Took the plunge and subscribed to a HO membership. Very excited & optimistic about this platform. I would be curious to see other HO listings in order to get the flavor and sense of what people post (not too much, not too little information). Is this possible? Is there a ‘sample page’ with listings (with contact info, etc redacted OK of course)? Hope I’m not overthinking this whole thing….
Very good idea. You can search homes just like sitters can. Perhaps in your own area, so you can see how they present also your area, transport, sights etc.
You can read here on the site, for instance
5 common mistakes to avoid for a successful listing
And also, if you’d like input from the community here, you can link your listing to your forum profile:
How to add a listing or profile link to your Forum profile!
Some things that sitters look for and that many hosts don’t mention:
- Why should I want to go to your destination?
- How do I get there? What is the possibilities of public transport? Maybe something on how to get from airport?
- Beds: What bedrooms can we use? What sort of beds and how large? (Please use measurements and not full/ double/ queen and such, as the meaning differ). Some couples prefer separate bedrooms - so mention if possible.
- where does the pets sleep? Many avoid pets in beds/ bedrooms
- How long can the pets be left for outings. (4+ hours? 6+ hours?)
There’s a wealth of information on the THS website @Kegan. Just go into Help and type in Create a New Listing, for example. The link @Garfield has attached is excellent too.
You can easily look at other listings by clicking either Sits or Find a Sit depending on if you’re using the app or website.
Do make sure you thoroughly read the Terms of Service, especially for owners, and the Code of Conduct as you have agreed to these by becoming a member.
Please also give a good idea of your location (nearby intersection &/or major landmark) and mention if it’s near a bus/train line, within walking distance of anything (tourist sites, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) or if a car is essential or provided.
Also, note that potential sitters can only ask questions if they apply for the sit.
When I started, I did a search for sits in my city to see other listings. What you want to avoid, of courses, is sounding like everyone else, so I used this to get a sense of what people talked about, and quite frankly, what was the ‘competition’ in my area to give me an idea of what to emphasize about my own home.
Good luck!
Some very important information for me is, what bed will I sleep in and how long can pets be left? Such as 4 to 5 hours, 2 hours, 6 hours or 8 or more hours. How many walks, for how long? Are pets aggressive? Examples: queen bed, fido can be left up to 4-6 hours with appropriate potty/exercise time before and after. Fido would like to walk for 1/2 to 1 hour each day, weather permitting. Fido is friendly and loves everyone. Good sit.
Sofa bed, please do not leave my precious fluffy alone if at all possible. If you must visit the grocery store, please be quick about it. Fluffy will require brushing every 2 hours, this is her love language. Although fluffy loves to be petted, she will abruptly end the petting by sinking her claws and teeth into your arm. Do not worry, but please be advised to provide your own bandages. I will leave recipes for feeding my baby, these should be prepared fresh daily and you should accompany her while she eats, every 2 hours. Every time she uses the kitty litter you will immediately scoop it, and replace daily. If you run out of litter just buy more, please have it delivered, so fluffy is not left alone unnecessarily. Don’t forget, we are only 1 hour drive to the most incredible sights you’ve ever seen, so you will be lucky to sit here.
Only slightly exaggerated, bad sit.
Also keep in mind that there are lots of different types of sitters. I work remotely on sits, so I like to see if there’s a good work area available. Some couples/families like to know if there’s a second bedroom available. Some people drive, while many are traveling without a car – so it’s good to briefly describe what’s walkable as well as what’s in driving distance (including how close groceries are).
Different things will appeal to different people – nature, city, local community, major sites, quiet/isolated homes, luxury comforts, and of course pet personalities will each attract different sorts of sitters. A good starting point is to write about the things that you love most about living where you do and the way you do!