New on THS - lots of Nos

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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Hi everyone! I have about two months on THS and managed to get a sit for two horses but it didn’t go so well. I was accused for asking too many questions. No idea if I will get a review and how it’s going to be.

I actually have a large experience with cats, dogs and horses. Been through a lot with them and had animals since I was 7. But it is very hard to keep applying and getting nos.

Any tips? Also if someone feels open towards looking over my profile and give me feedback I would kindly appreciate it.

Thank you!

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If you add your profile to your forum link then we can help @DanaNedelcu - am sure you have lots to give! #youcandoit

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Attach your THS link to your profile on the forum.

I’ve noticed your other post, you have more chance of being accepted if you have multiple reviews under your belt first, before applying to countries that are further away.

So to begin with focus on sits that are closer to your home/country, or last minute sits where there is less competition, just until you get more reviews. Because you may have a much higher chance of getting those over the applicants who are from further away.

In the search box on the forum type in something like ‘how to get sits’ or ‘secure first sit’ and there are loads of tips to help.

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Not sure how to attach my link on my previous message. Maybe it works here

(Post edited by the Forum Team to remove link from post & to add listing link to Forum Profile).

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Hi Deb. Thank you for your reply. I am actually from Romania and it is not so much part of our culture to allow strangers in your home. Usually Eastern Europe is more reserved; probably because of the history of other countries taking advantage of these lands.

You do get a sit every now and then but it’s not like I want to do it at any cost. I would like to be in a nice environment. So I am actually thinking that’s easier for me to just go on holiday by the sea here. I mean with the cost of a flight I can book a nice place close to the sea.

But initially I just loved the idea of THS and I thought I would be doing so good with my experience with animals but actually it’s really not like that.

Will see how it goes and if THS works for me. It is a super nice idea but feels it works well for the people with reviews!
Will check the topics you suggested!

Thank you and wishing you a super lovely summer! :cat_face::dog::horse_face::sun::ocean:

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Great you’ve added your profile. With being from Romania but wanting to travel, personally, I think you will stand a much higher chance with horses, as there are way less people on THS with real horse experience.

You’re profile is good, but there are a few major things you need to change…

Profile image - personally, I’d remove the main image you currently have altogether, it doesn’t tell any story about you and animals. In fact it indicates the total opposite. Whereas every other image does say ‘animal-lover’. You have two brilliant up-close images of you and horses heads - so use one of those as your main profile pic.

Strapline/Title - You say “New here but cared for animals since I was a child; I love being around them!” - you are portraying the total opposite of what you want to portray! Because you are indicating that you haven’t been responsible for animals at all, and that your parents or adults were the responsible people. Also, saying you’re ‘new’, goes against you too, because you are making yourself sound inexperienced, when in reality you have plenty of experience.

So instead say something like:
True animal lover, responsible, and caring.
That way, by saying ‘responsible’ you are removing the doubt that someone may have about you are new and not having many reviews. The ‘true’ word invisibly means honest, and ‘animal lover’ sounds like-minded to a pet parent, and ‘caring’ sounds friendly and approachable.

Also, remove “This is my first time using TrustedHousesitters” because if the pet parent themselves are also new, they may not have realised you are new as you have a 5* reference.

Also, remove “I don’t eat meat”, because a meat eating pet parent may rule you out straight away thinking you won’t be happy at their place. Whereas if you apply to a place and you know they are vegan/veggie, then you can say that in the message that you send them.

Hope that helps

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Your profile picture of you and the white horse is adorable, great first pick. You said your first sit did not go well. You only said she thought you asked too many questions. Was she already traveling when you presented her with questions with the care of the horses? Did she think if you knew about horses you should know these answers? Besides you asking questions were there other troubling parts to this sit? You said TH may not be for you but did you just land on a first bad homeowner? The pictures alone tell me you are good with animals so please give it another try. Maybe be more selective on the next PP. I wish you luck. It is a numbers game at the beginning before you have reviews so just apply to many and statistically you will get an offer.

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Hi @DanaNedelcu
Welcome to the wonderful world of housesitting and well done with your first sit. However, I can’t understand why the owner would have been upset by too many questions as I would think that was a good thing. Don’t assume you’ll get a bad review. Have you written a review of her yet? You only have a window of 14 days.
As @Cuttlefish says, you have a lot to offer and your profile looks great to me.
As advised, look for some short sits close to where you live to get some good reviews.
There is a lot of information on the forum to help you as many others have asked the same question as you. Always a good idea to search before you ask a question. Also lots of tips on the website itself.
Let us know here what review you get from the owner if you feel like it.

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In the first photo, it appears that you are leaning against a birch tree when viewed on a phone. The other photos are great!
You must have already made the suggested changes to the text, as it reads well (although long). :horse_face:
With your experience, you should have no trouble getting sits!

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Hello @DanaNedelcu !

You’ve had great tips and your listing looks lovely IMO.

I am relatively new myself, started out last summer. In my experience it will be a game changer for you when you reach 3-4-5 reviews in regard to how likely you are to getting a sit you apply for.

It is important, though, to know that with a host getting 5 applicants it is statistically an 80 % chance to NOT get the sit for anyone. So it is about beating the numbers in that regard. Getting a good match does however not mean to be «the best of sitters», but to connect with that particular fellow member. With 5 reviews for instance I got a great petsit in a location where the hosts get 5 applicants within minutes. And still they chose me, and said it was me they wanted when questions of alterations came up.

You have an experience not many have, and it might be something that connects also with hosts that don’t currently have horses or whatever. So I would think your prospects would be excellent. If the UK could be an option for you, it is loads of sits and not enough sitters at all to go round (apart from London).

The no. 1 factor to get a good sit and a good review is to choose the right hosts. So be sure to have some criterias of your own and know that it is important to look after yourself choosing a sit-partner. With the wrong partner you can do everything right and still end up in misery.

Ofc do your best and try to learn a little from each sit, but have fun.

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Thank you so much! It helps a lot! :folded_hands:t3:

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There are three important components that could influence your success rate in landing sits:

  • profile
  • reviews
  • application message

Others have given good feedback on your profile.

Reviews: @HappyDeb gave a good tip about getting some short near-term sits under your belt to quickly build a track record. I understand your comments about it being difficult to find local sits. But try to brainstorm on options that will allow you to achieve this – because it can make a difference in acceptance rate.

Application: If you’re still getting a high decline rate, this might be worth taking a look at. If your application message is weak, then potential HOs might not even be looking at your profile.

Declines are normal and expected, no matter how strong your profile/track record are. Speed to apply can help (if two equally strong candidates apply to the same sit, then it’s probably the first one who will get it).

:backhand_index_pointing_up: Note that if you’re only applying to very nice sits, there’s a good chance you’re competing against some much stronger candidates. This is why it’s a good idea to go for a couple less-competitive sits first, because those reviews will strengthen your profile and make you a stronger candidate moving forward… so that you have a better chance of being accepted to your preferred sits.

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Hi Seniorsitter! The owner was already travelling for some months and I was living in an extra house she has on the land. The house was poorly equipped and had a blocked window, I got locked in, there were lots of things that happened and I obviously reached out. She got angry and told me I am stressing her out. From that moment I stopped asking anything but her horse also had a health crisis. He has chronic lung problems and she didn’t tell me. I went around 9 pm to see him and he was breathing really bad. I wasn’t sure whether I am over reactive, if it’s too late to talk to someone (she also asked me to live her in peace on Sundays) I kept on going to see him all night and it kind of seemed worst. I called a THS vet and they said to call for a vet immediately. So I followed the emergency instructions and wrote a message to the neighbour thinking he might be able to react quickly. I told her as well and in the morning she told me the horse has that condition… it was so stressful for me! She told me off that I contacted the nighbour but then those were the instructions…

Other than that the nature was beautiful and I loved the horses!!!

Thank you for appreciating my photos and for wishing me courage! Will keep on trying. There has to be someone resonating with me as well and I will definitely make sure I am confortable with them as well! :smiling_face:

Last time I thought I should just accept anything and got my ticket immediately to make her feel secure.

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Thank you so much! :folded_hands:t3:

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Thank you for your feedback! It’s strange but some picture don’t get framed well because I would have chose another. But I changed it again now that I hears your pov.

I worked on the text to make it shorter as well. You are right.

Thank you so much for taking time to read my profile.

:folded_hands:t3:

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Thank you so much! I will do my best to be more confident about things and enjoy the process! :folded_hands:t3:

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You are very welcome! The updated wording shows your positive personality and natural way with animals.
The photo is better but any of the others with a horse would be better as the featured one, as this one highlights the horse and you’re a bit fuzzy.
Anyhoo—your profile is engaging and reflects your can-do spirit and groundedness!

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Wow! I already have two video calls and a question before moving forward! Thank you so much. I really have to look into crafting the application message as well.

I feel much more confident now! Thank you :blue_heart:

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So sorry you had to deal with all of that. Sorry your first PP was a bad one. Any person who truly cares about their horses would love to have you sit. Please post after your second one which I know will be great!

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Thank you so much for your message. I looked into ways to write application messages and I think I was doing it wrong. I started hurrying to be first and stopped giving details.

Sometimes when I apply to lots of sits I also get tired and uninspired.

I had situations where I saw the most beautiful sit and it went away in a sec and now I am hurrying up a lot when writing, reading quickly the listing :face_with_peeking_eye:

Will get better in time…

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