I joined in March and quickly got applications for my March and August sits. I have had quite a few people save my listing, but havent had any applications for my sit over New Year. I boosted it, but want to know if people generally apply nearer the time or is New Year hard to get applicants for?
I know a lot of members DO plan that far ahead but for me personally it’s way too early. Another reason I don’t like that far ahead is, anything can change in what is now over 7 months away. The chances of sitter cancellations is high that far out and also your own plans/circumstances might change in that time also. I know things can happen even when listing a short time out but this far out I believe - you are taking a great risk. If it were me? I would wait at least another few months. Just from personal experience, it doesn’t always work out.
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If you’re in Perth Australia I’m looking for NYE/January! 
Plenty of people visit family over NY so it depends on your location- we booked our flights months ago… and staying with family in Perth over Xmas so no chance of us cancelling. It’s all about context.
Thank you. Will I be able to boost it again later?
We’ve been booked for New Year since around March time. We’re visiting family overseas, so we’re pet sitting nearby, and there are quite a number of sitters like us who will do the exact same thing, and others just simply want a change of scenery at Christmas/New Year.
I, too, would be hesitant about booking this far in advance. Is it a relatively short sit @EmmaNicolaMFL that just covers Christmas and New Year, or a longer one which may be more appealing? It also depends on your start and finish dates too as sits starting right on Christmas and finishing right on New Year can be difficult if sitters are relying on public transport.
As to your boosting question. You can only boost once I believe. However, when you remove your dates then re-list them, this automatically will make your listing New and you can do this as often as you want to.
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There are usually way more NY sits than sitters so your listing needs to be strong @EmmaNicolaMFL . As well as the appeal of the location, the actual dates will have an influence - some bright sparks put 30 Dec to 1 Jan for example or 23 Dec to 30 Dec. Messing up Xmas &/or NY plans for sitters and not proving successful. We’re booked already and will start 18 Dec through to first week in Jan which is a long relaxing holiday time sit. You could also add your listing to your profile if you’d like feedback from experienced forum members.
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It’s 30th Dec until 3rd January.
I’m in South Yorkshire, UK.
I think the length is likely the issue: there’s a lot of options for sitters, and relatively fewer sitters looking for that holiday period, so the ones that are sitting have their pick, and longer stints are just more desirable.
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That’s probably the crux of the issue then, the dates @EmmaNicolaMFL Not hugely appealing to travel the day before NYE.
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Very unusually for us, we booked our New Year sit in January! It will be the third sit for the same people in 2024. We actually agreed the New Year sit before doing our first sit for them, but after a visit to meet them and the pets. This is also unusual, but we got on really well with them, lots in common and house, pets and owners are all great.
We normally do a fairly local sit over Christmas, usually a week or more. We don’t usually arrange it until September onwards. I figured there would be plenty of shorter Christmas sits we could apply for nearer the time and then do the New Year sit afterwards. We don’t need them to tie up perfectly as both will be close to home.
@EmmaNicolaMFL I agree with others that its much to early to look for sitters for such a short sit. Sitters looking for longer Christmas sits might well start booking now and others, like us, will start looking later. We do Christmas sits in different countries every year but always for about 3 weeks to cover the whole holiday period. We’ve never booked before about September but we are the spontaneous types!
I would say your NY sit is more likely to attract someone local to you. Most travelling sitters are likely to look for longer sits at least covering Christmas as well.
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Probably only of interest to somebody visiting family locally to you but wanting the Independence of somewhere else to stay. You might do better on local FB groups. Students going home for Xmas might be interested.
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For just a short sit over New Year, there’s no way I would already aim to apply right now. Way too early to book myself up for 5 days without knowing what other plans and opportunities may arise…
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that is a very good point—college student home for holidays.
the owner might want to sweeten the opportunity by saying things like, “no extra cleaning or laundry required. just clean up after yourself in the kitchen. our pets are the priority.”
there are other threads with more suggestions.
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I may have to ask my neighbour in that case then 
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Just wait until at least Sep @EmmaNicolaMFL and, if possible, make it for a few extra days. You’ll be competing with hundreds and hundreds of other owners wanting sitters over the greatest demand period for sitters so think about what you can do to attract them. You can always attach your listing to your forum profile to get advice and help from members.
I will wait until September, but I can’t extend it as it is just for the duration of our holiday and I need to be back at work.
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