Thank youš
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lots of great tips here! there are many different types of sitters who use the platform for many different reasons, so thereās no one-size-fits-all. a lot of it is about matching with the right sitters for you, which means you may not be a good fit for other sitters and their preferences, which is ok.
but clarity and communication are important in all scenarios, and generally not taking the sitter for granted and treating them like someone youāre eager to host (taking steps to demonstrate your eagerness to ensure they have a successful and enjoyable sit) will also ensure you get great sitters!
and as @avidtraveler mentioned, post your dates as early as possible, remembering that the end of your travel plans ā i.e. posting your dates ā is only the beginning of your sitterās plans. the more advance notice you give, the larger of a pool youāll have to choose from.
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also, if you ever want feedback on your listing, youāre always welcome to post that request here, and weāll gladly give specific feedback on it 
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Hi @Kali and welcome. I like to see in a listing how long pets can be left alone (4 hours is my minimum). Also I look for a write up that indicates a sitter will be appreciated and not considered āstaff.ā
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@Kali, commendable mindset.
In case helpful there was a recent Forum thread on āgreen flagsā, that were deemed as aspects of a housesit that were especially attractive to housesitters. As opposed to āred flagsā that lead to housesitters not applying, declining or having poor experience. The thread highlighted all sorts of positive ideas.
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Excellent quote!
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I prefer hosts who are quick to communicate which makes me think they will be reachable during my sit.
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What tone does your listing have? Because we are not being paid, we are not employees and I donāt like sits that feel like I will be an un paid worker instead of feeling like a guest.
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I have a host friend who used āASAPā constantly: āPlease return my texts promptly, and respond wether or not you will be accepting the sit. ASAP!ā
It wasnāt exactly welcoming and probably set off a red flag for sitters. Always get a feel for whether or not you think the sitter will communicate with you or ask how many updates you would like for your best. Personally, I send a photo every time I think pets do something cute and warn the hosts that they donāt have to respond to every text I send. Lol
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In terms of selling yourself I find that video chat or in person meets is best. You could talk about the area, places of attraction, and good eating spots. Tell them a little bit about yourself and interests and ask about theirs! For example if they like yoga and you have a great patio to do yoga on then mention that! Sitters want to feel at home and by sharing was makes your home welcoming you make your listing more attractive. Those were just examples by the way.
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You can get to know their habits in my experience I hesitate to ask hosts questions that I think will risk my application. You can ask them if they like to go out to lunch, how long they can be away from pets, I sit in an area with awesome hiking. Do they like to cook and can they use your spices. Are you okay with them inviting guests over for tea or something. The more a sit feels like an equal change the more attractive your listing will be.
I hope you meet amazing sitters!
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Grainy old photos on a profile- itās questionable!
I also appreciate when there are photos of the entire house, like the back yards, all the bedrooms, kitchen, living rooms. Driveway
Thanks. Alot of great stuff here
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Kali, you may want to find out if the sitter has their own auto insurance coverage that will apply when they are driving your car, OR if you need to add them as a driver on your auto insurance policy. Itās more difficult in some countries than others, due to insurance regulations.
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