Only logged in after a long time to voice our dissatisfaction: we are two people and mostly do sits in expensive countries, but on a low budget. Overlaps helped us to avoid costly accommodation. In the past we could use TrustedHouseSitters for this and also recommended the website to everyone, now we’ll have to go with Nomador or another competitor.
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Unfortunately what I’m reading here between the lines,
which was the same outcome with another new feature that disadvantages good sitters,
that regardless of how dissatisfied many members are with this change,
and regardless of the outsized impact this has on good sitters that can be fully trusted and on HOs who now will have less options (which may lead to some sits going unfilled that actually have willing sitters available),
and regardless of valuable suggestions provided to implement an alternative solution to achieve the same goal of weeding out the small number of ‘bad apples’,
nothing will change because once a feature has been rolled out - without member consultation- that’s it and it’s set in stone regardless of what the membership thinks of it and regardless of its impact, some of which may only become known through this forum
Sorry for the somewhat harsh words, but THS has become a frustrating space in the past 1.5 years as has been pointed out by too many due to its very top-down rollout of features that create as many problems as they solve. Most of which reduce the agency of sitters, the lifeline of this platform.
And it’s not that difficult to create a much more congenial and collaborative atmosphere by aiming for active inclusion and consultation of members in major changes to the functioning of the site. I feel a bit bad for you, Carla, that you have to be the “messenger” of this, stuck between us and the THS team - probably not entirely what you imagined when joining THS not too long ago. But for companies to be successful in the long run they have to show adaptive learning capacity - and I don’t notice that with THS at the moment.
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Hi fellow sitters,
I would like to get your feedback on the possibility of THS creating an enquiry button on Pet Parents applications to ask questions about their upcoming sit.
This could potentially help us sitters with the overlapping issue and other issues mentioned.
Carla has passed this on to the THS team as part of the new ideas thread.
Please no negative feedback about whether THS would consider this or not as one person mentioned as we don’t need to go down that path and that’s not what I’m asking.
Let’s support one another to come up with ideas to help us get sits while maintaining the safety, love and happiness of the furbabies we care for.
I would really like to hear from other sitters to see what you think about an enquiry button on the applications and if you would support this moving forward?
Tracey
Cat Lover 
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I would absolutely support an enquiry button! Please, THS… 
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An enquiry option would be great.
However, in my opinion, the idea of a pop up for owners to confirm they are ok with an overlap is the most realistic solution for all parties.
It removes the risk for the owners, and THS can be reassured that all parties are comfortable with the arrangement. We also know that THS can deploy this quickly, since we had pop-ups only a couple of weeks ago for sitters.
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Hi @Carla.
We are fulltime housesitter couple that lives solely by providing housesits to people. As so many others have pointed out we will split ourselves by a couple of days to cover housesits that overlap.
It is simply impossible to find sits that match up every single time on the exact same day (and actyally a lot of the time the homeowner wants to you to come a day later or earlier than they actually post)
With the change to the system it will make it unsustainable for us to be able to stay providing fulltime houseits as the financial cost and logistical pain of constantly covering 1-2 days accommodation will become too much.
We love THS but ask you to consider the impact of how many great housesitters you will drive away through removing the opportunity to even speak to potential sits and a workaround to allow a few days grace period for those who have couple status.
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Thats a great idea!
Maybe THS could include a tick box for the pet parent when inviting the sitter.
Maybe the sitter can have a tick box too when accepting the sit.
This then confirms that both parties agree with an overlap 
The Pet Parent has discussed the overlap with the sitter and understands whats involved
The sitter confirms that their furbaby will be safe, cared for, happy and loved and the overlap will not cause any harm which is most important
Lets keep them coming. Hopefully Carla can report back to THS with all these ideas.
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Good point, my last 2 sits HO has asked for change of dates both start and end after dates confirmed
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I might have missed this so sorry if it has been covered…
Today we received a sit request for dates that overlap with a confirmed sit.
Question, how is this possible if we’re no longer able to overlap sits? Why doesn’t the HO get an automatic block that stops them from sending us the invite?
@PetsSit , it seems to be a small loophole in the system, a home host can still send a private invite even if dates overlap , and if the sitter accepts the system will confirm the sit.
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@Colin Thanks for the additional information that a sitter can not only be invited to a sit with overlapping dates but also the system allows the sitter to accept a sit with overlapping dates - I had assumed that it would block the sitter from clicking accept to sit .
I haven’t figured out why I can click to apply for some sits. where dates overlap … but then I am not able to submit the application … but for other sits I get the message you are busy and I am not able to type an application …
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I’m sure someone may have already said this but what about when HOs put in their listing that dates are flexible? This is more often than you think. So although it looks like they have set dates they are happy to work around the sitter however the new system won’t allow you to contact the HO to discuss. I just tried! :-/
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Sounds like the homeowners will either lose their flexibility or if they want to change their set dates they’ll have to re-list.
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I am a solo sitter so the overlapping strategy (wisely) utilized by couples doesn’t apply to me. However, I am disappointed in this new policy.
If I was a HO with date flexibility and wanted to post a sit that would enhance the chances for couples to apply by minimizing the risk of being shut out, I would post a listing of one night. I would include the term EXPANDABLE DATES in my listing title. At the start of my listing description, I would then provide some details on when I needed sitters. For example, if I needed 1 week coverage but it could vary between the 3rd and the 12th This strategy would decrease the number of people automatically shut out from even applying (remember I only posted 1 night).
Applicants would respond with their availability. For example, ‘We can do the 4th to the 11th’. The HO would amend the dates when negotiations were finalized (HOs are going to have to become familiar with that skill regardless).
Of course there are many times when this won’t work and the 5 app limit still prevails. Thoughts? (please be kind!!)
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@MaggieUU at first glance that looks like a soind and doable ‘Work Around.’ Unfortunately it will likely only be tech savvy HOs and members of this forum that see this posting who might think to implement it. The rest with flexible dates will be stuck with a system that no longer works for them as well asnit did…
But what your post tells me more, is that when systems and processes no longer meet an individuals needs, they WILL devise another way…DESPITE…what the rule makers want. Either that or they will walk away and find a system that works for them better.
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@MaggieUU , currently many sitters will filter sits for the duration that they are looking to stay ( 1 week / 2 weeks + etc ) so any one day listings will get overlooked as they won’t come up in the search results .
If that particular day is the overlap day the sitter still won’t get a chance to apply.
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@Silversitters …agreed, so many times this won’t work but I just wanted to put it out there
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This is an earlier post by the forum team…
“We are open to answering your questions, especially about date changes on listings, welcome your feedback, suggestions, and ideas. However, please understand that this policy will remain in place.”
So despite an almost universal response to this change by THS it seems things aren’t going to change, no matter how much evidence is presented.
We have often responded to an advertised sit by saying “Although we can’t help on this occasion, please bear us in mind for any future dates” as it would appear a good match for both sides.
Can THS please explain what is wrong with us doing with that…?
.
We have to smile when we see things like “thank you for contributing to the discussion…”
This isn’t a discussion, it’s a statement by THS.
I also frequently read that the forum team don’t have control over policy, yet can state without doubt that the policy won’t change.
Can you have it both ways…?
The answer is obviously yes…
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I just tried to book a sit that overlaps another one by one day but I wasn’t able to. I’m travelling with my daughter and we had planned to split up if this happened, but it seems that we can’t. Does anyone know how I could do this? It will be expensive and troublesome if I have to pay for accommodation for single days between sits.
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Hi @TheSaint
It’s absolutely correct that the Forum team don’t have the ability to change policies, but we do our very best to make the Forum’s voice heard.
The reason that Angela was able to confirm that update with you all, is that she took the Forum feedback to the relevant team (or Product Manager), and that was their response rather than it being something that Angela had decided.
We’ll continue to provide regular product updates, collect feedback, and pass on any information that we receive about product updates as detailed here by Carla 
.
Jenny