I’ve been invited to work in Canada for 3 months in mid-September, and the organisers have been faffing around a little so we’ve only just had proper confirmation. I’m excited to list our property, but now nervous that we won’t find someone who’s able to commit to the whole 3 months at such short notice. I was thinking someone who works remotely in UK would be great!
Has anyone come across this situation before? I’ve read that sitters calendars are often not up to date and invitations might not be the right way to go, which makes total sense. Is there anything else I could do to make my listing easy to find or more attractive? Any advice, suggestions or reassurance welcomed!
Looks like a fabulous sit @Cassgvp and you’re welcoming hosts so all a great start, plus Riley sounds gorgeous. Your listing is great, invites rarely work so here’s hoping you get lots of applications! Totnes is a fab location and am sure you’ll get sitters for 3 months no problem. Enjoy Canada!! #sendingsittervibes
I don’t know why I can’t see the listing but it would likely be perfect for us had the dates lined up, just from the location and previous comments. People doing the Schengen shuffle would find it attractive I would think. Good luck.
You have a lovely listing @Cassgvp with excellent detail. I would use the last photo of Riley as your first photo to catch sitters’ eyes as it’s a beauty.
If you haven’t already, I would include in your dates the day before you actually leave when you would like your sitters to arrive. This would give Riley time to relax with them in your presence, go for a walk together etc.
With a senior pet in particular, it’s important to share any health issues/medications in your listing so sitters are comfortable/have experience with these when applying. Also that you make arrangements with your vet re payment should any emergency visits be necessary. It’s a good idea to give written vet authority too which can be filed at the vet’s.
You live in a great location which sitters would enjoy. I remember going to a film in the quirky theatre there in 2023!
My suggestion, if you cannot find someone suitable for the full three months, would be to split it into shorter sits. However you would need a trusted friend or family member to be there for handovers to ensure that everything is as it should be.
Good idea- we’re the No 1 and No 3 sitter in a 3 mth sit for 2 older dogs, No 2 sitter couple is doing the middle 7 weeks. The handover between us sitters is being managed by the HO’s cousin with a checklist. The HO created x3 back to back sits when I messaged them to say I could do the first 2 weeks and the last 2 weeks but not the middle. No 2 sitters and we have had a zoom chat to decide compatibility too and agree practicalities. It’s all very organised and positive.
Your listing looks fantastic with wonderful photos. Well done! Just wish I was free to look after your lovely home and Riley.
Unfortunately it is short notice for such a long sit but hopefully someone will be available and I wish you luck with finding a sitter and your time in Canada.
I think you need to emphasize the beauty and character of Totnes. I didn’t get that from listing. I looked up Totnes and thought this is nice. Maybe some photos of local scenary.
I’m not a nomadic full-time sitter. I’m not a a digital worker in the UK who is sticking close to home and in need of no-rent to save up money for a while. But if I were, I could be persuaded by the beauity of Totnes which I’d never heard of before!
If you start with who might want this and be appropriate for it, and then think about what they might want or need to make it practical, you’ll have something.
– a dog lover with experience with an older, mellow, sweet dog who might want to herd small children – so no kids.
– maybe a couple – as one or the other might want to take a day trip and with two people one could stay while the other left.
– someone who would be interested in living in Totnes for 3 months. Say some great things about the town. Train connections aren’t that important if you can’t be away more than 5 hours!
Given the length you should offer some openness to discussing how they might arrange an occassional longer day out – a neighbor or relative or paid sitter who sometimes helps out. What to you do when you have to be away?
GIven Riley’s age, you might say more about her health. Any chronic conditions? Arthritus? Sitters will be gaging what might or could happen in 12 weeks.
I wish you luck as Riley seems like a great dog and your home looks lovely.
Your listing is lovely. If I were able to legally sit in the UK, I would absolutely consider this as my first-ever dog sit! (I typically sit cats)
I’ll offer one more suggestion, great advice from @Lassie: Create ANOTHER listing for just two days in, say, January of 2026. Mention in your listing something like this: “If you are interested in the three month sit but have a slight gap in the dates, please apply to the placeholder January dates so we can have a discussion”.
That is because sitters who have any sits booked during those three months will not be able to contact you - if they try, they’ll get a message saying they’re already booked. Maybe they’re available for all of the time except one weekend in October when they have to go to a wedding - probably you guys could work that out, with a neighbor or professional dog walker. But if they can’t contact you, you’ll never know! Lassie’s workaround of having placeholder dates is a way around this; most experienced sitters will already have at least one sit booked during those three months, but probably not for a weekend in January six months out.
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