Hi - Again this year, I’m not receiving applications for my Thanksgiving house/pet sit in Portland, Oregon. I reread the suggestions I received last year & I think I made all of the changes. Any suggestions? Thank you!!
(edited by Forum team to remove listing link from post - please head to OP’s profile to view 
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Hello @Renee63 have had a quick look at your listing & here’s a few ideas to help. Would definitely want a better pic of the bathroom/shower as it’s just a loo, needs the addition of all the bedroom amenities (missing) and the bed size as it looks like a single only which is limiting as it says you can’t take couples? Can you offer more space for a family for example? I can’t see any sitter reviews, is this your first time? You’ll be up against a lot of competition for the holidays and 4 days isn’t long for someone to up sticks and come to yours. Maybe you could mention that you can pick the sitter up from a local station if they don’t have a car? Would also change the cover photo to a cute one of Button rather than the busy lounge. Where does everyone sleep too as that’s important info. #wishingyouluck
Thanks for the suggestions. I may just need to leave the THS site - I keep paying for it, but it may not be a fit for me/our animals. The bathroom is as small as it looks - shower, toilet, sink - it’s nothing luxurious. I do have a double bed now, so can replace that photo. The photos I have of Button since the one I posted are worse - she is 17 years old, blind and deaf. Re: taking a family, I have 6 bedrooms, so it’s certainly possible, but it wasn’t my initial plan to have a family stay with our 5 animals, including one who is so old. Doesn’t seem to be the best space for a family, esp with small children, but I can certainly consider mentioning it in the ad. I know I’m sounding negative, and I’m sorry. I just really had no idea that THS was such a competition - I probably don’t have the spirit to make this look like an Instagram influencer’s space in order to attract someone for a free space to stay in a cool city. Last year when I joined the site I spent over an hour setting up the lengthy profile and didn’t receive any messages until about a week before the date when I had already found someone. But it was a holiday and - like you say - much competition l, which I didn’t expect. My home and the neighborhood are/is so beautiful, and Portland is a wonderful city. Anyway, again sorry for my crankiness. I do appreciate your suggestions!
I’m sorry you’re so disheartened and I understand your frustration. Sits can definitely be high competition especially for a short sit during a high travel/family visit period of time.
Just a couple notes from me:
I wish you luck, but given the dates, I think it’s going to be difficult.
@Renee63 The existing photos of Button are absolutely fine. It may be a good idea to mention in your listing that she is blind and deaf, but that she still gets around OK, or enjoys her familiar walks. I think you might be afraid that this will scare sitters away, but some sitters have a soft spot for senior pets. The ones that might be put off by these normal effects of aging are probably not suitable to care for Button anyway.
We have cared for a blind and deaf cat, and deaf cats and dogs. The blind and deaf cat was 18, very loudly vocal, and it was fascinating to watch her get her bearings after we had lifted her down from her food (which was out of reach of dogs). She would walk in expanding circles until her whiskers touched the kitchen units and then she would follow them round and work out where she was. She scared us a little one day when she had gone out of the cat flap into the garden, but she found her way back in OK without any assistance.
If a sit like this was in the UK, where we live, we would definitely consider it.
Here’s all I need to know and why I wouldn’t apply. Its a mutual exchange, not free accomodation. And setting it up nicely for guests to stay in is good manners, not part of a competition.
Spend Thanksgiving in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
You are asking sitters to spend Thanksgiving in Portland, Oregon; however, Thanksgiving is on November 28 and the dates for your sit are November 21 - November 25. Unless, you made a mistake in your dates, your listing title is misleading.
In your listing you mention that, “Pets can be left alone all day (even overnight if needed)”. That is something you may not want to encourage sitters to do—especially with your dog, Button, who you mention is blind / deaf. Is Button able to go on walks? What is Button’s routine for potty breaks? These would be things I would like to know as a sitter and to keep Button with her familarized routine. And do you have a guest bedroom / bathroom for the sitter(s)?
If you don’t have the “spirit” or don’t want to put in the time and effort to make your listing more attractive /appealing, (and utilize the suggestions you have been given), then why should sitters have “spirit” and apply to your sit in your free space?
While your city may be a cool place to stay, your comment about attracting someone as a free space to stay comes off as offensive to many sitters.
Agreed. Portland sits aren’t hard to come by, even if someone were desperate to visit, so I sure wouldn’t apply for one where the host made little or no effort and thought sitters were getting the better end of the deal.
Thanks for the feedback. I understand it’s a mutual exchange and I do have a nice guest room and separate bathroom. I’ve made some changes at my home since I made the initial posting last year and agree that I should update my profile/posting before posting again. I removed the Thanksgiving posting and will use a local high school gal who has come by before since it’s a competitive time for a sit and it’s a short time period.
Thanks for the feedback. You’re correct in that I had the dates wrong - thanks for pointing that out. I removed the sit request for this year since it’s a competitive time and a short timeframe. I’ll have a local high school gal come take care of the pets during Thanksgiving. I have shared accommodations with folks from Facebook groups - they’ve stayed with me when I’ve been in the home and when I haven’t, I’ve stayed with them in the past and all has worked out very well. I’m still learning the specifics of the THS site and I now understand I had a few misconceptions. Thanks again.
Thanks for the feedback. I’m sorry if it comes across as I’ve made little to no effort. I have a very nice guest room and separate bathroom and a nice house in a quiet and nice area. If/when I post a request for a sit in the future, I’ll add new photos as I have made some updates to the space. I remove the current request as it appears to be a competitive time and a short sit comparatively. I have a high school gal who can come by and feed the animals this year so I can meet my out of town adult kids for the holiday. Fortunately I’ve made many great connections/new friends on a couple of house/pet sitting Facebook groups, but I’m just learning how the THS site works and I seem to have had some misconceptions. Thanks again.
Thank you so much for your suggestions and kind words - I really appreciate it. I removed my request for this holiday as it seems to be a competitive time and a short sit comparatively. If/when I request again in the future, I’ll make updates to the photos/profile. Thanks again!!
Thanks so much for your suggestions and your kind words - really appreciate it. That’s so nice to know that some sitters have a soft spot for senior pets. I have a friend who started a senior pet sanctuary/adoption business - it’s such hard work, but so important and rewarding. What a cute story about the 18 year old kitty. Our cats are all 5-12, so not too many health problems (yet), but my cats from college lived to 18 and 23 (crazy!). Thanks again for taking the time to respond!