Hi–I’m totally new to this process and want to know what the proper process and etiquette is for booking a sitter. . .
We have a number of applicants. Is the next step to have a conversation with our top ones to help us decide?
Do we only “invite” after we’ve interviewed?
Once “invited” are we committed?
When do we complete/share the “Welcome Packet”? (I don’t think I can see what’s entailed in that until I get to the next part of the process, right?)
Thanks in advance!
Becky
Welcome @Sammousse (aka Becky)
Congratulations getting your first applications
These topics from the help section will guide you through the process .
You can share the Welcome Guide with your sitter once you have confirmed them as your sitter .
The links provided should be helpful but one thing to note is that you should contact any applicants immediately. If sitters don’t hear from you they’ll potentially move on. You need to move quickly because most sitters apply to multiple listings. So if you wait too long, they will already accept a sit elsewhere. So, reach out to any you like and set up a video call. Any you know for sure you aren’t interested in, send them a nice decline message then decline them in the system.
Yes to the process with a couple of caveats @Sammousse The sitter is “interviewing” you as well as you chatting to them so find a good mutual fit that you’re all happy with. Be quick, good sitters go fast. If you find someone great don’t tell them “we want to talk to others first and then let you know” or you’ll probably lose them. Both parties need to feel as if they are a no 1 choice. Once you’ve invited and the sitter has accepted that commitment is 
other than in “exceptional circumstances” (illness, bereavement, redundancy etc) so be sure you’re ready to say yes. WG only gets shared with a committed sitter. #enjoytheride
No, don’t have multiple conversations, and don’t necessarily look at the number of reviews. It’s a heart-thing, a connection thing, a gut feeling, an intuitive feeling. Your intuition is probably right. From your applicants, which do you intuitively ‘feel’ is right? That’s the person you chat with, have one goal in mind, to confirm to yourself whether your initial feeling about them was correct. Do you still feel they are the right person for you. When you first reach out to them, if you think they sound great, let them know that, so that they in turn have a good feeling about you (because they will go with their intuition too.)
Then, after chatting if you feel your initial intuition was wrong (which it is unlikely to be), and they aren’t the right fit, THEN you chat with another.
Also, you don’t have to chat with them either, you can just accept them if you prefer, but some sitters may want to chat first, especially when you are new.
Make everything happen fast, don’t video chat in 3 days time, if you can do it earlier, because within that time they could be offered another sit, and you’ve lost them.
Welcome to the forum and congrats in getting applicants!
As mentioned, it is wise to proceed timely and without delay. in my experience a confirmed sit has usually been the result of the host reaching out withing 24 (max. 48) hours, and a video-call and confirmed sit has often also been agreed in a couple of days.
As it is not a “booking of sitter” (beware of words used, as many sitters can regard it red flags 
) but a mutual exchange, your applicants will also often both want and need a videocall to see if the sit is right. This is an advantage for both parties, as the feeling of understanding and that it will be a good match for both parties is the foundation for a good sit and overall experience. Prepare for the call so you talk about what is useful and needed to get to know each other and disclose information you need to decide. After the videcall some applicants might withdraw their application, so one question on the end of the conversation could be “are you still interested?”
Your gut-feeling will probably guide you more than anything. Never go into a sit feeling that it is “off”. Also be aware of that sitters asking for money etc. is in breach of the terms of THS. It is rare, but it could happen and should be reported.
As it seems your applications filled up there is a good chance that you will find your right sitter among them. You only need one sitter, so if you find that one there isn’t really a need to keep others in the loop. Be sure to “confirm” the dates in the system . Confirmation will automatically send a decline-message to the others. If you would like a personal “sorry, not this time”-message it can be sent before (or after) you hit the confirmation-button for your chosen sitter.
If not, be sure to decline the ones you see is not for you this time, and then other sitters will be able to apply.
It’s only when the sitter accepts that the auto decline message goes out . So it can be instantly or take a while depending on whether the sitter accepts the confirmation.
Thanks for filling in. 
Thanks so much! Especially for the nuances–I had no idea “booking a sitter” was offensive! Got it! All the info you provided was so helpful. I have in fact confirmed our first sit! So exciting!
Thank you to everyone who replied! Sorry I wasn’t even being good with the obvious–and all the resources on the site. But I appreciate all the direction and coaching. We have in fact confirmed our first sit with a great person! 