Other than saving to “favourites”, does anyone know of a way for sitters to contact pet parents without actually applying for a sit?
This has come up a lot on the forum. There is no way to do so.
What is your reason for wanting to contact them? If you’re interested in the sit but have a question or two then I would apply but just state “I am interested in your sit but, before I send my proper application I just have a question”. I have done this before otherwise you might miss out with the 5 applicant rule.
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I have done this several times. Sometimes I get a reply other times not so I’m not sure how it is viewed by the home owner. In part it also allows me to see if they are going to be quick communicators, this is one of my preferences. I also do it when booking paid accommodation, I send a question to see if and when and I get a reply.
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You can ask questions when dates are published.
if you favorite a listing I believe the host gets a notification and they can also scroll through sitters that have favorited their listings.
If a Low application-listing and/ or in an area with low applications in general, you might also say that you are interested in a future sit.
For sits in popular areas I would advice against doing this if you are not able to do the sit. This is because locations with high interest gets loads of such messages, hindering the host in getting actual applications for their published dates (as they can get only 5 applications/ messages at a time, it will stop up for them with many such messages). I know some such hosts are so frustrated that sitters that does this never will get a sit for that host. So it could backfire.
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What is the 5 applicant rule?
There’s a cap of 5 applicants per listing. Once the fifth person has applied, that listing closes to further applicants until the HO rejects applicants and opens up further spots.
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Although I apply to sits that look good, I won’t apply for more than one at a time. But I will favorite several for the same dates, and more often than not, one of the HOs have invited me to sit, as they know who favorited them.
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This is an interesting angle that I have never considered! Good for you!
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See @one-eyed_scallywag reply who beat me to it!
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That’s my point I guess … I don’t want to clog up their limited applications but would like the opportunity to contact them just as they have the ability to contact us outside the application process
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Getting 6/7 is due to the system stopping applications after 5 HOWEVER if 2 are in the process of writing the application ie the page is open on their computer/phone it seems these get through the gateway.
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I have often written a non application application to say hello and share my mob and let the HOs know we’re interested. Once they reply I withdraw to release the space (and let them know that’s what I’ll do). HOs don’t seem to mind at all and like the offer of contact for future sits. I invite them to look at our profile. However I do this in ONLY one location that of Perth Australia where my son lives. I state his suburb and ask if they’re nearby.
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