I’m new to TH and a bit worried that I haven’t had any applications just a few saves. The sit is coming up in 3 weeks. At what point do you give up and find an alternative? What can I do to make a first time listing more attractive to sitters? Thanks for any advice.
@waterytart, sorry to hear that you’re struggling to receive applications.
We’ve briefly checked your listing. Looks good - great info. Perhaps replace first photo - it can be really important in gaining attention, especially when there are many great listings. Have faith. And checkout the last minute sit area of THS Forum - too early for you currently but when eligible then this may secure applicants.
In case helpful, below is a weblink to another THS Forum thread - ‘green flags’ - that highlights various listing attributes that make housesitters reach for the apply button.
Regardless, a backup plan is always a good idea.
Good luck!
You say you have one queen bed and three twin beds. It sounds like you welcome families, is that correct? That is great and I would put in your heading, Families Welcomed. Maybe you can ask TH if there is someway to let families know that this sit welcomes families. Good Luck.
Your listing does look great.
But unfortunately I wouldn’t even click and read the listing details if I were scrolling through because the icon says 4 cats. I wouldn’t do a sit for 4 cats in the house. I WOULD do your sit with 2 indoor cats and 2 feral cats. Maybe others think the same.
Maybe you can list 2 cats and then somewhere prominent in the listing say that there are 2 feral cats that need feeding outside.
It’s just an idea.
4 Likes
Welcome to forum, @waterytart !
I agree with @Compassion .
I would pass on a 4 cat-sit and not open the listing. Had I known it was two indoor cats and feeding two outside neighbourhood cats I might. So I would change the pet-button to 2 cats and mention the two others in the text as Compassion suggests.
All members should have a plan B, as something can happen to both hosts and sitters - medical, transport and such. So I would look into my options for this.
Yes, families with older children are welcome. Great idea, thanks.
I did wonder about that because 4 indoor cats would be too much for me too! I had thought about taking the outdoor guys off as you suggested so thanks for that validation. I can add a line to the bottom of the about us section just to make it clear up front that there are 2 outdoor cats to feed.
1 Like
I’d change your main/first image, because a lot of sitters use a mobile and it’s difficult to make out what it is, and even on a laptop it isn’t obvious when viewing it in the large list with others.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I’ll make some changes