New member listening query

Welcome & Getting Started
1

Hi,

I’ve recently joined and have set up a couple of listings. They have been live for around 72 hours and I’ve had no interest at all.

I’ve even invited over 30 sitters to my listings, and they’ve all declined for multiple reasons (unavailable or can’t confirm too far in advance).

i’ve reviewed my listings, added a good few photos of my lovely home and our dog, added information, and I thought was a good listing but we don’t seem to be getting any interest at all?

Just worried that we’ve spent £150 on membership and can’t seem to even get 1 person interested!

Thanks

2

If you link your listing to your profile here we can give you feedback.

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3

Thank you! Just working out how I can add the link to my profile :slight_smile:

4

Hi @ktxp123 :slight_smile:

I’ve added your listing to your profile for you!

Jenny

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Hi Katie,

Your home and Dexter are lovely, but the nearby attractions you mention, like the bowling alley and theaters, would be challenging for the sitter to enjoy if Dexter can only be left for 1-2 hours max. If you could offer a dog walker to allow the sitter more flexibility, you might have better luck.

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Welcome to forum @ktxp123 !

I had a quick look at your listing.

The headline should be something that attracts a sitter to read your listing. That you are looking for a sitter is a given as you have a listing here. What can your sit offer? Why should I want to apply to your sit?

In the same way I would say something about why I should come to your location already in the Intro. so I keep reading your listing and don’t scroll on to the next.

Some things that sitters look for and that many hosts don’t mention:

1. Why should I want to go to your destination? 2. How do I get there? What is the possibilities of public transport? Maybe something on how to get from airport?

3. 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.

4. where does the pets sleep? Many avoid pets in beds/ bedrooms. You’ve mentioned some on this, as the pet sleeps in your bed.

Many sitters avoid sits with pets in bed, so this will limit your pool of sitters. Could the pet sleep in your bed and the sitter in a guestroom - would that work for your pet?

5. How long can the pets be left for outings. Here is your big hurdle. 1-2 hours MAX as you say would be a «no» for many sitters. Also remote workers and such would like to go to the store, out for a meal and such. I would look into how this could be managed. Could it be possible to get a dogwalker a couple of times a week so the sitter could go out a few hours?

Many sitters sit for travel, to explore new places. A 4+ hours minimum to go out without a pet is a criteria for many sitters, preferably 6+. Regardless - I would also include what a sitter could do with the pet. Any pet-friendly cafés, stores, points of interest to take the dog?

To be honest, if a sit can’t really offer sitters a «win» it might be so that THS-sitters will be hard to find and a paid sitter a more realistic option.

But if you can make some tweaks on your listing and make the sit more attractive with a dogwalker or something it might open up for more interest.

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Even as a remote worker, I’d skip any sit where a pet could be left for only one or two hours at a time. Better to very easily find sits with more flexibility, or stay home, or pay for a hotel.

And I spend way more time at a sit home with pets than many sitters, because I also enjoy lounging around.

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The two blockers to applications are definitely the 1-2 hours maximum down time from the pooch @ktxp123 plus the bed sharing request. As a mutual exchange platform that’s a big ask even for a WFHer. Can you bring a dog walker/minder in every few days to give the sitter some added freedom? Perhaps also suggest places the sitter can go and take pup too, &/or offer use of your car for the sit to do so? #alloptionsouthere

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it’s not a link for me. And the end of the URL is missing.

But I could see the URL said Stockton so I did a search, and the biggest red flag for me would be Interior Cameras. They are against THS terms, and most sitters would not agree to them being switched on.

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I love how new & clutter free your home looks, how sweet your puppy is and how helpful the location info is.

The max time away being so short is a deal breaker for me. That feels like I’m the caregiver to a dependent person. I look for 4 - 6 hours.

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11

Hi Katie,

Welcome to THS, I’m sure you haven’t wasted £150 on your membership.

You’ve created a very comprehensive listing with lots of details and nice photos.

I’m not at all concerned about the indoor camera, you’ve explained why and that it’s optional. I think that’s fine and shouldn’t be a problem.

I’m not fussed by dogs that are accustomed to sleeping on a bed at night, I’m quite used to it. Also, in my experience as a sitter many dogs that I’ve been told like to sleep on the bed are actually quite content to be in the same room, I’m on such a sit at the moment.

I’d be concerned that Dexter can only be left for a maximum of 2 hours, that’s quite restrictive. Could Dexter spend some time with your current sitter while you are away, to give a THS sitter a little more time without being worried about him?

Could you do some work with a professional trainer to try and alleviate Dexter’s separation anxiety? It might be too soon for any improvement for the sit next month, but by May if he could be left for 3-4 hours this would make a huge difference.

Inviting sitters is very unlikely to work, the calendar is viewed as next to useless by many and they don’t use it, this includes me. Sit tight and stay positive, there are lots of reasons to apply for your sit.

:smiley:

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My husband and I sleep in a US standard King sized bed, and we can tolerate a US queen sized bed, but not a Full/Double. My husband will be elbowing me in the face! :rofl:

And if your bed is truly a “double” bed by US standards, there is absolutely no way we could also have the dog on the bed with us.

I like to sleep with animals, so my husband will go and sleep in another bedroom, if one is available.

I think you will find someone for your sits as long as you are able to allow the sitter at least 4 hours to go out and explore.

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I don’t have interior cameras!!

The option is there and sometimes I put it on when I go out and leave the dog so if they did go out they can plug the camera to keep an eye. I did state that on the listing.

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14

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to provide some feedback.

Unfortunately, the option to use the current sitter is not there as she is very unreliable.
Dexter is a rescue dog and we have invested thousands in training to get him to where he is now.

I think perhaps this isn’t going to work for us as I don’t think we’ll be in a position anytime soon to leave him for 4 hours.

thanks again for your help and advice.

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Thank you for your advice I really appreciate it.

Sadly there is no other bed as I wouldn’t feel comfortable people being in my bedroom.

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16

Thank you.

Yes I’ve seen a few people say this but unfortunately he is a rescue so we’re not really in a position to leave him for 4-6hrs.

17

Thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.

I wouldn’t allow someone to drive my car, no. Plus I’d need it for driving to the airport and back.

We can absolutely look to bring in a dog sitter for a walk that’s fine, but unfortunately our boy is not in a position to be left for 4-6hrs. He is a rescue and we’ve invested a lot of time and money in training to get him to where he is. But 4-6 hours I don’t think he could manage or be happy with.

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Unfortunately our boy is a rescue dog and not in a position to leave him for 4-6 hours. Hopefully one day of course, but not anytime soon. We’ve already invested a lot of time and money into training for him which has been great.

Thank you however for your feedback.

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Yup, I have a rescue, too. Because of his specific needs, we never have THS sitters. Instead, we hire professionals he already knows. Like he stays with someone who used to work at the shelter where he sat unwanted, after he was adopted the first time and was returned.

We pay a lot, but it’s worth it, because we want him to have care that it’s not reasonable to expect THS sitters to offer.

THS sits should always be fair exchanges. Otherwise, rationally sitters wouldn’t pay membership fees and spend time, money and energy to volunteer sit.

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20

First, you might stop wasting time by reaching out to invite sitters. That is very rarely effective as it is more effective to let the sitters find you.

I see the issue that others have mentioned. Even 2- 2.5 hours is not much to do anything more than a quick grocery run. Some sitters but not all aren’t okay with dogs sleeping in the bed with them. It’s’ not clear whether a dog that requires that much attention is even okay for people with online jobs who would be working, and many sitters have online jobs. Some people locally might even have jobs they need to go to and that would be impossible with your dog. Some may be retirees, but retirees are often visiting grandchildren or off sightseeing or doing activities. All of this may make it difficult to find the right sitter. Please remember are exchanging sitting for a place to stay not for money so there isn’t much incentive for sitters to choose your sit when many pets can be left home for longer periods so one could enjoy activities like bowling or dinner out or a movie.

If you can’t find a suitable sitter within 2 weeks, you might be able to get a refund.

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