I’m wondering the exact same thing. Sometimes you just need to give the person the benefit of the doubt and assume that something really bad happened preventing them from responding.
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Sorry about your troubles, but when a sitter doesn’t get back to you, consider it a bullet dodged. Sitters aren’t going to get strikes for ghosting on an application. An application isn’t a sit. Just a like a homeowner isn’t going to get a strike for not responding to an application.
This is a matching site. Neither sitters nor owners are employees. That’s why it’s super important for people on both sides of the equation to scope each other out before hand. For the sitters applying just means seeing something that looks interesting and doable and fits their schedules. It is in no way a commitment. Just like as a homeowner you look at an application and are under no obligation to consider the sitter.
If you approach it as a matching site and there’s some friendly back and forth through the THS mail with initial questions on both sides, and then a video chat and decisions made, things mostly work out. Sometimes they don’t, even after a sit is confirmed, but generally even then you can move on and find someone else. It can be frustrating, but overall it’s worth it.
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@hammebo - Who set the time for the call ? You or the sitter ? Or did you jointly agree on a convenient time that suited you both ?
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@hammebo
As a sitter I always expect the HO to be the one who initiates the call. Even if we have been the ones to suggest it in the first place. We have always done it that way. Not sure why exactly but it just feels more appropriate somehow that the host calls- after all it is the HO who is searching for a sitter and it is they who will ultimately choose and confirm the sitter.
So I was surprised you were waiting on the sitters to call you. However that does not excuse their rudeness in ghosting you.
You probably dodged a bullet!
See it that way and just move on!
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Hi @hammebo how can we take a look at it? I can’t see it in your profile.
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Well, you’ve probably heard the saying “Not communicating is still communicating” and in this case, it usually says “I’ve vanished into the void.” Whether it’s a sitter or a homeowner, a little message saves us all from checking the app 47 times a day and wondering what happened. That being said, today we had a video call scheduled with a homeowner and they ghosted us. We figured the Easter Bunny had lured them into the hills and since they’ve rescheduled a few times already, we finally canceled our application. Good sits/sitters usually confirm fast.
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@hammebo ‘s listing has been added to their Forum profile by the Forum team.
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I think your listing is great and you have excellent reviews. The only suggestions I would have:
- Shorten the title so it doesn’t get cut. Something like “West Palm Beach prime location” perhaps you could add “with lovely dog” but that’s already in the symbol and reviews will show she’s an excellent dog.
- Include how long she can be left on her own so sitters can know if it’s compatible with their plans.
Good luck!
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I would have passed by your listing for the following reasons:
Too short. Getting to know a new environment and a new pet takes time and effort. I generally apply for sits that are only a week or more, as if I’m only staying 3 nights I’d rather be in a hotel and not have to learn a new layout plus clean the place. For very short stays, you might want to say something like, 'The home will be fully cleaned before your arrival and I have a housecleaner coming after your departure, so all I ask is that you put the linens in the laundry on your departure" or something like that. It takes me a good four hours to fully clean a home after a sit and that is too much of a time investment for a three day sit in my opinion.
The statement that the dog is afraid of some men immediately alarmed me. I personally only sit cats, but if I were to sit dogs, I would apply mostly for those that are unlikely to bolt, attack, or freak out during the sit. Since one of your first statements is that the dog is afraid of men, I immediately imagined that walking the dog would be a challenge. You do of course have to share this with the sitter prior to them accepting. I think you’re allowed to just post a preference for a female sitter? (I’m not sure about this)
The way the listing talks about “access” and “possible access” seems to send a message that you are actually uncomfortable sharing your space. It looks like a rather small home. Are you planning to lock off the extra bedrooms, making it feel even smaller? Most sitters are not going to wander into rooms they don’t need (I hope!) but if the very first message is, “I don’t want you in the whole house”, it comes off as rather unfriendly. And “access to” sounds like they can visit it but not really feel at home in it. I have had many hosts who tell me during the video call, “Oh this is your room and we want you to be very comfortable - we’ll keep the door to the master bedroom closed so you won’t have to search for the pet in there” or something like that, which sends the message that they don’t want me in there but also makes it clear that my room is - my room.
The mention of the daily pill for Bonita is also a red flag for me, as there is no indication of how easy that is. Some pets are SO easy to pill, others are a nightmare. Give details of what the pilling involves. Will she gobble it up if hidden in her food? Or will the sitter have to somehow put their hands into her jaws to get it in there?
Not every sitter loves beaches. Think about how you would promote the advantages of being in your home if the beaches were not there. I’m guessing the sitter won’t actually have time for water parks and scuba diving given the dog walking duties? But if they will, make clear how much time.
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It would be a very useful feature @KittySitter, but unfortunately it is not possible (yet?)
@hammebo in your listing you mention several beaches including a dog beach, all driving distance from your home. Is the sitter expected to drive your dog to the beach? If so do you provide a car for this purpose? Its always helpful to mention use of car (if available) and where a dog can be walked.
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House & pet sound nice @hammebo & you have good reviews but you have a few things that are a challenge. Only a female wanted, a very short sit, no mention of a car to take the dog to all the areas you list, no note of how long your pooch can be left alone & a “we can discuss access” in the info. This is a mutual exchange of free pet care for free accomm and it needs to feel like a win win for both parties (who pay equal membership fees). You can’t ask unpaid sitters to drive your dog to walks as a general rule, you need to offer use of a car. As an exchange the time the pet can be left is also essential info for a sitter. Would add these & think about the car (or offer other walking ideas) and tweak and relist. #fingerscrossed
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Including it in the title would be transparent, and save time.
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True! Haven’t thought about it.
Smart one!
It could be used as well to clarify if you are after single/couple sitters only. 
Hmmmm. I think it depends. Of course a sitter or a HO has a “right” to back out before the sit is confirmed, b-u-t, when one is outright lied to and strung along (as I recently was) and then snapped at that “this isn’t how the site works, this isn’t a paying gig, I don’t owe you anything”, when I was being courteous and putting up with her stringing me along behavior, I am really annoyed that there is no sanction for this. I responded to her with " of course you don’t owe me anything, but if this site is to work at all, it has to be on the basis of a modicum of honesty and courtesy". Don’t get me wrong – if she had simply been honest that she preferred another sit that was closer to her from jump street, I wouldn’t have minded at all. What I did and do mind is having been lied to and strung along.
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Agree that no one appreciates being strung along. Unfortunately, there are folks with little or no consideration for others, whether they’re sitters or hosts.
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Brilliant advice - Would also recommend adding how long the dog is comfortable being left for as it can vary so much and really dictates one’s schedule.
@hammebo
Plain rude, no matter what the reason for not answering.
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I don’t think we can have sanctions for being rude prior to sit confirmation. If that were the case they would be plenty of HOs being sanctioned. THS has a huge membership now, so there are bound to be some rude people. However, most sitters and HOs are wonderful people. I’ve declined sits after virtual chats when dealbreaker info was disclosed during the chat. Those HOs might have thought it was rude for me to decline (one was angry), however, I think it was rude for them to waste my time by not being transparent in their listing.
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totally unwarranted.
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