Hello @Sher and welcome to our community forum and to TrustedHousesitters, I have moved your question to the Sitter Owner Exchange category to give you the opportunity to receive feedback from both owners and sitters.
One thing to bear in mind is that most sitters will apply for more than one sit at a time, they only ever accept and confirm one of course, this gives them more chances of getting a sit with the pet they want to share time with and in the location of their choice.
You can also add the link to your listing in your forum profile this will let members on the forum view your sit. Here’s the link which explains how to do this How to add a listing or profile link to your FORUM profile
Responding in a timely way to applicants is important, letting them know the status of your sit and how you are managing applications. If you receive an application which you feel could be the right sitter for your home and pets then opening up a conversation is just that, communication is the key to a successful sit experience and not until both parties are 100% happy do your and the sitter commit.
AS for the perfect fit, yes it is about getting the right sitter and sometimes this wont become apparent until you start to communicate one to one. Profiles and applications are where you start and if you get a “I would like to know this person better” feeling then open up the conversation.
There are many helpful articles on the website blog and our members are incredibly helpful and so you have come to the right place for advice and guidance. This one is about asking questions prior to a sitter arriving. 10 questions to ask before your sitter arrives | TrustedHousesitters.com
Follow the process, tick the boxes, ask the questions and finally rely on your instinct … and have a great sit experience.