How to show only available sitters

[Smiley]

Yes I did know that Angela. Thanks

[CoolCatAunt]

I keep getting invites for dates I’m already booked to sit through THS (confirmed and blocked out on my calendar). Seems strange that my profile would even come up for those dates. Is there a way that can be fixed on the back end so we don’t even show up as an option? It would be like if when I searched for sits for June I got shown sits for September.

[thejohnsfam]

If owners aren’t looking for sitters for a certain time frame, it shows all sitters on the site. Many owners likely don’t know that they can filter by availability (or have realized that a vast majority of sitters don’t use the calendar functionality since it can be clunky).

[Catgoddess_99]

I’ve been receiving multiple invites lately and so grateful, yet my availability has changed, and I cannot locate the area on the dashboard to update it. I don’t want to waste people’s time and have been replying with thank you messages and do bookmark my profile for future, yet would like to update my availability. Where do I find it.

Thanks so much

Catgoddess in San Francisco

[Catgoddess_99]

One more question? When I highlight the dates that confirms when I’m “not available”? As opposed to when I am available. Want to verify? Thanks in advance.

[thejohnsfam]

No, you mark your availability. The blank dates mean you are unavailable by default and dates marked with an X mean you are on a THS sit.

For example, here’s my calendar of my unavailable time:

You can see the X’s are when I’m on THS sits.

Here is what it looks like when it’s available:

[Catgoddess_99]

This is the area I’m referring to where I’d be unavailable

[thejohnsfam]

Correct, so the dates you want to put in are when you are specifically available. The rest of the time is by default unavailable.

[Snowbird]

@Catgoddess_99 You may find it helpful to read @anon36831737 's comprehensive review of the Sitter AVAILABILITY calendar. By default, the calendar is set to unavailable and you enter the dates you are available, hence the reason he has that word stressed. However, even with your calendar set correctly, you are still likely to get invites from homeowners who don’t first check your calendar. I had an invite today from a homeowner for dates when I’m already on a THS sit, so clearly marked on my calendar. There are various reasons why this happens but sending a polite message declining the invite is likely appreciated by the homeowner.

[AllyMac]

Hi @CambridgeAnnie, your listing looks lovely and I’m sure there are sitters out there for you.
As a sitter I have a couple of thoughts…when I read ‘spoilt cats’ in the title I imagine high-maintenance, getting up and down a million times to open doors etc. When actually the opposite is true, as they come and go as they please, whilst also liking fuss and attention which as a sitter I would love to offer. Sitters might pass by without reading further, so how about ‘Low maintenance but soppy cats in rural home 30 mins from coast’
All that info about the cats’ characters and routine would be good to put in the Responsibilities section as well, as I am always disappointed when there’s not much info in there. Even if you feel it’s repeating yourself!
We sit as a family, so we would note that you haven’t listed as family-friendly, but if it was and the dates suited it looks like a great opportunity.

[Kelownagurl]

@Snowbird

You may find it helpful to read @Petermac 's comprehensive review of the Sitter AVAILABILITY calendar.

This is an example of the kind of thing I think we need in a Forum FAQ. So we can quickly and easily direct people to great posts like Peter’s.

[Catgoddess_99]

Thanks Snowbird. It’s been edited.