Thanks so much for that… I definitely needed the encouragement and hope. Did you look at my post and what did you think?
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This whole thread makes the process seem overly complicated. The only real issue I see is trying to invite sitters, which is a crapshoot.
Post your sit the normal, easy way. Interested sitters will apply. Be yourself and just chat with them. Answer their questions, ask them yours. If you don’t find a good fit, then you can worry about tweaking your listing. Good luck, you got this.
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Thanks for your input… haven’t gotten to the questions and answers point yet 
@Max2 , your listing now looks great! Hope you get good results!
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Thanks, putting lots of work into it
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I think it’s a wonderful paragraph, it’s simply suggesting & reminders. As a sitter I appreciate this very much. It’s your home for goodness sake. I actually feel people could be much, much more tidier in this world of ours. People can be much more considerate of other’s space & their own. As Sitters best to leave it better than we found it. Yay!
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@DraggyDays, I think it reads much better as it is now. The “I expect it” wording sounds a bit parental in tone. Remember transactional analysis? It’s much better adult to adult rather than parent to child.
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Hi @Max2 - your listing is reading better but I still think you are making it sound like more work than I suspect it really is
Here are two snippets from your listing.
1 - Cammie eats in the bedroom with the gate closed… If she just refuses, her mouth hurts and she needs the liquid refrigerated pain med gabapentin 1 ml by plastic syringe orally before waiting about an hour to offer food again. She also gets 1 ml of prednisolone orally for her mouth condition once every other day.
2- Cammie gets prescription food … She gets medicine every other day for that condition and pain medicine as needed for a mouth condition.
Is this describing the same thing twice? If so you are making it look over-complicated and twice the work that is actually necessary
You’re right, I’ll fix that
Hi,
I actually considered doing your sit, but the dates didn’t work out for me so I didn’t click on the listing. It looks fine to me now that I look at it.
I’ve had two house sitters for our animals so far and each time it took a long time to get people to apply. It’s been more than a little nerve wracking! I think many just don’t plan that far ahead and there’s a lot of options (competition) in my city for where/when to sit. I’m hoping that once I get a few home reviews from sitters that will help get sitters quicker as well. I know I like to see what other sitters say before applying for a sit.
Good luck! And if you have a sit in the future feel free to invite me. I like Racine.
@Max2 - I still think you are giving too much info in your write up which can be overwhelming for a sitter when they are trying to decide whether or not yours is a good fit for them. Things like the names of the medicine are not really needed nor is the name of their feed - this can be given in your welcome pack later if you really want to.
If I was you I would delete your responsibilities section and replace it with this ( read and check all the information is correct first!)
The cats get breakfast at about 7 am. I separate them so they only eat their own food.
Occasionally Cammie refuses her food, This means her mouth hurts and she needs her medicine which is easily given orally with a plastic syringe. Then wait about an hour before offering her food again. She also gets medicine orally for her mouth condition once every other day.
All cats eat dry kibble with water to soften and canned moist food mixed in.
Unfortunately, Sam very occasionally brings his food back up after breakfast but this only happens about once a week.
The cats are all indoor and are all very friendly, they will either be playing or napping and love a cuddle.
They sleep on the couch, the dog beds, the cat tree, the window sills and yes, the human bed!
Buddy the dog is very friendly and gets along well with the cats.
He gets fed after the cats and eats kibble sometimes mixed with an egg. He can be left for 5-6 hours whilst you go out.
He loves walks and going to the dog park. He is not reactive unless a dog gets up in his face, and loves tug play but not chasing balls.
Buddy can sleep on the couch or floor cushions but not the bed.
There are no plants in the house. If you go out, please leave the radio on, lock doors at night or when you go out and no smoking.
FYI: Sit dates may change by just a day or two but well ahead of June
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@Max2 , I see where you’re coming from, I’m a nurse too and I love the detail! 
But I guess I’d go with @Colin ’s suggestions. He’s looking at it through the lens of a typical sitter.
Bless you, I really appreciate your comments and good wishes. I’m glad to know that you considered taking up my offer of a sit in beautiful Racine. Next time!
The sitters here are giving you great advice. My only thought when I read it was that you were including a lot more detail than was needed in the listing. Details about where the food is kept and who eats where are better for the welcome guide imo. The parts about a cat needing medication are definitely important to make sure sitters are comfortable with that. Good luck!
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Yes, you’re right and I’m getting it pared down
The text in your listing looks pretty fine to me, but I feel your photos could be improved. It looks like you took vertical photos on your phone and then tried to fit them into the horizontal format, so they got cut off. I would suggest you take new photos with a horizontal orientation (turn your phone the other way). Try to step back and get in entire rooms to give the sitter a feel for your home. Lots of tiny close-ups make it difficult to picture the place. You say you have a backyard, patio, and outdoor table; I’d include a photo of that as well! A nice table to enjoy breakfast outdoors is a big selling point for me personally. You might include a few photos of attractions in the area so people traveling from a distance can see why they might like to go there. Racine isn’t well-known in the way that a city like Chicago is. Include photos of that bustling downtown and lakefront you mention. People who have never been to the Great Lakes don’t understand how vast they are. When I lived in Chicago I used to tell people that Lake Michigan looks like an ocean when you are standing on the shore. If there are any natural areas within a reasonable drive, I’d include at least a mention of those as well.
I have been sitting for 7 years on Trusted Housesitters, full-time for all but one year. In that time, I have done about 30 sits, maybe more, and I have NEVER, EVER done a sit I was invited to. I have only found sits through searches.
Why? 10/10, the location isn’t somewhere that interests me, I’m not available for the dates I’m invited for, or the homeowner is inviting me to commit to a sit that’s too far down the road for me. This is especially true if it’s a short sit. I can’t put a short sit into place three months down the road and then have to turn down a long sit that overlaps with it. I normally plan no more than a month or two ahead, and then, normally only longer sits of two weeks or more. Your sit is short, so it might not suit someone who is looking for a place to travel to. The sitter might need to fit it together with another sit to make those 5 days work.
I personally am put off by being invited without at least a note. Sitters are expected to tell a bit about themselves and why they want a sit they are applying for, and I’m of the opinion that it works the same way in reverse.
I hope this feedback is helpful, and I wish you all the best in finding a sitter for your dates.
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I think this sort of detail can be gone over in the video chat. I would only mention cleaning in a listing if there’s something unusual, like expecting the sitter to pay for a cleaner to come in (I’ve seen that, and it was an immediate pass), or you want the place spotless. I always leave a place cleaner than I found it, and I assume other sitters with 5-star reviews do the same.
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I’m a sitter, and I think this is a great idea. Have you suggested it to THS directly?
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Lots of factors may be at play. Your location, time of year and length of sit. I live in Canada in an area that can have harsh winters. Getting someone to come stay is very difficult that time of year as many, especially mature sitters, want to go to a warm climate. We had an awful time getting someone for our Feb-March trip. Took a chance on a young couple who were eager and communicative. They canceled the month before our trip and in spite of over 35 attempts we had no luck to get a replacement. I had to beg my son to come stay (and cover his lost wages) and look after our cat. So, the process can be very frustrating but there are good people who will do a great job for you.
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Wow, so sorry about all the problems, 
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