Just to give you some additional “stats”, as we seem to be applying for sits in the same region.
We have 25+ great 5 star reviews with my partner and our last 5 applications for Portugal were declined, 4 of them without even a note. Some sits I didn’t even try, as they prefer a single sitter. We are applying for a specific period, so this is why within a month we had only those 5 options to apply to (there are 2 other sits that are not suitable for us as we don’t have a car).
I have noticed several sits running several rounds of applications, not just declining one applicant but all 5. As the sits are few in that region, and the demand is huge, they have the options to be really “picky” with their choice. This is not a complaint, just stating the facts. It didn’t even cross my mind to apply a second time to “persuade them”, they stated their preferences with their initial decline.
From my experience Portugal seems to be extremely difficult for securing a sit, even compared to Spain (we did 3 sits there only last year).
So even with our 25ish exclusively excellent reviews and great response/confirmation rate in other European countries, this seems to be a difficult region to secure a sit.
It’s just how it works… You can be lucky if you receive a short reply with your decline. For most hosts they just push the decine button these days.
140!!?? There should be a plaque for that! BRAVO. And I don’t mind so much if they are going to live chat w someone else after us - I get it, I just wish they’d say that right up front. “You are going to be one of my x number of calls” -
The worst is we’ve had a video chat go really well, (last winter) they said, and I quote “we’d love to host you guys” and then…nothing…next day…nothing…then an automated message “sorry you were’t selected this time” WHAT? SO weird. And inconsiderate. They didn’t even message us - I actually was the one to reach out and ask what happened bc it bothered me so much. I was baffled - and irritated!
BUT a week or so later we landed something for those same dates (and longer) MUCH MUCH better!! Ironically, the ppl who dumped us without a note actually contacted us months later asking if we were interested in a sit for them!!
And the ppl we DID sit for just messaged us asking us to come back this winter. Ha. So…you just never know!!
i’m really glad to hear that. i hate the job interview style - “we’ve done Zoom calls with 5 people and we chose one of the others” - you’re considerate in that you don’t waste people’s time.
Thanks for taking the time to spell out your process. I usually follow most of that except a couple of things in number 3:
I do sometimes say how much I would love to look after your pet because the pictures, description and reviews have won me over. It’s the absolute truth, I have applied for sits which are not really convenient otherwise just for the sake of spending time and cuddling with some pets. I sometimes feel that HOs may not believe it, so, after reading your post I may reconsider my approach.
I sometimes mention why I want to be in that particular area. This is THS general advice when you press the application button and quite a few members of the forum have mentioned that they want to know that, it helps them trust the sitter. I am not so sure whether it’s worth introducing changes here as I guess different owners have different opinions about this.
Anyway, I do appreciate your perspective as I, sometimes, have been declined after a video chat that went apparently well and the only thing I could think of was that perhaps they didn’t believe I was willing to pay for a expensive flight to go to some random place just because I wanted to spend lots of time with those pets or just because I want to get away from the heat in Southern Spain. I guess there’s not much I can do about it, some people just don’t get others may have different priorities.
“Single guy” can be the hardest sell on THS. Have you considered sitting with a friend if that is an available option? Many prefer couples.
Emphasise that you are focused on pets, not there to party and outline what you do that gives them a sense that you are responsible and safe to host.
If you’re a person of colour (I am) there will be racists that filter you out automatically. You know when you know…and that’s a shame for them but for me, it’s a blessing to dodge bullets!
I hope that helps!
Focus on creating a profile that is pet-focused with friendly and fun photos with pets. Then focus your message and behaviour there.
When I get applications for my sits, I always quickly respond to the applicants offering to email them my welcome guide and schedule a video call to discuss. If I don’t hear back from them for several days or more, and others answered quickly and followed up, those are the ones I choose. However, I always text the applicants I didn’t choose and explain why I didn’t choose them.
I see that you are location oriented rather than pet and home care oriented. That might be the reason you are getting declines. You have to adore pets and that has to come across to the homeowner for them to choose you. People love their pets and select carers with their pet’s care in mind; they want to know that the care of Fido or Fluffy will come first. They also want to know you have high standards of cleanliness in the home. I’m not saying that’s not the case with you, however you’re possibly not communicating this, either in your profile, or in the cover letter with your application.
Just a simple suggestion, framed a little differently - unless, of course, you need to be near loved ones in a particular location: expand your comfort zone when it comes to both destination and time of year, and be ready to act quickly.
We’ve had wonderful sits outside the usual tourist season - even during the “rainy season,” which, in hindsight, wasn’t nearly as rainy as we expected. We’ve also discovered lovely places far from the main tourist attractions. Our travel experiences keep becoming richer through the wonderful people and adorable pets we meet along the way.
Whenever possible, we add a day or two before or after a sit to visit the area’s famous attraction and tick it off our list.
But the real magic is often found in unexpected, off-the-beaten-track moments: chatting with friendly gardeners, laughing with the neighbours, feeling immensely relieved when a Houdini dog finally comes home, or watching a grumpy cat slowly warm to you and - after a few days - finally settle on your lap. And now there’s the daily ritual of gently picking up a blind hen and a partially sighted rooster, letting them out of their run to potter around for a while, and then returning them safely to their enclosure, where they’re protected from the stronger members of the flock.
I wish you many happy travels and countless memorable moments to look back on when you’re very, very old, browsing through your photos and videos and saying, “Aww, I remember it as it was yesterday, when I/we first started with travelling and pet sitting!”
