Hello ! I live in San Diego county & I just joined via a referral & have a trip planned for 10.15-10.22 so I made a listing yesterday. My friend said she usually gets applications right away. I haven’t received any. How can you search for a sitter that could be a potential match ? When I clicked on sitters it looked like many folks that also lived in SD which May not make sense that they would want to house sit if they already live here ?
Hi @Cass444
Welcome to the Forum!
I’ve removed your link from your post, and added it to your Forum profile, as we ask that our members don’t share their listing links in a post.
Forum members will be able to access your listing from your profile and give you some feedback!
You might also like to read this amazing topic by @Nagy26 which is full of helpful tips!
Perfect thank you so much !
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You’ll find you love this site. I’ve just glanced at your profile. It will help if you improve your profile a little, I know you have taken the time to write it, but here’s a couple of extra tips.
Your location is VERY vague! You have mentioned trails are 10 - 15 min away, and the beach is 30 min away… but is that in a car or walking? But more importantly, can the dogs be walked from the doorstep? Where is the nearest local shop and do I have to drive to get there? If so, how far is it, what type of shops are there. How many minutes walk or drive?
Your bed would also be a huge issue for us (and therefore perhaps other sitters too).
Good luck, hope that helps
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Agree with previoius remarks. San Diego is a great location. And your dogs look adorable and easy to care for, but the house photos would confuse me and turn me off if I was looking for a sit in your area.
Going through the photos before even reading, I’d move on once I got to the photo of the airmattress. As a sitter I want to see the room I’ll be sleeping in and the bed. I also host and my apartment is small, so sitters are sleeping on the same bed I sleep in, so I can vouch for its comfort.
There are so many photos of the same room from different angles which is not necessary at all. It looks like an open kitchen living room so maybe one photo showing that and another focussing on the kitchen itself, on the living room from a different angle, the dinning area, and most importantly the bedroom where the sitters will sleep.
Reading the description, a lot of sitters will rule out the sit once they read about the blow up mattress. Even a pullout is going to get a lot of move ons. Clean sheets and blankets is a given, so you don’t have to mention they’ll be provided.
I can’t tell you to get another bed for guests, but I think your home would be competitive for sitters if you had one. If you are convinced the blow-up bed is good enough for guests, then at the least, blow it up, make the bed and photograph it in the room all set up and guest ready. You’d still have to describe it as what it is and for good mention it on video chats. IMO, it would be a good investment to go to Wayfare and get an inexpensive frame and low-end memory foam mattress.
The other issue which is huge is better wifi. Many sitters have remote jobs. This can include even people who are semi-retired. We usually partly vacation when we sit, but there are almost always some days or times when we require great internet to check in or work for a few hours so we would move on from your listing. An alternative could be if have great 5G for mobile phones so a sitter could potentially create a hot spot with their own phone, but again, many sitters will move on from “basic” internet.
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Yes please @Cass444 to pictures of a real bed in a real bedroom all made up looking comfy and inviting. It sounds as if the sitter doesn’t get access to the full house. Is that right and can you change that if so? Info please on how long the dogs can be left alone for, plus all the other info both @Marion and @HappyDeb have suggested and it will look much more inviting. This is a platform of mutual exchange so free pet care for free accommodation so both parties need to feel like it’s a great deal. Try and get the pics & description to say “pick me”! #inittowinit
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Hi everyone ! Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such great input ! I needed to make a post asap since I need a sitter for October already but will definitely keep working on the profile. I will definitely get some better photos, take out the repetitive ones, & add some details Re distance. The queen mattress arrives today so I will be setting that up. Unfortunately a real bed is not an option. I do energy work & use that guest bedroom as a studio for energy healing ceremonies & my legal office. So I need something to set up & take down. I work with energy & sharing my bed is a no go but I will working on making that space more comfy. I just moved here in August & will look into getting the high speed Internet option & opening up my office desk for folks. I just can’t make my computer available because of confidential files. I did invite someone from AZ who was interested but unavailable as she’s in the east coast right now. I’ll keep giving this a shot ! I just joined yesterday.
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Give it a minute before you start inviting people. Invitations rarely work as you don’t really know where people are, where they want to be, and whether they are available (the calendar is useless). Your time is better spent improving your listing and making the home really welcoming. Sounds like you’re on the right path.
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Welcome to forum! Good advice already given. Put yourself in the shoes of a sitter, and have in mind that your petsitting guest should be tempted to choose to apply to you and not the other sits that are available. Since you have been referred maybe take a look at the profile of your friend and see if you can spot why your friend gets applications quickly.
Airmattress is not something I would apply for. The sits I’ve done have all offered the master bedroom. I don’t say one «has to» but that is the competition to beat. 
There are other ways also to be hospitable and I’m sure you’ll find a good solution. Best of luck.
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@Cass444 I too think the air mattress is going to sink your chances of finding a good sitter and - to put it bluntly - if it’s due to be delivered today, I’d be refusing delivery and looking at other options (if the main reason for purchase is to accommodate a sitter). We would never, ever apply for a sit where we’d be expected to sleep on an airbed.
As has already been said, it’s very much more the norm for sitters to apply for sits, rather than for pet parents to contact sitters of their choice, so think about what would make sitters choose to apply for your sit (or what would compel you to apply for a sit?) and work on that. Consider sitters like you would visiting friends - the energy / vibe should feel positive, relaxed and trusting, so what will put them at their ease and ensure their comfort during the sit? A good sleep is important to us, so airbeds are most definitely out.
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From what I’ve seen listings wise, San Diego frequently has sits and they’re typically nice digs, including real beds. That makes this listing not competitive.
You might want to check out the competition — look at listings in your area, because sitters will be comparing as they decide which sits to pursue.
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@Cass444 If your preference is for a single, female sitter, I’d suggest it’s best to state that at the very beginning of a listing. However, if you’re also ‘open to other applications’ it rather defeats the stated preference, so probably best to give this some thought and either stick with the solo female specification or else delete all of that sentence.
In my opinion, the best listings are clear and precise. Sitters will be looking through very many listings - we start with the pics, if the dates and location suit us - and skipping those which don’t have immediate appeal. We’re all looking for best-fit, so it’s annoying and timewasting to sometimes see a sit we fancy doing, read through all the listing info and then notice at the end that only single, female sitters should apply.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you so much ! Honestly, I’ve stayed on these large comfy air mattresses & they aren’t a problem for me I truly respect someone wanting to have their space private such as their bed, but that’s just me I also work with energy & do tons of energy clearings so I have a bit more direct experience with how energy is held & transferred. I’ve had a few applications now but not entirely what I’m looking for.
Hi! Thank you for your reply. I’ve had a few folks already apply & save my listing but I still appreciate all the input
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Sharing a computer is not needed but high speed internet is a must for many sitters.
I only mentioned my bed because I live in a one bedroom and sitters prefer a bed to an airmattress, cot, sofabed etc
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That’s a real shame, it’s simply because a lot of sitters are used to having their own place in the past so it makes some think of sofa-surfing, which isn’t what a lot are after, so they will rule themselves out straight away.
So, if there’s really no option to use your own bed, then make the bed area look as appealing as possible, but you’ll need to put what type of bed it is in your profile.
You will probably find a like-minded sitter on here who understands energy healing, because the connection you make with your sitter is far more than just a dog sitter and owner connection, you will know-know when you find the perfect sitter for you, and likewise they will know-know too.
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@Cass444 I would suggest that you move to the top of your listing that the bed is a blow up. The sleeping arrangement isn’t for everyone but knowing that from the start is very helpful . There will be sitters still interested. The location and the pets are wonderful.
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I understand you are using the guest bedroom as a dual space. It is possible to get a murphy bed for that room? It would free up the space and you could still get a real mattress.
My brother has a really nice air mattress with a proper frame that is way better than they used to be. If you really have to use an air mattress and you are buying a very good one, maybe include the URL to the air mattress and how it’s rated. That said, this will still make you less competitive but San Diego is beautiful and popular so you have that going for you!
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Everyday is a school day! Murphy bed! I didn’t know those drop-down beds had a name… other than drop-down beds. At first I thought it must be a USA word… but I just googled it, apparently we call them that in the UK too. I did not know that. 
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Great points, thank you ! Unfortunately, a Murphy bed is still not an option at this time but I like your other recommendation! I did have about 4-5 women save my listing already which is great 
the blow up is pretty neat, it has a headboard which I’ve never seen before.