Hi fellow cat lovers , I need your feedback on an issue, as follows: yesterday we posted a new application for catsitting for mid-October/early November. However we still have 0 applications, which I find weird!
Or maybe the dates don’t match anybody’s plans. Maybe it’s too last minute?
As a comparison, a while ago we advertised for a sit in December and got 5 applications within 24h.
Thoughts? And Advice? I guess we will need a plan B. And it’s a professional trip so we can’t reschedule. I guess being flexible with the dates might be the best option, and we will have to find friends to cover the missing days….
Thank you all for your comments & suggestions :folded_handst3:
@PUECH - suggest take deep breath, relax and pour a glass of pomeau . You only posted listing yesterday.
Checked out your listing. We’ve completed multiple France housesits. And have visited Brittany multiple times. Alas we’re booked in a different continent for your dates!
Your photos look ok. If want bonus points, put away the drying dishes and take new kitchen photo (less clutter is good)
Amenities section is completed, yay
Sit essentials does not show nonsense, yay
Pet care responsibilities seem clear and reasonable, yay
Past reviews are multiple and positive, yay
In terms of suggestions, we encourage patience. But incremental proactive ideas-
Consider potential tactics to attract non-locals. Rural location that is not accessible by public transport will probably limit applicant pool. Many (20+) of our housesits have included use of pet parent vehicle - if this is an option for you, or at least a possibility subject to driving record, then include such a statement. Must housesitters have their own vehicle? If location and your situation requires that housesitter bring their own vehicle then state it transparently.
Consider extend content in Home & location section. This dovetails on above comment about transportation. Current section makes reference to car driving times. Consider including reasonably nearby transit options (train, bus, airport, etc). Consider providing details of local attractions and features. Consider objectively stating internet upload/download speeds (remote worker housesitters).
It’s a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland so not many will look at THS, plus ordinarily there are less people on THS on a weekend, in comparison to midweek from what I can tell from this forum. So be patient .
Just a couple of tips…
Your title says “Bright house with two brother kitties in Brittany, France”, but sitters only see the first 6 or so words before it cuts out on mobile, so it’s a missed opportunity.
I’d say something like “Beautiful Brittany, Bright Home, Friendly Kitties”
Use “home” instead of “house”, it’s subtle but feels warm and welcoming without needing to say it.
Also, change your main photo. There’s an abundance of cute pets on THS, so yours won’t stand out against the others, it’s good to use pets if you’ve got a lacklustre home, but your home is not lacklustre, it’s lovely.
I’d swap your main image for the one of your home from the garden, with the solar panels on the roof. That’s your best one.
@GotYourBack is right about clearing the clutter and re-taking the other photo’s.
I notice that your dates fall during the UK school half-term holiday period. As a result, there are significantly more listings available for these dates compared with other weeks of the year.
Your sit looks great and I would consider it if I didn’t have firm plans for the dates already.
You have already received great feedback; especially important, IMHO, is information regarding public transport to get there and around. You might also consider offering picking the sitter up from a station or airport.
From the wording of your listing, it seems that sitters might be able to spend more than six hours away from the house. If that is the case, it would be helpful to change the “time pets can be left alone” to more than six hours.
I think it’s too soon to worry but if you want to increase your chances of securing a sitter soon, you might consider listing the shortest period that you would need and let the explanation about your dates as it is now, that will allow sitters willing to do your sit get in touch and then negotiate the dates. If they have overlapping sits, they won’t be able to apply even if the overlapping is just for a day.
English is not my native language so this may not be accurate but I would change “individual” to “sitter”. I may be totally wrong but I feel “individual” is too detached for someone you are inviting to your home.
Hi Newpetlover, thanks for your comments, I have adjusted the information regarding public transportation and the pick-up at the station or airport. And, as I am writing, we have just received an application… so we shall see!
Hi HappyDEb, I love this forum, it’s so rich in suggestions and comments to improve the profile and listing! I have adjusted the title accordingly, thanks for that. And will go back to our selection of photos…
Automatic–who would not be able to drive auto? Manual, that is more of a challenge. I drove manual AKA “stick” when much younger, but it’s been a long time. Typically, N. Americans do not drive stick.
yes but in Europe (in France at least), many people are still used to driving manual/stick.. although the new hybrid cars are automatic. I used to drive manual gear but can’t stand it any more after living many years in the US … and now, each time I am traveling in Europe, I do rent a car with automatic gear.
I have a sit coming up in September and I’ve only had 2 applicants. The first just disappeared after we had agreed a day to video call and the second withdrew as our start date is the day before we leave. I’m getting a bit nervous!
My suggestion would be to add to your post how the sitter will “get around” is there a bus or Uber around; do grocery stores make deliveries; you can sweeten the sit with letting a sitter borrow your car.
Even though you had fast bookings last December, for this approaching time period you may be competing against other homeowners for a limited number of sitters. Your post photos looks good, as well as the responsibilities.
Hi there, yes sometimes it’s really weird how people behave! Maybe other people in this forum can comment here, but we had a case recently where a nice couple applied and they were very motivated to cat sit etc. After checking their profile + reviews, I wrote to them to schedule a chat and they disappeared! They didn’t even withdraw their application, they just never responded.
And of course this was a red flag for me.
Thank god a woman applied as well and was very good at communicating with us, we spoke to her and she is now booked for our next cat sitting in October.
Maybe you should pause your request for a few days and readvertise to get fresh applicants?
Puech, My experience is the same. This is my 9th or 10th sit request. In the beginning (2022) I have 3+ in the first 24 hours. This experience was repeated over and over until the last few sits. The number has steadily declined. My current post has been up for weeks. No applications. I did locate a sitter by sending out invites, but she canceled because of a serious illness with an elderly father. I have now sent out 25+ invites and NO takers. I am getting very stressed and am going to try House Sitters America. I think the number of applicants with TH has declined significantly.
Hi Dianne, I’m sorry to hear about your current situation. I’d love to sit for you if I were in the area (and if I’d managed to find a sitter for my cats ).
I used to live on the US East Coast and still travel back to California regularly, so perhaps I’ll make it to Washington State one day… I’ll definitely keep an eye on your listings!
I was also wondering whether the steady decline in the number of applicants might have something to do with the new booking fees that are charged once a sit is confirmed? I’ve been wondering if that might be putting some sitters off, especially for shorter sits.
, I need your feedback on an issue, as follows: yesterday we posted a new application for catsitting for mid-October/early November. However we still have 0 applications, which I find weird!
. You only posted listing yesterday.
, thanks a lot for your feedback, I will boost our profile with your suggestions, and hope for the best!
.
so we shall see!
… and now, each time I am traveling in Europe, I do rent a car with automatic gear.