Replies to invitations

[MollyM]

Hi, I’m Molly and am new to both TrustedH and to the Forum. Both sound like terrific innovative concepts, and could make my life with 3 dogs even better, so I could travel more often. But it’s frustrating that only one of 4 invited sitters has responded - the others still read “unread” 5 days later. Good thing my trip is still a few months out. But attentiveness and responsiveness is something I value. (I did reply quickly to the one “sorry!” response.)

[Cuttlefish]

Hi @MollyM and welcome Invites are very hit & miss and not all sitters are active or available all the time. Much better to create an excellent listing and post the dates you are looking for. You can add it here if you’d like feedback on how to attract great sitters to your pets & home

How to add a listing or profile link to your Forum profile!

Your Forum profile is different to the profile you have as a member on the main TrustedHousesitters website. We don’t allow links to profiles or listings in forum topics or posts (see guidelines here), but you can add the link to your TrustedHousesitter website profile or house sit listing in your Forum profile. The process is slightly different for owners and sitters, so please choose which one is applicable to you! Top tip: We would recommend you do this on the desktop version as it’s easi…

#listinglove

[UKSITTER1]

Hi there,

It works the other way round - post your dates and interested sitters will apply. Focus on the quality of your listing.

Sending invitations can work, but rarely, as you are picking someone at random who is unlikely to be interested. If they were interested in your location, pets, home and dates, they would be doing searches for sits with those parameters and apply anyway.

I do try to respond to invitations but they’re rather like cold calling, there’s no obligation to and definitely no timescales around it. They aren’t being rude. Sitters who aren’t actively looking for another sit have no reason to keep checking their inbox. Attentiveness and responsiveness is vital for both sides once there’s a connection, but an uninvited communication isn’t a connection.

[Smiley]

Hi @MollyM and welcome!
Please don’t waste your time inviting sitters, it’s rarely successful as you’ll see from a wealth of discussions here on the forum (search ‘inviting sitters’ using the spyglass). Also the calendar is useless so sitters don’t tend to update it.

[Silversitters]

@MollyM

But it’s frustrating that only one of 4 invited sitters has responded - the others still read “unread” 5 days later.

These sitters that you invited and have not read the messages are most likely completely unaware that you have invited them - if they are not currently looking for sits they will have notifications switch off and won’t be checking the app.

As others have said publish a great listing and sitters who are available and interested will apply to you . They will be checking their inbox for replies to their application .

[MollyM]

Thanks for these helpful (and prompt!) replies. I appreciate each. I’ve plumped it up accordingly, but how do you edit the title of your listing?

[hannahbt]

I’ve just started using invites but only to sitters who’ve previously applied in my inbox who I really liked but someone else got in first, or my previous sitters to see if they want to come back. I wouldn’t bother ‘cold calling’ random sitters on here (but I do live in an attractive tourist area)

[temba]

Not sure which you’re using @MollyM but here’s a screenshot from the app and I would assume it will be similar on the website.