of treats and call their name”. Because they don’t necessarily. And then what? Then I’m up waiting half the night to hear them scratching at the door. That has happened several times. That is not good.
That’s all you need say.
About trackers, I’d note that the kitties have trackers if that’s the case, because reviews have already raised to possibility of escape.
Personally, when I’ve seen listings where sitters are supposed to watch cats and prevent escape while outdoors, I don’t know how realistic that is. I simply skip all those sits to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Boy, I’d love your sit, @Elise but we’re not traveling in that time frame.
Good luck! and be patient for the right sitters! 
If someone is looking to sit exactly in your town, they would search for your town, THEN they would sort the results by “distance” to see which listings are closest to your town.
just curious: did you apply a duration filter to get this number? I imagine that a majority of these hundred are under two weeks, which means you’ll be much more visible to anyone searching for longer sits…
Great point, I don’t think I was using a filter. We’re just not used to hearing crickets when we list a sit, particularly a long one.
But good news, we got one more application from someone without red flags, so we met with them immediately and they have confirmed the sit! WHEW.