I am a HO (for 1 year) just turned Dual sitter too. Confirmed our first sit with the 1st application and video chat!! It was very strategic though. It had a Low sitter application badge, just 1 cat to care for, a beautiful home in area we are interested in and 10 day sit. We are driving there 7.5 hours.
1st: Making your profile as a sitter is like applying for a job. Take time to make it really impactful. Choose Great pictures (most WITH various animals, some doing your fav hobbies, a nice pic of you clearly showing your face), fill out the THS Sitter profile thoroughly, make sure to mention your experience with pets, types of pets, giving meds, if you’ve owned rentals or managed rentals, your experience caring for/owning homes, and trouble shooting unexpected issues. If you’re doing this as a couple, are you handy? With what? Does your wife like gardening, plant care? All of these things matter.
Maybe read through some sitter profiles that have a lot of reviews to give yourself an idea of what makes a good sitter profile. Starting with the short sits that are local to you Is the best way to get things going. Your application note should be very personalized to the sit You are applying to (mentioned their animals by name, and breed, how interested you are in their area and why, why you’re a good fit for their sit). Literally treat this like you’re applying for a job and you should be able to get some sits going. Do a good job and get good reviews and you will get better and better sits.
Also, you can link a Linkedin profile if you have one or a AirBnB profile with lots of good reviews into your THS Sitter profile. Connecting these accounts helps build trust with homeowners by verifying your identity and showcasing your history as a reliable guest. I didnt do this and it turned out ok but letting you know.
Your effort on the front end will make a HUGE difference on the back end. Good luck!!!