I’m relatively new to THS and I’m having a difficult time securing a sitter for a listing we have for one med dog. I’m wondering if I could improve my listing. Could some of you experienced folks on THS please look at my listing and suggest improvements?
Edited post to remove listing and listing dates from the text as per the Community Rules and edited title.
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Hi there, I took a look at your listing for you.
Your photos are great, it sounds like an overall positive & welcoming sit and you have good reviews, which is fantastic. This biggest problem is probably your dates - they start very soon, and most sitters have booked their sits for Christmas months ago. For future reference, for long sits like this, especially over Christmas, posting months in advance (6 months or so) is ideal. However, here’s some tips to consider trying:
1: As your sit is over Christmas, try a Christmas title such as ‘Christmas near Lake Huron’ (and describe some festive activities e.g: ice-skating, and more! etc)
2: Your images are nice, but there is an image with another dog, which may be confusing or mislead sitters to think there may be another dog. Write a caption under the photo explaining who that dog is. I would also change your cover photo to the one of your home in the snow to reflect the winter season.
3: Your introduction is quite brief and could be expanded to explain exactly why a sitter should choose your sit (especially over Christmas!) and what your expectations around handover are (should a sitter arrive a day in advance, what day do you leave, etc). Reading your listing, it’s clear from the responsibilities that whoever applies needs to be a fit, young person with no pets, so include this in your introduction from the start to ensure the right sitter for you applies.
4: Your home and location section is fine, but as it’s not accessible via public transport, will sitters need their own car or can they use yours? Can you offer to pick sitters up from the nearest airport or station? Your sit will be over winter - how’s the heating in your home? Will your home be nicely decorated for Christmas? What activities can sitters do during the holiday season and why should they spend Christmas at your sit? Most of your activities you have listed are for summer and won’t apply to this sit, such as golf, kyacking etc.
5: Your responsibilities section is okay, but needs to be more specific for walk times & length - how many walks a day is ‘frequent walks?’ be specific, because many sitters put a limit on how many walks they’re willing to offer. A 10k run ‘a few times a week?’ - is this actually necessary, or is this just something you personally do because that’s you? If it’s an expected requirement, then that really won’t be for everyone and limits your pool of applicants to only those who are young, fit & physically active and enjoy long jogs. Your dates are also for winter, which will not be enjoyable jogging weather.
You also mention that Ozzy has separation anxiety - besides crating, are there behaviours that sitters should be aware of? Does Ozzy bark or is nervous? Also where does Ozzy sleep?
As it seems you may also get heavy snow, will a sitter need to shovel the drive? Are there things to be aware of in the winter conditions at your place and specific chores to be done?
Here is a blog that may help:
Hope that helps! 
@Janetkayoconnor, welcome to THS Forum. Great comments from @Nagy26.
Happy to give feedback. For context, we’ve completed ~30 housesits in various countries (several in US). We are fully booked for Christmas.
@Janetkayoconnor -I don’t think there is anything wrong with your listing .
However the 10k jog /walk requirement will limit the pool of sitters suitable plus the short notice , Christmas dates , and the long sit ( two months )
Long sits are very desirable for fully nomadic sitters but these are usually planned several months up to a year in advance .(So if you have a similar long trip planned for end of 2025 , list that now )
Short notice , a visitor from overseas will have to pay a hefty airfare because the dates are short notice - with some months planning they can arrange a more affordable fare.
Added to that your sit covers December and there are more sits over Christmas, than sitters available to do them .
Whilst The 10k jog /walk requirement in winter might be a dream sit for a few sitters, for many others that will be a firm no.
You probably can’t change the dates of the sit but you could perhaps arrange for a local paid dog walker to do the twice weekly 10k jog - that will open up the sit to more THS sitters applying ?
My thoughts exactly @Silversitters - you have to remember that THS is an unpaid, mutually beneficial exchange, and while I’m sure there are some sitters who would enjoy a 10k jog in the snow, many won’t view this as a fair and balanced request. Don’t forget that dog walkers are paid on average $10 - $20 an hour for a normal walk around the block - and you want a free sitter to run 10k a few times a week?
Consider that this may be your own personal habit and sitters are not here to replicate an owner’s own lifestyle choices and fitness habits.
We have nothing against flagpoles in general, but because your main/first image is the flagpole one, we wouldn’t personally click into your ad. From your first/main flagpole image we’d feel like a couple of imposters staying at your place, rather than feeling ‘at home’, like your place was more suited to others. We wouldn’t think twice if it was a hotel, but we’re after a home from home when pet sitting. So obviously don’t remove that image because it’s part of who you are which is great, but perhaps don’t lead with it, sitters have a split second to decide whether to click or not. There are so many different nationalities on THS, even within the US, so personally I would instead lead with an image that appeals to the most sitters possible, so that they click to read more, but they need to feel connected to you to want to do that.
Winter in that part of the country is a hard sell for many — it’s one of the coldest, with a lake effect and snow. And someone needs to run or walk 10k (6 miles+) with the dog a couple of times a week. Many folks wouldn’t do that, even if paid.
I might be wrong, and I hope I’m not offending, but can Ozzie actually walk or run 10k in freezing winter temperatures? Totally understandable in fair weather, but he ain’t a husky!
Can this be changed to a few longer beach (or other area) walks throughout the week, as opposed to a couple of 10k walks/runs?
I find the listing lovely in many ways. It needs some tweaks as others have said.
Already in the introduction I would say a little about why a sitter should continue reading and why this is an attractive sit.
Emphasize what is actually the perks for the sit (for instance fire pit and marshmallows rather than golf). Figure out what is requirements and what is just descriptions of what you do. As other have mentioned, the 10k-jog is a big hurdle. Is it really a requirement - then it should be mentioned as such, if not say it is what you do but not required. If required - figure out if you can get someone local do it, as others have suggested. It will greatly affect your pool of sitters.
Many here like to go walking with dogs and it can be nice to mention walks that can be made in winter. Is it something that can be done on beach, golfcourse or similar in winter? Winter trails? Some fun winter things to do? Skating rink, skiing or concerts, markets…
In one of your photos you seem to do indoor training with the dog - is that an option for a sitter?
(How much Snow do you get - will it involve shoveling or ploughing? If it is much Snow - could it be done by a local business so it will be easier for sitter?)
I find the flagpole quite reassuring in light of recent events and would regard it a big +, but I agree with @HappyDeb that it shouldn’t be the front photo. The front photo should be the big sell. As many of your photos are summer photos - see if you have some winter (or Christmas) photos.
The listing sounds lovely. I think the only issue is that it’s a long sit including Christmas starting quite soon and most sitters contemplating such a long sit would have secured their sit by now.
Others have mentioned the walks/runs in the snow. Having lived in the snow belt, maybe something about snow removal. Do you have a service to do it? Do you have a snow blower or tractor with plow?
Without knowing some details, I won’t apply for a winter sit in snow country.
Thank you so much! Great information and direction.
Thank you for giving me a fresh perspective! Obviously safety is a top priority and winter roads in Michigan can be challenging for walking Ozzy. I adjusted my posting.
Thanks. You are correct! I have a challenging time getting out on the roads through the winter. My listing has been adjusted.
Thank you! My original posting was for a summer sit and I definitely needed to adjust it to reflect our “Winter Wonderland!”
Excellent feedback. Thank you so much. I made adjustments.
Thank you! Additional details specific to winter added. 
Nice job with the update, it’s definitely looking better and more relevant to winter. However, it could still be more specific in some areas to help you gain applicants, and skips some important detail.
Your introduction is still very short and doesn’t tell sitters why they should spend Christmas at your place. Will your home be nicely decorated? Will you have a tree? Who are you looking to sit for you and who should apply? Couples? Singles? Young active people?? People who can handle snow blowers and have experience in this climate? When should a sitter arrive? A 2 sentence introduction won’t serve your listing very well.
How long do you expect a walk to be? 1hr? 2? Is it just once a day? It’s still not clear from the listing, so use specific length and time frames, not “long” and “short” because this is subjective. How long is “longer walks in the beautiful back roads?” An hour? More? And where does Ozzy sleep? Sitters really want to know!
In the home and location section, you’re still talking about golf and veggies in the back yard, and then skim over “there are many local holiday activities.” How about you delete the golf and backyard veggies because these won’t be relevant to this time of year, and elaborate on what these holiday activities are? This section is also a very long wall of text that is a little difficult to follow - try breaking it up into paragraphs and simple bullet points. Separate information; try 1 paragraph about your home & the amenities available, and another paragraph about the local area only.
Information about snow blowing and managing the home in snow is a responsibility (property management) that belongs in your responsibilities section. The home and location section exists to tell sitters what they can enjoy about your home and local area and what they’re gaining from this exchange.
Besides these points, the listing is definitely looking much better though