We’ve been using THS for several years and always received great 5* reviews from our equally lovely sitters. Sadly, our most recently agreed sitters had to cancel (not their fault - there were unfortunate family care issues). With 6 weeks to go, we thought we’d be fine to find new sitters for our two cats. But we have had absolutely no interest.
It seems a bit strange, and has never happened before. We’re in a lovely location (the Peak District) and we’ve always had many applications previously. Is it because the sit is quite long (3 weeks), or in the middle of the summer (15 July - 6 August)? Or is it because it’s quite a short time now to our holiday?
We have friends who could cover some of the time. Should we post a shorter sit - maybe two weeks? Or just hang in there with everything crossed?
I’ve tried inviting sitters, but as you can’t filter the sitters’ list for those definitely available (green highlighted) over those dates, this is very difficult to do.
Agree that it is somewhat strange. If you’d like, you can link to your listing in your forum profile, and we can help out if there are things in the listing that could be tweaked to get more attention. Sometimes it is just little alterations that could make an impact.
Your listing looks great. I think you will find someone soon.
This is a busy time of year for many people with end of school and graduations, etc. When things settle down in the next week or two, I think more people will be looking for a summer adventure.
Your sit sounds like a perfect getaway for a person or couple who would enjoy your area.
You have a lovely listing @Lynn-Howard with great reviews. I’m only sorry I’m already on a sit for your dates as I’d have definitely applied.
As it’s showing Low Applications, remove your dates briefly then re-post them. This will make your listing New again. Good luck! I’m sure you’ll secure more lovely sitters.
I think your sit looks lovely and your cats are adorable! However, if I were looking for a sit in the UK, I probably wouldn’t apply because it sounds like a car is needed. You say a car is not essential and there is reasonable bus service, but I’m not sure what that means since you mention short drives to most places. You might attract more sitters who are traveling without a car if it’s clear that it isn’t needed. Can the sitter walk to town - grocery stores, pubs, etc? How far is the nearest bus stop?
I don’t consider three weeks to be a long sit (I’m on a three-month sit now). You are in a beautiful area and cat sits are popular, so I think you will find a sitter. But it might help to make sure sitters who are traveling by public transport know they will be able to get around without a car.
That’s helpful - thanks. We have had sitters without a car. Everything you might need is available in our village, and we have collected sitters from the nearby train station when needed. Most people enjoy the local walks on foot, and our sitters have also used the local bus service to visit attractions further afield. So being without a car would not be a problem.
But maybe we could make that clearer in the posting - so thanks for that suggestion.
@Lynn-Howard Yes, add that to the listing. That info makes it more clear that sitters without a car can still enjoy the area while caring for your lovely cats. I’m favoriting your listing since I’m in the UK frequently.
Your home and cats look wonderful, and I wish I could help you but am ‘busy with another sit’ - the message that came up when I checked to see if you have had any applicants since your post here.
3 weeks would be great but it is now short notice and a lot of sitters will be booked up but, you never know! I’ve favourited your sit for possibly the future.
Good luck! Let us know here if you’re successful.
Yes, but I’m biased. I’m one of those sitters who has been frequently invited, accepted, and had a great time! I suspect one reason it doesn’t work out as well as it could is that homeowners don’t know how to do it effectively.
Kittysitter has good suggestions. I must admit though that standard e-mails from hosts doesn’t tempt me. They come across as someone that hasn’t got any applications and one would wonder why. It would be more tempting if it was clear that the host has read my listing and want «me» instead of lacking appl. So for that approach I would personalize it to each sitter, as most sitters do when they apply. Many hosts would also say they decline standard texts, it’s the same.
Your sit looks lovely!! Have you thought about contacting folk who previously sat for you? (Sorry if that question has already been asked - I haven’t had time to read all the responses!)
@Lynn-Howard There are currently 421 advertised listings in the UK that fall between your dates. You have competition! The longer it has been listed, the further it slips down that list. The majority are labelled like yours, Low Applications. I strongly suggest you do as I mentioned in my first response and remove your dates for just a minute or two then re-post them. You need your listing as New to catch the eye of sitters! You can do this as often as you want to. Judging by the number of us who have now Favourited it, it should be attracting applicants who are available but it needs to hit them in the eye as a New listing. All the best!
Thanks for taking such time & care to share this advice. It is much appreciated.
It is frustrating that it isn’t possible to filter sitters by their available dates & ask them if they’d like to apply. It says you can, but that filter brings up both sitters who specifically state they are available (so are highlighted green), and sitters who just don’t say anything about those dates (so just have no info about those dates), and there are far, far more of the latter. Ho-hum.
Almost no sitters use the calendar, as it is pretty much useless. Many of us have jobs, family and such, it is limited how many sitters do sitting full time (those I think are often booked months or a year ahead - often on several months sits and/ or repeat sits?). So I would disregard the calendar in general.
if you don’t get any applications!