@renewed_artist ,Hello! And welcome to the forum!
Having a sitter cancel and not being able to find a replacement for such a long trip must have been SO stressful.
A suggestion. Maybe your listing could use tweaking to make it more of a draw. If you add it to your forum profile, members will give you feedback as they have with @Max2 's listing, which is now looking very good.
Here are the instructions:
How to add your listing or profile to your forum profile.
How was your two-month trip?
Colin,
I agree with you wholeheartedly, which is why I am hesitant to get started.
My current concerns may be a bit unrelated, however, your post got my attention. This brings me to where I am in my quest for my first house sit. I have not set up my host profile as yet because I need get some experience as a sitter first, so that I can reciprocate the experience to my sitter when that time comes.
Another concern is safety. How did you all get over the fear of being in a new home, city, country etc?
Re. safety issues, research the area where the sit is located. You can check crime rates online. When you get to the point where you have applied and arranged a phone or video call with the owner, you can ask them for their cross streets and further check out the neighborhood online and on Google maps. I used to carry pepper spray with me but found there were so many place that didn’t permit entry with it in my purse, e.g. theaters, museums, I stopped. I now wear a whistle around my neck tucked into my shirt.
You can also ask the owners about their locks, what kind and how well they work and if they have a security system.
Hi @Veronlee
You have tagged @AnotherPointOfView but mentioned my name so I am not too sure which post got your attention. Being a sitter is not really necessary for you to be a great host but will definitely give you a clear view of the THS experience for sitters and hosts alike.
We are a couple which I think instantly greatly reduces many safety concerns but I do think that with just a bit of extra caution and awareness house sitting is a very safe way get to visit new places even as a single person.
You will get to video all your home hosts before committing to a sit. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions that you need to ask to put your mind at rest. Google can help but some of the fats and figures from there can be misleading. We lived in a big city for many years. Searching Google always told us that we were living in a high crime rate destination yet we never saw any crime whilst we were there. The truth is that there will always be more crime in a big city than in a small village.
Also, previous reviews are a great way to get a feel for the area where you will be staying. Many sitters include information about the area as a help to future sitters.
I would say, go for it! To start, stick to areas you know in order to boost your confidence before you venture further afield - then slowly you will find yourself leaving your comfort zone . Good luck 
I’m not new, and I’ve learned to list my dates as soon as possible, to give time to get sitter applications. My current sit has been up on the site for a couple of months with not a sniff. I think with the pandemic many people are booking things last-minute rather than well ahead. I’ve approached some people who I’ve talked to in the past and who said they were unavailable then but interested for the future - the ones who’ve replied are not available for May even though their calendars show them to be free. I’m now going to have to book paid care for my dog as a back-up because I fear I won’t get any applications.
Hi @Vicki64Vito20 and I hope you find some lovely sitters for your listing. Previous sitters have enjoyed their stay and left feedback so that is a good sign.
If I was available and looking to sit in your area I would need to know a bit more information before applying and you may need to update your listing.
You say Vito is a puppy but he appears to be three years old now. You also mention he cannot be left for more than 30 minutes which would be a concern to me. That may not be the case now but I would want to know if he travels well in the car if out for the day with us etc.
Thanks for your advice, I’ll act on that.
Vicki
Hello Vicki, your pooch & your pad look very nice. Can the sitter manage without a car? Hire cars often don’t allow transporting dogs and asking for a car for only a four day sit would negate it for us. If you could change this and explain how you can walk places instead then I think that would help attract some applicants. Best of luck 
Thanks. It’s not impossible without a car, but tricky.
Hi @Vicki64Vito20, rather than click on your link to see your listing, I have taken the time to search for it on the website where you said it has been on the site for a couple of months. And this is where the main issue lies as it is not getting exposure. In England currently there are 2036 advertised listings and yours is found on page 159 at number 1907! What I suggest you do is take down your listing for a day then re-post it. Hopefully this will then make it a New listing and be seen by sitters. Good luck!
Thanks but I don’t really understand what you mean. I don’t want to remove my whole listing, obviously, as it would be hard work to put everything back on the site. I guess you mean cancel my dates and then add them again?
Sorry I didn’t make it clear @Vicki64Vito20. Yes, remove your dates, leave it for at least a few hours or a day then add them again.
It’s all right, just me being a bit slow! Thank you so much for the tip.
Vicki
Agree. Also, especially lately, HOs are firing off multiple invitations and securing a sitter before I even open the message. I work full time and have very little free time; increasingly, I do not feel obligated to respond.
Hi Veronlee,
I saw your response to Colin and your question about safety. I am a single woman of 57, and I’ve been housesitting full-time for most of the past 7 years, all over–many neighborhoods in New York City, Montreal, Paris, Spain, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Asheville NC, New York’s Hudson Valley, and all over New England. I almost never feel unsafe. I have no fear of being in a new place. I select sits carefully, and if anything about a sit makes me uncomfortable–something in the listing or photos or something the homeowner says in the video chat–I don’t accept the sit. Usually if I reject a sit it has nothing to do with fear of being alone there. In addition to city and suburban sits, I have housesat in many homes out in the middle of the woods. I never felt afraid, and I didn’t feel the need to use an alarm system when a homeowner said it was optional. I can think of just one place I stayed, in a small city, where I felt a bit uneasy walking home at night, so I made sure to get home before dark or walk with someone else.
I’m not sure I have any advice for you except to say that people have different levels of fearfulness overall, but it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the actual safety of the circumstances. If you are generally afraid of the unknown or unfamiliar, then housesitting might not be the best fit for you.
Also, you don’t need to become a sitter before you engage sitters as a homeowner. I’m sure it’s helpful, but it certainly isn’t a requirement. Any sitters you speak with can answer questions for you about their expectations and preferences.
I hope this is helpful.
Best of luck!
Gillian
Fortunately, this hasn’t happened to me. However, I have noticed that with so many people joining up, homeowners don’t always understand how things work on this platform. I have found myself shepherding a number of homeowners through the process. Sometimes, a homeowner thinks that because I have applied for their sit, when they invite me it means I am confirmed to sit for them. I will never agree to sit without a face-to-face conversation first, and I advise homeowners to do the same.
Thank you Colin, very much appreciated.
Hi GillinWings,
I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and encouragement. I have the desire to go to new places and see new things. I am not necessarily a fearful person, however, I just wanted to talk to others who are pros of house sitting so that I can learn from your experiences.
Thank you so much for your willingness to help.
@mars, I very much appreciate your assistance and support.
Thank you.
I am not yet, but I have been advised to link my profiles to the “chat”. Have you been able to do this, then people can see what you are asking for, then see also your details. Where are you? I stopped sitting for a while but am looking to getting back into “circuit” again soon. People come and go, depending on what’s happening on a daily basis, I tend to support short term notice as I’m often “suddenly” available. If you are advertising, then people will contact you too. 
Good luck, and let us know how you get on 
Verena