@Straykitten you are definitely a “new timer” then 
Welcome to the wonderful world of the dreaded five, and you have raised some very valid points 
@LizBCN you are definitely a “new timer” also lol I don’t think you will be on your lonesome in not renewing, there is a lot of unhappy members out there regarding the dreaded five.
@LalongLL a “relatively new timer” I think you will fall under The five ruling is definitely a contentious issue and I think more so now than previously. You are not on your own in regards how you feel about it!
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@las definitely not an “old timer” and definitely not old. If you are ol-DER, join the club! 
I am also on two Aussie sites and obviously there is a LOT of sits on them and I have no trouble with either, usually I say. But I do always tell people that I think TH has a better style overall, despite the introduction of the hated new application limit. Stick with it if travelling internationally, definitely best for that!
@ElsieDownie definitely an “old timer” lol 
Doubt you do ANYTHING wrong 
I must say, I’ve been on almost like a feeding frenzy on the forum of late, think I’m bored 
@Silverfox I think you just might happen to be “an old timer”, around eight years, is that correct?
I found that article on Time Out UK far better than most house-sitting media stories I have read, more positives, negatives and advice and much better written than most. Only one paragraph in it that I don’t like but that’s just a personal observation. Thanks for adding it!
Couldn’t agree more! It’s just common sense, isn’t it? 
For me, limiting applicants to a maximum number rather than pre-qualifying applicants is always going to be quantity over quality. Imagine someone is going away for a longer period, like 6 months. They might prefer to pre-screen for applicants that can do the whole 6 weeks. Or, maybe, they are open to more than one sitter on the condition that the sitters agree to arrange the handover in the owner’s absence. There should be a way for them to pre-screen applicants based on these criteria and any other criteria they might have. I think the system should and could be a lot smarter. Limiting the number of sitters is definitely about quantity, not quality, and certainly not about your to best meet the users’ needs.
What happens when an owner shortens the stay?! Does THS’s insurance cover this?
As always, truth.
I’ve been “wrong” despite all efforts to make me “right”.
There appears to be cancellation insurance for premium members, which I am not, but I don’t know about reducing the time of the sit. I was ok as I had family and friends in the area, but if I had to pay last minute accommodation rates at what was a peak time in a tourist focused city, it could have been devastating.
@Straykitten Yes , if you have premium membership you can claim for alternative accommodation costs when the sit is shortened ( = curtailed )within 14 days of the sit start date .
But you don’t get back the first $100 of the claim, must provide proof that the owner cancelled ; receipts, must be within 20 miles of the sit and from the experiences related on this forum it takes months to get the claim settled .
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