Here’s the thing. If sitters could get in touch without dates AND without having had previous contact through an application, HOs in popular destinations would be flooded by applicants. This would not be a great experience for them. And I’m sure a lot of the applicants will think them rude for not getting back to their queries. There is no way to block members from your inbox, so I could see this being a problem.
If you can’t do the dates of a sit, but you are interested in other future dates, you can apply and then once you’ve sent your message, decline yourself. If the the sit hasn’t reached five yet, the homeowner won’t have to unpause. If the sit went into review, then they will. Not a big deal.
From my homeowner view, it’s natural that things happen and people withdraw their applications for various reasons at various times. If for instance, you can only arrive in the evening of the sit and the homeowner hasn’t specified a time so you mention it in the application email, then the homeowner might decline you and unpause and look for another applicant, but it’s not a big deal. You don’t need to ask the question BEFORE you apply. You can cover it in the email you send with the application.
I’m not happy with the five application rule, but I do understand that it exists to open things up for newer sitters – to sort of level the playing field – and that it keeps owners in competitive places from being overwhelmed. Personally, I’d like to set the number of applicants at ten because I think it would increase the odds of their being more “suitable” applicants in the initial pool.
It would be good if messaging on the platform was something that both sitters and homeowners could opt in or out of .
As sitters we can be contacted by any homeowner at anytime . Leading to dozens of messages in my inbox requesting us to sit for dates where we are already booked up and/or in locations that we have no intention of travelling to . We do try to respond to each one but there are occasions when several arrive in one day and we may overlook responding to them all - especially if we are simultaneously communicating with a homeowner about a sit that we have applied for .
Like you @GillianWings, I’ve been sitting since 2016. Although not a rule, we could send a HO a message if their dates didn’t quite suit us but we could only do it by “applying”, just the same as now. The new overlapping rule is preventing this communication now and I think this is what is causing sitters’ main complaint.
On sits that are in high demand, I either apply full on or just skip, because I figure there’s no need for the hosts to make compromises or accommodations on timing, etc.
With sits that aren’t as popular, but which I find appealing, I have once sent a temporary application only to ask if they might want me as a sitter for another time of year, when I don’t have a conflict. I noted that I’d immediately withdraw my temp application for their current listing, since I was doing it only to get in touch. It turned out well. They not only offered me weeks they’d not listed, they later asked if I wanted more dates that they’d not posted.
Hi Maggie I can’t apply if the sit overlaps with one I have booked. Sometimes I want to offer part of the sit but can’t do this if I have a sit booked . So how do you message the owners then ?
Thanks
Don’t forget that you can also “favorite” listings. The Owner will receive notification that you “favorited” them. This is a way to send an indirect message to the Owner!
@Coclico If the owner has been thorough then there is no need to ask questions before applying . However not all homeowners are through in their listing . I have seen too many listings where the responsibility section says only
“Look after the dogs “
No mention of how many times a day they are fed , walked , how long they can be left alone for etc
Also the location accuracy of listings is very vague and a sit that is supposedly in a specific town or city could actually be an hour’s drive away . So if homeowner hasn’t specified in their listing then the sitter needs to ask before applying .
Many owners do not state what time they need the sitter to arrive or leave and this information might be important to a sitter depending on where they are travelling from .
That’s a question to ask in the video call would be our advice @Melouise or it sounds as if that’s the priority reason to sit and not their pets and home which a lot of HOs won’t be comfortable with
I think it is a good idea to be upfront and to ask this before sending a real application. But when phrased in this very general way, it is likely your application would be declined.
If you have visitors in mind, be specific. For example, if I would really be planning this already now I might ask if it would be ok if my daughter and her boyfriend would visit for (a few days, a week, the whole sit).
If it is for the whole sit, it is probably better to mention that in your profile, in the same way as some people travel with their children or their mother, etc.
@ Silversitters… as home owners looking for sitters, we fill out what I would call a template. How much of that is translated to the listing I do not know. I have many people asking me (including the site) if there is public transit (template - yes); if there will be the use of a car (template - no); if there is remote work or hi speed internet (again, template - yes)… maybe you would be kind enough to look @ my listing & provide me feedback? (located in Nova Scotia Canada)
That’s a bit strange @HelloOutThere - I tried under my admin account and under a regular type Forum account and it took me to the sit details without any issues.
I went in and updated the link again, can you try clicking it again and tell me if it works or not?
@Carla will be on later and as she’s been around here longer than me, she’ll be a bit more clued up on any potential glitch! I’ll make sure she checks it out.
