As a sitter, to my mind there are no Ifs or Buts: What those people did to you was ignorant and rude. Perhaps they’d heard it’s a “sitters’ market” at the moment and assumed that gave them carte blanche. Perhaps they were just selfish and stupid (and dare I surmise, rather young?..)
Whatever their excuses, on behalf of all sitters - which I’m sure is the majority - who strive always to behave with consideration and decency : I’m really sorry you’ve had these experiences. But please don’t give up. You’ll find some gems, I promise. Because most sitters absolutely do NOT find that sort of behaviour acceptable. In fact, it would never cross their minds to act like that.
3 Likes
Really?
When I see a sit that I might be interested at some other time I mark it as a favourite. That is what that function is for. Putting a foot in the door is just annoying.
5 Likes
I think part of the problem is that THS has their system set up so that sitters are not able to contact HOs other than to “apply.”
I recently “applied” to a sit simply to ask the HO for a more specific location description.
4 Likes
There’s a post further up the thread that @Silversitters references that advice from THS. We’ve landed sits that way and always caveat it with “please delete our application as soon as you’ve read it to free up spaces for others.” #smallprint
4 Likes
Why on earth would you refer to yourself as a “lowly sitter”?? The adjectives I use to describe the sitters we have hosted are “fabulous”, “wonderful”, and “amazing” and because they are fantastic sitters who feel valued and appreciated have very positive self esteem. One particular couple who sat for us years ago have become great friends of ours and have already taken us up on our open invitation to stay at our vacation condo in Kauai (gratis of course).
I am so sorry your experiences have led you to refer to yourself in such a way.
1 Like
Love that you do this because that is exactly what it is for and I love that sitters do that because it lets me know who I can reach out to for a sitter when I need one!
3 Likes
800 sitters? you must be exaggerating. There are 365 days in a year, and minimum sits are 2 days. So at most, 183 sitters in a year if you were NEVER at home. It is surely not possible to have used 800 sitters in your time on the site?
If you just mean they have favourited your sit, that means nothing in the long run, other than they may like your location, I favourite sits every day.
I don’t agree with the tone, but although I have seen that strategy mentioned - applying for a sit one can’t do - I can see that it can be super-annoying for highly popular locations, and come across as selfish and entitled.
Because such hosts will probably have no problem getting a sitter anyway and have no need for being able to send an invitation to someone who might or might not be able to do undisclosed dates in the future. So the motivation would be for the sitter to get some kind of upper hand over other sitters when they might not get to apply at some point. So no advantage for host.
As I see it it could be a mutual benefit for more low application sits, and especially where the host can be flexible with times to get a sitter. Then it could be a good idea to have a chat without publishing dates, as published dates could otherwise prevent sitters from applying if they have an overlapping confirmed sit. Just my thoughts.
7 Likes
I’ve just experienced this with a HouseSit I posted. As a HO this is frustrating because it forces the PAUSE of my sit prematurely. It is selfish IMO of the UNAVAILABLE Sitter to take a spot they CAN’T fill and prevent the potential app of a Sitter WHO IS available at can’t apply because the HouesSit is Paused. As a HO I find this annoying and will likely banish said pre-mature applicants because I’m irritated. (Thankfully I have a Housesit that people find attractive so I have this luxury.) My vibe and these types of Sitter’s vibe do not align, even if you have many fabulous reviews. One Sitter said something like “we miss out on your sit because of the time difference", if you have one in Feb or March please consider us”….. Ummmm no, that’s A YEAR FROM NOW. Stop wasting my time. This issue goes hand in hand with the other application I received blocking a spot with the Sitter stating her and her dog are excited to be my Sitter, I have the No Pets Allowed check box AND State Clearly in my listing No Pets, No Children. Gaaaaahhhh 
. Thanks for listening to my rant. Thankfully I have secured a perfect sitter for my upcoming HouseSit.
2 Likes
Please, don’t consider us pre-mature applicants.
When someone for example is in the ‘wrong’ time zone, then nowadays they have pretty much NO chance of ever applying for a sit in your time zone because it will have filled up to 5 before day break their side.
Do you realize that for sitters to be lucky to be amongst the ‘coveted’ first 5 for a popular sit means that they have to be pretty much GLUED to their screen all day, just so they can respond ‘at any moment’ to a suitable sit that comes up?
That’s our reality nowadays as sitters since the introduction of the 5 application rule. If I want to be on top of desirable sits before they automatically switch to ‘reviewing’, I need to be on this website all day every day morning till evening. Unfortunately that’s not realistic. I also have a life beyond THS.
So when a sitter finds themselves in the lucky position that they see a desirable sit that they really like AND it has NOT yet filled up to 5, BUT they can’t do these dates, I don’t blame them for reaching out anyway. It may be the ONLY chance they ever get to bring themselves to your attention, as there is zero guarantee that next time you list a sit, they’ll be able to respond to it before it hits the 5 limit.
So that’s why we as sitters sometimes reach out anyway - to establish a line of communication and make sure we are ‘in the picture’ as we may not get another chance (when the dates DO match!) due to that dreaded 5 application limit.
4 Likes
I really wish the mods would close old threads. This thread was 2 years old before zombie resurrected.
@Jenny please help,perhaps make a new thread….
3 Likes
I always called them necro-threads. 
(And I hate when I realize I got caught by one…)
2 Likes
I’ve experienced this every time we list dates. Our property is very desirable, and the application queue fills within the hour. Thoughtless sitters don’t take the time to read, they just look at the pretty pictures, they get their application filed and when we start communicating there’s often a multitude of reasons why it won’t work out for them, all of them clearly spelled out in the listing. Several times I’ve worked my way through the entire list before finding a suitable applicant.
And yet there are sitters who complain hosts are rude because they don’t reply to all applications within 2 days.
1 Like
Forum members are encouraged to use existing threads instead of opening a new one when they want to post about a topic.
It’s weird and pointless to answer a question that is no longer valid, like giving advice on how to write a review which reached the deadline long ago, but otherwise I don’t mind. I just check the date of the OP and, if I find the topic is of interest to me, I either continue reading the whole thread of just scroll down to see the last posts, which were the ones pushing it to the top.
In this case, @MTBer experience is recent and relevant to the topic. There are also other members sharing their thoughts. Having a thread closed when people are sharing their opinions can be really frustrating and unnecessary.
5 Likes
Well I am glad I’ve read this (not all
) as I actually saw a sit recently I really wanted but not the dates. Time difference thing, I agonised should I apply to 'get a future foot in the door’ and decided to take the chance, being very upfront at the start of the application saying “I can’t do these dates, please decline on reading to free up your space” and went on to explain why I would love a future opportunity. I was declined without a message so it seems quite likely I might be on the black list there. I get it’s irritating from a HO perspective, it’s also irritating to see your dream sit but you can’t even apply because of that limit. No winners here.
4 Likes
IMO, there’s a difference between applying for a sit when requirements are not met and “applying” when they are not available for the dates.
It’s also important to notice that people who don’t get applications so easily, might be willing to compromise in order to get a sitter that is good enough but perhaps doesn’t tick off all the boxes.
Another aspect to consider is the tone, attitude and honesty in the message.
My experience:
- I was searching for sits in Brisbane and this sit kept coming up with no applications. They said they were interested in having a local sitter that could repeat sits. After a few days with no applications I decided to write, I started by apologizing because I would just be able to do that one sit and I then addressed all the other sit details. I got the sit and it turned out to be my most memorable experience in THS.
- A couple of months ago, I was tied up in a bureaucratic issue that kept being delayed, I was really frustrated that I couldn’t commit to any dates, I then decided to write some “applications” to desirable sits of easy access from home. I explained the situation, apologized for any inconvenience caused and, immediately after sending the message, I withdrew my application so that I liberated the spot. I also offered to do that or other sits at short notice if I was available. Funnily enough, I think I got more answers than I usually do. Everyone said it was no problem at all and most said they would consider me for future sits. A couple of them, actually wrote back later and offered me a new sit.
8 Likes
The issue is the threads become so long that opening a new topic will likely yield a fresh perspective.
2 Likes
I would prefer new topics opened over old ones resurfacing. At the same time the speed at which topics are closed.. Well, I dont envy the mods here.
To the original topic, I have heard that you loose 100% of the changes you dont take. I dont want to make my brain busy with remembering which hosts I have pre-texted, so I dont do that. But a sitter applying, even for unclean reasons, has a change at the sit. A sitter not applying does not have the change. If the sitter wants the sit later, they might be better off marching to the drum of the host, but if they dont need to protect their future, it makes sense to try. There will be hosts who do not find it offensive. I have had all kinds of special treatments from hosts, who wanted me to sit for them but I had in the mean time gotten another sit, or was not available for the dates I applied to but for the other dates they had posted (and were in review) etc. Because it can happen, sitters who try are at better position than sitters who do not try.
1 Like
This makes more sense for THAT HO and I get your reasons. I guess it is very situational for each person as a HO and Sitter. So many different personalities and needs to consider. I am sharing my personal thoughts.
Also, your withdrawing the application after sending the message is a great way to do this to not take up a spot. You are thoughtful about your approach and I appreciate that.
As far as reviving this old thread, I am damned if I do and damned if I dont. I can never please everyone and thats ok. Trying to follow the rules of this forum. I dont prefer this debate on where to discuss the topic (open old or start new) taking over the thread.
2 Likes
I have had two issues this year.
2 sitters applied to sit, when I replied to accept they were suddenly unavailable
I have also had many sitters who when invited simply do not respond, this is irritating and prolongs the search.