We’re doing some early research to better understand how members use search on Trusted Housesitters and how it could work even better in the future.
This work is exploratory. We’re gathering feedback, testing ideas, and learning directly from members so we can make informed decisions about potential improvements, your input helps guide our thinking.
Some members may receive an email inviting them to share feedback as part of this research. Taking part is completely optional, and participation helps us understand what would be most valuable to the community.
We’ll continue sharing updates, listening and learning as we go, and we appreciate everyone who contributes their perspective.
Mark, you’re doing a stellar and sterling job “promoting” (spinning) the idea that that anyone actually listens or pays attention to the ideas that are exchanged here in the forum. Piano, piano, but please don’t infantalise us. Just explain, for example, how the recent changes and especially increased fees benefit members beyond the “(inset appropriate adjective) explanation that “The booking fee was introduced in response to the growing cost of running and supporting a global service, including improving the platform, supporting members when issues arise, and investing in areas members consistently raise, such as trust and safety, and ongoing enhancements to the app and website.”. Or (heaven’s above) let management explain.A radical idea. Now you may split/delete/ignore my comment. Oh by the way; congratulations on the upwardly creeping approval rating on Trust pilot. Some of those reviews actually read as though they were from real people
Especially as there are dozens and dozens of comments regarding the search functionality, genuine constructive feedback, that was shared here (and ignored) over years…
@Nofurbabies I understand your point but Mark’s request was for search improvements. Perhaps my point stems from living away from my birth country of Wales for 50+ years, having to so many times explain that Wales is not a part of England.
However, I’ll give examples of why I think setting UK countries as countries within their own rights is valid and useful.
I searched Wales, UK. Wales showed as a ‘region’ , or a city in England.
I think it’s a great idea to have a thread specifically dedicated to requests for improvements in Search functionality, especially as it’s such a core feature of the system. Planning to hunt down some of the suggestions made in previous comments to being them over here. (Maybe others would be willing to do the same, to help take some of that load off the moderation team.)
@Mark_B : is there any way to allow people to “vote” on their higher-priority requests as they get posted? Or I guess maybe just using & counting the “thumbs up” responses could help indicate interest…?
(I’d also be delighted to be included in the user-group/email list, if the opportunity arose.)
From a development standpoint, I keep wondering if there isn’t a 3rd party mapping plugin that sites like AirBnB, Expedia, Zillow and others use that includes logic like this — as well as understanding regions, countries, provinces, states, etc.
I also think it would be extremely useful to be able to draw a custom search area on a map, ala Zillow & other apps — although this would only be truly useful if Listings were assigned a “searchable location” based on their postal code, instead of using whatever city the Host claims their home is in.
When gathering feedback from Duo Sitters, suggest ask each person to contribute feedback.
My spouse and I use THS Saved Search function in very different ways. Approaches hopefully complimentary. Patient spouse goes through Saved Searches one-by-one on iOS or website (checks recent listings under each search). Impatient me relies on notifications from only a few (i.e. near-term or fun) Saved Searches.
For context, we have maybe 20 Saved Searches at any one time. Searches cover different time periods in different geographies (ballpark Plan A ish ) plus some opportunistic searches for ideal listings (for which we’d pivot plan ).
@MerryPuppins, we use the custom area function within Saved Search on THS iOS app. Really handy, when flexible mindset beyond strict countries or other fixed definitions. By way of example, we have used custom area Saved Searches listings for Scandinavia. Ish. And as a workaround for Schengen area - for which THS seems determined not to permit search . Custom area is not perfect - as only regular shape; THS zooms out; and some listings are not actually in stated location (ugh) - but better than nothing.
Snowbird, as a proud Scot I am 100% with you on this
and that is without being anti English, as I have done a sit in Carlisle England, and have 2 upcoming in Northern Ireland, I was specifically looking for Welsh sits, as was keen to complete my UK set, and resorted to searching by city, Swansea or Cardiff in the first instance.
The phrase ‘even better’ suggests that it is already good. This is not the case.
One thing I would like would be to search on a group of areas, for example Cumbria and Yorkshire and Northumberland instead of having three separate searches
goes through Saved Searches one-by-one on iOS or website (checks recent listings under each search). Impatient me relies on notifications from only a few (i.e. near-term or fun) Saved Searches.
) plus some opportunistic searches for ideal listings (for which we’d pivot plan 
).
. Custom area is not perfect - as only regular shape; THS zooms out; and some listings are not actually in stated location (ugh) - but better than nothing.