Hello
I’ve created a new listing and I’m looking to attract sitters for a period end Feb to 10 March.
Any advice on how I can improve my listing would be welcome please.
(Member’s listing is in their Forum profile. Click on the C-icon beside their username to access it.)
Hi @Claire5 - I think you have already been given some advice on a previous thread.
Hello
Newbie here. I’ve just posted seeking my first ever sit and paws crossed I hope I’ve done it ok?
I’m pretty sure I could invite sitters but now can’t seem to find that option…
I’m in my early 50s, married and step-grandparent to 2 children. This is of course in addition to being Primary Treat Provider to 2 moggies.
Looking forward to engaging with you all.
Welcome @Claire5. Where do you live as there could be a sitter on the forum who would love to look after your moggies? Inviting sitters isn’t that successful so don’t worry about finding that option. Rather, make sure you have an attractive listing with clear, appealing photos of all aspects of your home and cats and precise responsibilities etc; what’s appealing about your location to attract sitters; and that it comes across as an equal exchange. Respond promptly to applicants, setting up a video chat with your most suitable applicant asap as sitters often are applying to other sits where dates overlap with yours.
Hi Temba
Thanks for replying. I live near Alcester, Worcestershire UK. I believe I’ve added loads of detail and photos to my listing but perhaps I could ask you to check, see if I’m missing anything?
So far I’ve had 25 invitation declines and I’m beginning to despair…especially for our Feb/March dates.
Thanks again
Hi @Claire5 - I had a look at your listing and have a couple of suggestions.
Change your heading to something that will grab the attention of a sitter.
We can already see you require a cat sitter in a bungalow before we read any further.
You have all the necessary photos and it looks like a lovely sit for someone.
As your cat is diabetic I would go in to a bit more detail about the type and timing of any medication.
One of your cats appears to have bandages on their front legs. Was that a temporary thing? If so remove that photo.
If you amend your heading your listing may appear as new again and hopefully attract more attention.
Good Luck
@Twitcher has brought up much what I was going to say @Claire5. It does look a lovely sit though some sitters may not read it completely once they read Penny is newly diabetic in your introduction. I would add there about it being orally administered not an injection. I would also want to know how comfortable she is receiving her medication and how she might react to a stranger giving it to her. I agree about removing photo of Penny with bandages if they’re only temporary.
Don’t start panicking yet! All the best.
Hi Claire,
It’s a nice looking sit in a lovely part of the country. I agree with others that you could use your title more effectively to capture potential sitters attention.
I notice that you mention in your listing that you are only 40 minutes from Stratford upon Avon. This could be quite attractive to sitters. However I note that you have said that Penny and George can be left alone for up to 4 hours, so they would only be able to spend a couple of hours in Stratford upon Avon. If it is possible to leave the cats for longer on the occasional day, or to arrange for someone to drop in and check on them so that sitters can spend a little more time exploring you might attract more interest. Cat sitters would normally expect to be able to leave the home for a little longer than 4 hours, so may be bypassing your listing when they see this. It is quite easy to spend quite a few hours at Coughton Court too, even if it is nearby!
You do come across as having quite a strong preference for a home worker, and with Penny being newly diagnosed as diabetic, it is understandable that you would prefer a sitter who is at the home more often. However this again could be limiting your potential applicants as those who are not homeworkers might pass on your listing if they think you only want homeworkers.
Is there any public transport? How far away is the nearest shop? Could a sitter get a bus or walk into Alcester? Your rural location sounds lovely, but your listing makes it sound quite isolated, and it may not be! Maybe say a bit more about the facilities and attractions in Alcester and any facilities in nearby villages, especially if they are walkable - pubs, shops etc.
Hope this helps. It looks a nice sit and Penny’s medication sounds reasonably simple. A few changes might increase the pool of interested potential sitters.
Good luck!
My only notes as feedback are regarding tone.
I would change ‘you’ll be given such and such bedroom’ to ‘we invite you to stay in such and such bedroom’.
I also noted, other ‘telling’ verbs rather than ‘asking’ verbs eg ‘will need to feed’ I’d change that to ‘the cats require’. These set a bossy tone that some sitters will pick up on as a red flag. Just soften it a bit, which together with a bit of humour goes a long way.
Also add something about public transport, or use of a car maybe?
welcome @Claire5 !
I need to be honest in order to help. So this is only to amp up your listing, not to critisize it as such. The UK is quite competitive as there are so many listings compared to sitters, and with the recently added hazzle for ETA for some of us.
Pets that can only be left for 4 hours is a challenge, as there are so many other options to apply for. As mentioned already, sitters searching for cat sits would expect more. Even for us dog sitters, many of us prefer 6+ hours to be able to go out. This is somewhat depending on location - if you have things to explore on your doorstep or need to count in travel time. What is there to explore from the doorstep? Things to see, hiking trails or other. Do you have entertainment of sorts in the home that could encourage enjoying oneself in the home? Could be anything - movie/ music, gym equipment, games, books..
Yes, some are working from home, but also home workers would more often like to do outings, go out for a meal and such. So I believe it is about how to get around that hurdle. Do you yourselves only leave for 4 hours at a time? How do you organize it when you are going out? Could something of that sort be organized for the sitter, for instance a couple of times a week? For a short sit like up to a week it might not impact too much, but for longer sits surely a sitter will opt for sits where they have more freedom to leave for outings.
What about getting groceries and such. How far, is it walkable (or can it be ordered for delivery). If the sitter doesn’t have a car, at least for a shorter sit up to a week some could be fixed for instance offering to pick them up at a train station, offering to drive them to a grocery store pre-sit.
Put yourself in the shoes of a sitter, and ask yourself why would I want to apply for your sit over other listings. You can also take a look at listings in your area and “check the competition”. They might have included something in their listing that you could add in yours (I was copied by someone in my area for my home exchange-listing- quite the honor! 
- on my description of the area and attractions ) Sometimes we are a little bit blind as to what is attractive in our own neighborhood.
@Claire5 my suggestion is to add a photo of the interior of the home office .
Hi
Thanks for your comments. I can’t find the option to increase the number of hours to leave cats for….which menu option is that under please?
thanks again
Hi, I’ve just looked at your listing and can’t see anything wrong with it. I even went so far as to check my diary to see if the dates worked for me which, sadly, they don’t! I am certain you will get applicants. Have faith!
Oh that is a relief! Thank you. I’ve now adjusted the length of time the cats can be left for. Thanks everyone
Just a heads up @Claire5 on the app I can now see nothing about how long the cats can be left. The tick box options of hours doesn’t show. Best to mention it directly in the responsibilities section. Also as others have said lots of competition in the UK and as a new host you really do have to sell yourself a bit.
Thanks Cathie. I think I’ve updated the hours section but I’ve also written it into the responsibilities section to be extra sure.
Btw it’s “who” not “whom” and the word required is one of those tone words mentioned above! Good luck and bravo for being open to suggestions, it’s hard to be edited!
@Claire5 the hours section appears to be a bit useless, sitters don’t see that so always best in the responsibilities as you have done. 
The bit for us that’s not working is the tone. “We seek cover” would be much better as “We’re looking for a caring, kind, home working sitter to care for our cats..” Or “Cat sitter required.” would be much better as “Cat loving home worker wanted for our welcoming felines & home.” sounds way more encouraging and inviting. In the intro add “Enjoy nearby Ragley Hall and Coughton Court plus historic Stratford is only 40 mins drive away.” I know THS tell hosts to write about themselves but it’s a misnomer, tell the sitter why they should come and sit for you for. In all the responsibilities it would be better with “Penny needs” not “sitters need”, it’s the cat that is the focus & it will sound more caring and a bit less authoritarian. Keep thinking about the “what would make me apply?” for your own sit and keep tweaking. You’ll find someone am sure! #allinthecomms