How should HOs handle…

Owner Questions, Advice & Chat
41

I start by thanking each applicant for showing interest and then I tell them that I’ll get back to them soon and I hope to make a decision by such-and-such a date. (usually pretty quickly)

I then peruse the applicants reviews and bios. If they’re obviously just not a fit, I thank them again for their interest but that I’ll be choosing another sitter this time then decline their offer to sit and archive the conversation.

Now, this part might be controversial. But sometimes I’ll get five applicants within a couple of hours at which point THS slams the door to new applicants (wish it weren’t this way). When that happens, I’ll go ahead and decline unsuitable candidates and then I’ll manually re-activate the listing for others to apply while I start to make arrangements to have a video chat with one (or possibly) two folks! When I first started THS, I might do this repeatedly and will have had ten or more applicants by the end. Now, I seldom “re-open” the listing more than once because I’ve found that my sitter is usually among the first three to apply.

I try to chat with my #1 candidate as soon as possible. If their application is very strong and their reviews are all good (I have overlooked a single “bad” review on occasion if the homeowner seems a bit crazy) I’ll usually offer them the sit that same day.

If they accept/confirm, I then tell the other suitable candidates that they seem great, but that I’ve found my sitter and ask if they’d be ok with me contacting them again should something happen with the currently arranged sitter. (I keep those messages in my active inbox)

I try to activate my listing when I have a LOT of flexibility for the next few days to thoroughly read bios and reviews and arrange video chats. I ask suitable applicants to let me know some days/times that work for them to chat.

While tempting, I seldom list and choose my sitter in one day, and NEVER without a video chat. I DO try to make a decision within about three days of originally listing.

I have been on THS a little over a year. I just chose my sitter for the 14th sit. Over 300 sitters have “favorited” my listing, so I know folks who want to visit my area are alert to new sits. Those are the most likely folks to be sure about wanting to commit - so dragging it out seems counterproductive. I don’t want to lose the perfet sitter by taking too long to choose.

I think your process is fine, but I think just choosing ONE potential sitter to interview and one “backup” would save you time. You can initially make queries about timing re: scheduling a chat without telling them how many you’ll talk to, speak to #1 then if that doesn’t work out, you can confirm a time for #2.

Just a couple of tips I’ve learned the hard way:

  1. Make sure to have ALL people who might be coming on the sit in the video-chat. (ie: spouse, etc.). I WISH I had done this for one sit - pretty sure I’d not have chosen “them” - I chose based on talking to one of them and, man, the complete package was quite different from what was represented. ….and
  2. Beware of local applicants. While some might just like having a break (with some animals) from a crowded household situation (especially younger folks), some might call themselves “nomads” but pretty much be “homeless” (and carless) by most people’s standards. I had a bit of trouble with one sitter who was such. That said, some of my best sitters have been gainfully employed professionals who work remotely (or retirees with an income) and are truly “nomads” … facinating and cool folks every time (often with wonderful stories!)

edit to add: btw, while I probably just did it, I’m TRYING to not use the word INTERVIEW any more to honor the vibe that it’s a mutual exchange and not a job “interview”

42

You do realise that by taking so much time your ideal sitter may disappear into the ether never to be seen again. Good, diligent sitters are sought after and if you are lucky to have one apply have the video call at your or theirs earliest convenience.

We apply for any sit that meets our criteria and it’s more or less who accepts us first is the person we sit for. The criteria is hard and fast and we do not waste time applying for any sits that are almost perfect but not quite. Maybe have a think about your method.

43

In our experience, there have been multiple ideal sitters applying to every sit. I’m sure we’ve “lost” some good ones because they were snatched up by another sit but, so far, we’ve not sensed any loss at our end.

44

Great. Your method obviously works for you.

45

I would not drop the video calls - they really do give you an insight into the kind of people they are. Because of our location we always get a lot of applications very quickly. I prioritize my applicants according to their past reviews, and organize calls with the top 1 or 2. Last time I ended up being surprised by having the second most well reviewed person doing much better on video than the one with the most reviews. Keeping all up to date is polite. It’s your house and your pets - you’re entitled to take your time to find someone you feel comfortable with :slight_smile:

46

We do it like you do…and we’ve been very careful about choosing the best sitter, and thus we’ve so far had very good experiences. We’ve had sitters return too because we (and our little dog) really clicked with them. We do keep open communication with folks telling them we’re working through applications and when we plan to make a decision. We typically do 3-4 video calls before making the final selection. We don’t feel it’s awkward at all…we’re just trying to find the best fit and are also open to sitters wanting to ask us as much as they can to ensure the same from their side. That said, we are quick to turn down those that are obviously not a match, and do ask some initial questions right off the bat that let us quickly determine if it’s worth moving forward. The more the sitter shares about their circumstances the better we can come to mutual understanding early on. We do understand some may not want to wait up to a week for a decision and drop out (a couple have) but that too is indicative to us. To us, this process is essential even if it does require a lot of due diligence.

47

You are doing it the proper way. As a “sitter”, I always apply with a nice letter telling about myself and why I’m interested in the sit. If the host hasn’t at least given me the courtesy of a reply with 48 hours , I pull the application. I view it as a red flag.

48

Same here. Plenty of attractive listings and no cap like there is for hosts, but due to high criteria, I’m rarely ready to send more than one or two offers of interest in the same destination - and so far, haven’t needed to either.

Did that recently; Both in the afternoon, same city, identical dates. One responded quickly - ready to chat, cover details and questions, commit, and confirm. Done within the hour. When the other replied a few hours later, I was no longer available.

Once there’s a clear match, I move. No reason to keep browsing or leading others on, and risk losing a solid fit. If that’s not mutual, I lose interest and decline immediately. To me, that signals a lack of character or decisiveness..potential red flags down the line.

I don’t enjoy declining either, but much rather withdraw due to neutral reasons like pace or timing than being someone wasting anyone’s time. External reasons still keeps the door open down the line. The other shuts it completely.

Time is the currency and mine isn’t cheap.

49

Your approach is like that of an employer.

We prefer to be consciously chosen, so if we heard this, we’d immediately withdraw our application.

As has already been suggested, prioritise those whose applications immediately ‘speak’ to you and promptly arrange a video chat. If you connect during the chat, confirm the sit quickly (remember that most sitters are also potentially exploring several sits, and HOs who dither or plan to speak with other sitters may lose out).

50

You’re absolutely correct. Our process is every much like a job interview leading to employment. However, I’m not looking for an employee and highly doubt any of our sitters or applicants would say they were treated like employees. So that’s all good.

The interesting problem I’m encountering with your suggested method (also suggested by many other sitters here) is that there aren’t clear differentiators to the applications being received. I think it’s a little bit myopic for experienced sitters on this forum to assume that applicants in general have pop-to-the-top stellar profiles. I’ve seen maybe 5 such profiles in the process of filling 10 sits over 3+ years. I think it takes more effort by HOs to find a good fit than sitters realize and, from what I’m seeing, the required effort is increasing.

52

@SteveS you’ve been lucky! I’ve mostly had great applicants but I have (almost) immediately declined:

  • a sitter who expressed little interest in my pets - no mention of even liking cats - and clearly just needed a place to stay while they worked nearby for the summer.

  • a family of 4. Even though they seemed great, our home isn’t kid friendly.

  • a new sitter who went on a long random tangent about raising water dragons but was overall kind of flippant about animal care.

  • a young solo sitter coming to California for summer from UK, lives with parents, first time traveling alone. That’s a nope for us, the 10 or so animals we had at the time, and our rural property.

53

Some hosts won’t so much as speak to you unless you live in the same local community or village. They expect a local Mary Poppins to pop out of nowhere, entirely at their disposal. The concept of travel is lost on them - they joined cause of marketing, convinced THS pays, endorces and trains someone to deliver a service.

That leaves them not only hopelessly unprepared to actually find a good match, but also desperate and vulnerable when it fails, to those who use the platform to extract money from hosts, especially the elderly

54

Recently, I’ve had many sitters apply who had just joined THS within the past few days to a week. They had zero reviews and zero references. I have a sit coming up in October for 3 weeks. My longest vacation to date and I posted my sit 6 months in advance. Someone who has zero reviews, I don’t know if pet sitting will work for them and actually show up for the sit. I usually look for like minded individuals or couples. In our profile, we list our hobbies and things we like to do so the sitter can get a feel for us as people. Most of the time in their letter to us, they tell us about themselves too. One couple we had sit for us for a week, we went to dinner with them the night before and turns out my husband and the husband of the couple wrestled in high school. (We are both retired so it was a very long time ago). They were a year apart, but didn’t wrestle against each other. It was amazing the stories they were telling each other. We are in CA and they are in MN and this took place in IA. Talk about small world.

55

@SteveS I decline any sitter’s application that merely says something like “I’m interested in your sit, refer to my profile.” No effort in their application receives just as much effort in my rejection.