Instant Attractions & Instant Turn offs

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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This is a light-hearted post but it could be revealing for home owners if they read it.

As a sitter, when scrolling through listings, what is the ONE thing that immediately attracts you to a sit? And what is an immediate turn off?

I am rarely looking for specific dates or location so it’s mainly the first photo that catches my eye.

My immediate attraction is a home that looks really interesting and quirky.

An instant turn off is a badly made bed with creased bed linen that hasn’t been ironed.

These are not deal breakers, I can see past them if I do pause to consider, but I’m talking about INSTANT REACTIONS.

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Blimey, ironed bed linen, who has the time or inclination to do that?

I look to see if the home is tidy and not too small, cramped and cluttered.

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Turn off for me is a messy home which includes messy bed , sofa and kitchen

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Dishes in sink stuff everywhere.also prefer a guest room don’t want to sleep in their bed.

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@Smiley and your instant attraction?

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@Genevere and your instant attraction?

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About the photos:

Instant attractions: Cute pets, beautiful nature pics, scenic views from a cosy room, pictures that have little imperfections, because it comes across as more easygoing and relaxing. Creased bedding and imperfectly made beds are fine for me!

Turnoffs: toilet photo as the cover photo

About the text (more important to me than photos)

Attraction: Friendly tone, inviting language, welcoming vibe

Turnoff: Businesslike tone, talking only about what they want and not what they can offer the sitter, saying that you need to clean every day or everything needs to be spotless, or simply too little information.

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OK @andrealovesanimals that’s a bit more than one thing :rofl: so I challenge you to pick one. What stops you in your tracks when scrolling through listings?

For me it would be the scenic view from a cosy room. And I definitely agree, a toilet photo as main photo and I would probably just scroll on past.

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Thanks @TheEnglishFlaneur but what is your first, instant attraction, if you are scrolling through listings? You are not really going to be able to assess all those things unless you stop to look at the listing.

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For me the no go is clutter! I mean to the point there is very little working space on the kitchen counter.

And what catches my eye is the architecture of the home or an amazing view from a window :rainbow:

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It’s all about location for us, so the number one thing is where it is, and what is there to do nearby.

Other than London, If its somewhere we have already been, or have no personal connection to, I scroll on by!

But in terms of photos on the listing, thankfully this has never happened with a listing I want to apply for, but WHY do people set their first photo as their bathroom?! Its incredibly offputting!!

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Instant attraction: Location, location, location! Instant turnoff: Messy & Clutter

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@SerenitybytheSea yes, an amazing view would catch my eye too although it’s very disappointing sometimes to then click on the listing and discover that the view is nowhere near the home. So I’ve learnt to look for the window around the view. :wink:

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So, @catscatscats24 if you are searching by location, and scrolling through, maybe, 200 listings what is the ONE thing that immediately makes you stop scrolling and take a proper look?

I agree about the bathroom photo :person_facepalming:

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@Seniorsitter so, imagine you have searched by location and scrolling through, maybe, 200 listings what is the ONE thing that immediately makes you stop scrolling and take a proper look?

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Deleted reply.

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The Iron Age finished ages ago. (When I stopped working)

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:white_check_mark: Reviews, timing, a sense the HO has gone the extra mile to make the sitters comfortable

:cross_mark: cluttered house, unmade bed, when HO refers to their pets as their babies (I know this will be unpopular but each their own)

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19

Thanks @Oztravels but you aren’t going to know those things unless you read the listing. Although, you might see the cluttered house if it’s the first photo.

When scrolling through listings, what is the ONE thing that would immediately attract you and stop you scrolling past?

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A pool. I had a house with a pool. Now retired I only have access to a community pool. Love to swim and community pools can be crowded. On this platform I hardly see houses in the location I want. So location always is the priority.

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