We are not getting a lot of traction for our 3 month sit. Almost all the applications which have come in are not appropriate (no vehicle, no experience, want to bring their own pets along, etc). Out of the two best applications, I chose the one where they accepted the sit but then backed out 2 days later (“Something came up.”) The runner-ups had committed to another sit by that time.
How can we get this sit noticed? It is a great opportunity for someone to get a start in the Puget Sound area.
(edited by Forum team to remove listing link in line with our Community Guidelines)
I recommend improving the photos in your listing. The primary photo is not helping you attract sitters (unless they are keen outdoor badminton players!). I would put a photo of the dog first.
Add more photos of the inside of the house, including bathroom, kitchen, and other areas that the sitter will use. Make sure they are bright and clear. The current living area photo is dark and poor quality. The bedroom photo doesn’t show much of the bed, which sitters want to see. What size is the bed (it looks small)?
For a long sit, you will have better luck if you can accommodate families. Also, if you can offer a car, you will get a lot more interest.
Hi, just had a look at your listing and it looks lovely. I would add pictures of all the main rooms of your home so that sitters can visualize staying in your beautiful spot.
It is unclear in your listing whether you expect sitters to arrive a day early to meet Kebab and see the home (frequent expectation) or whether you are asking for that at a separate time before the sit? If the latter, most sitters will not be local and that will reduce your pool of sitters greatly. We always do a video chat but would not be able to visit a sit beforehand that was several hours drive away.
As it is a longer sit and a vehicle is needed that is going to exclude anyone flying in as a rental would a crazy price, including a vehicle would greatly help.
Good luck.
I completely agree with others…lovely property, gem of a dog!
But the lack of a vehicle for an area like this and for that time frame is going to seriously limit the pool.
And +1 to more photos and clarity around if you’re expecting an orientation period a day or two before, or for sitters to come out an additional time for a pre-visit…latter of which will also be limiting.
I’d suggest reworking your introduction, because it doesn’t sound welcoming or friendly, which might be thinning your applicants from the start. Not that you shouldn’t share such info, but that’s not typically where it goes in listings. And people compare listings and consciously or subconsciously note tone and such. Many sitters avoid listings that sound like the hosts would treat them like staff or such. I doubt that’s your intent and hope you’ll get more applicants.
It looks like a lovely sit and your dog is a total cutie but in all honesty your ad makes you sound a bit mean.
There’s no hi and welcomes - your ad reads cold and bossy - straight away you rattle off all the things you don’t want and no old ladies in your responsibilities is kinda rude
Coming over for a visit beforehand seems impractical - normally we would come the day before to learn the ropes with larger properties and dogs. Is that not a possibility?
Really the main sticking point for your ad is that you require your sitters to have a car. Is it not possible at all for you to provide this? I think that would tip the balance at that point.
Given the need for a vehicle, you can rule out a lot of people if you just make it clear:
Sitter will need their own vehicle.
You clearly state no other pets, so not sure what you can do to avoid those applicants.
Agree with others about the need for more/better photos.
I might also consider getting rid of the phrase “not an old lady’s dog.” I know plenty of women in their 60s and even 70s with big dog experience and a great sense of balance, who might dismiss the sit due to that phrase. And I think the world’s most famous Corgi enthusiast was for many years an old lady. So maybe just state that the dog is small but strong so you need someone with the strength, balance, and experience handling dogs who pull on the leash.
I agree about the Intro, sorry to be harsh @Inthewoods but apart from the first 16 words, the rest of the intro gives a very negative vibe straight away.
Sitters need to know that caring for Kebab is a positive and happy happy happy feeling, because that’s the feeling that stroking dogs (& cats) evokes in all of us. Not 16 words of good stuff and now here are my rules and regs if you want to sit for me, before you’ve even said anything else about the place or about cute little Kebab.
Tweak the Intro and I’m sure you’ll get a healthier amount of decent applications.
For anyone who doesn’t know it, Poulsbo and the Puget Sound / Kitsap area are stunning! If you love nature and beautiful, wild places and cute historic towns it could be worth quite a drive to get yourself and your car to this sit. My husband and I spent three months touring the areas mentioned in the ad and loved every nook and cranny. The forests and coasts!! Mountain biking! Kayaking! Ahhhh So beautiful. As long as the dog can come with you, beaches around La Push and the pacific rainforests are a must see.
Anyway, sorry for the sales pitch, it just brings back great memories. All that said, I totally agree the listing will benefit from many more nice, bright photos and home information. I’d consider the sitter comments about tone too, they know best! Good luck, I hope a great sitter finds you
@Inthewoods, my boy is dog-reactive and all the other mentioned in your intro holds true for my place as well, but just a suggestion, I would:
Move the smoking and fragrance-free bit to the description of your home OR the responsibilities section re: how you expect people to care for your home…this is also a good place for any other guidelines/rules you’d like people to respect, as well as if there’s a sitter preference like families couples, individuals etc.
Move information about your dog’s behaviour and needs to the responsibilities section
And then with overall tone, this does read very authoritative as opposed to preferential, e.g. “ask that you smoke and keep strong fragrances outside” vs. “you need to be, too”
I’ve attached my dog’s CV as an example of how I talk about him. I think it shows a balance, while also making it clear to people that he needs an experienced handler.
I’ll agree with what other folks have said. This listing doesn’t sound very friendly, which really runs counter to all of your positive reviews! If you don’t want sitters of a certain age or gender, then just state that outright. As it stands I think you’re setting up applicants to feel defensive from the get-go - I know I would!
It’s also a bit meandering and difficult to follow. When I’m looking at sits, I’m often comparing them, and being able to glean the necessary information quickly is a real plus. It might help to focus on the absolute musts about house rules, Kebab’s personality and quirks, and save the extemporizing for a video call or in the Welcome Guide.
I agree with previous posts. Your intro sounds strict and unwelcoming. I would not apply but keep scrolling instead.
Your reviwes are great though, so perhaps you just need to rewrite some parts, making it sound more friendly
Requiring a Corgi dog walking “a couple miles a day” on a leash and regularly mowing the vast lawn are the sitter challenges here. Just too much work for a free sitter.
The Supermarket just 2.5 miles away seems close enough for me to ride the bike to for regular food and supplies. But not in the rain. Do they offer delivery?
Automatically excluding interested people who dont have a car seems to add another challenge to finding a 3 month free sitter.
If you want your manicured lawn and badminton court maintained like a golf course, consider paying for a weekly professional service to offload this work. Good luck.
Hello @Inthewoods
I took a look at your listing and agree with most of the replies thus far.
It seems your previous THsitters were mostly local to WA and one in CA and shorter length stays than the current 3mo listing.
(There are some sitters that I cannot access, so maybe they are not members any longer.)
Did you change your listing write up for this longterm sit? Or has it always been as such? As I would think some of the finer points of “fragrance free” and “not other dog friendly” and “nonsmoker” and more should be written stand out.
Also brief but more detailed description of the visit/tour before hand would be good.
Can the THsitter stay the same night of the “walk thru” thus the sit “commencing” the next day?
A 3mo sitter I think would be looking for use of a car, as my guess would be this length of stay would be a sitter traveling to get to your location; probably flying in - not a local sitter.
