Just looked at your listing and realized I have it saved in my favorites. I spent a week in York a few years ago (in an Airbnb) and loved it. I am hoping to go back at some point. There’s nothing in your listing that would deter me from applying if I were available. I think you’ve just been unlucky this time. I see it’s showing as new now, hopefully you’ll get some good applicants.
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Wow, @systaran that makes two of us that have previously saved it in our favourites, that rarely happens on the forum @MamaSarah.
York is a stunning place, and your cats are beautiful, hopefully it’s only a matter of time before you get those dates filled 
.
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@MamaSarah, sorry to hear of three cancellations. Some say things come in threes (e.g. buses) so perhaps your run of poor luck is over :).
We’ve completed several housesits that exceed one month duration. Alas at your dates, we’re committed.
But I agree with sound advice from @Garfield. Devise Plan B as matter of urgency. Have faith in THS (cancellations are uncommon). Try THS “last minute sits” when eligible. And take a moment to review your listing. Here’s few ideas for consideration
- Consider replacing primary photo. Cat in washing machine. I’m not sure what this is intended to communicate. Cute cat, but there’s many many cute pets on THS. Consider top attractive feature from perspective of housesitter and use that as first image (could be front of house, key room in house, local attraction, etc). Kerb appeal really helps and prospective housesitters may click to read more.
- Pet absence duration. Consider increasing prominence of possible pet absence duration. Listings states that cats can left for 36 hours. This is atypical and may be highly attractive to some housesitters, especially on a six-week housesit.
- Good photos. Seems a super selection of photos of property. Consider adding photos of local landmarks/features as some applicants may not be local.
- Pet sleeping location. Ensure that listing states where cats sleep at night. Hopefully this is a pet bed. For various reasons, some housesitters avoid listings where pets sleep in human bed.
I’d also encourage reaching out casually to housesitters that cancelled and politely ask for their input on ways to improve your listing. No downside and they may highlight something that you have not considered.
Good luck!
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Make that three! I also saved it back when she first posted asking for help with her listing.
@meow that’s amazing! I did get a lot of help from the forum when I first joined THS. That’s a few years ago now! Thanks to all that help, I’ve always managed to find sitters.
And in good news, I have an applicant!
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That’s brilliant 
, the power of the forum, and then there’s all those people who just watch the forum without commenting, fingers crossed one of them may have free dates and end up applying.
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That might be a good idea but I think sitters used to cats would know
It sadly sounds like you’ve been “lucky” enough to get a few flaky people applying (Just remembered that she doesn’t sit well in homes that don’t have a dishwasher !?! WTH on so many levels !).
There are many decent, responsible and loving sitters out here (most of whom have no dishwasher issues…).
Your sit sounds lovely and your cats adorable. I’d immediately apply if it fit in my schedule
Yes, it is easy for me to say, "Don’t panic, " as you have plenty of time.
Please trust in the system and know that you WILL find a fabulous sitter.
Oh, and your dryer looks just fine…So there’s that plus !
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This is happening more and more now. A lot of sitters who do it all the time seem to be registered on several sites, so if something they consider better turns up they go for that. I know I have been contacted mpore and more due to frantic owners being let dowen by a sitter cancelling on them. But to say they won’t sit because you donm’t have a dishwasher seems a feeble excuse to me. As it is just me, I rarely ever use the dishwasher when pet sitting. I have so little dishes, that it is easier to just wash in a sink. And changing your mind is not a good escuse either. TRusted housesitters really should clamp down on this. If a sitter cancels for trivial things such as changing mond, or no dishwasher then they should be banned from the site. Cancelling should be in an emergency only, such as death in family or sudden bad health, broken leg etc. and nothing else.
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agree. I am a sitter and a pet parent. I have just had sitters pull out for our sit (two weeks today)for personal reasons. It would be great if this could be noted. As a sitter I would not mind this at all and as a pet parent it would be so helpful. Good luck @ MamaSarah I really hope you find someone x
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It’s not a lot of sitters, it’s only a tiny amount, there wouldn’t be so many great reviews on Trustpilot if that was the case. Some need chucking off the site when they cancel for silly reasons, but then the bad ones would fib and make up a better excuse instead.
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Sorry to hear you’re in the same situation as me @luluJo It’s worrying trying to find sitters so close to going away. I agree that it would be good if a sitter’s profile showed how often they’d confirmed and then withdrawn. Maybe something similar for HOs.
Thankfully Ive had an application and am speaking with her this evening. If that goes well then I can breathe again!
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@MamaSarah
Just to let you know that many sitters see not getting a welcome guide promptly as a red flag . They want to see the Welcome Guide as soon as a sit is confirmed.
So I recommend that you share the WG as soon as a sitter has been confirmed .
https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/more-home-owners-not-having-welcome-guides
We would Love to visit York one day .
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@MamaSarah Sorry for the cancellations.
Like others, I took a look at your listing and were I not already sitting those dates I’d be an applicant - definitely long enough to justify crossing the Atlantic (and then searching for sits before and after) and the option to spend a night away is a definite plus. I’ve favorited your sit and hope to be a future applicant. I spent a few weeks in York many years ago when my brother was a grad student there and would love to get back for a month or 6 weeks.
tom
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I always find comments such as yours, especially when they come from fellow sitters, quite offensive.
Really! Can I ask where you are getting your information from, I can not find any statistics anywhere re cancelation numbers.
Could you please define your definition of ‘A lot’ - It is quite a sweeping statement and again, I would love to know which data you have seen to back up this ‘fact’.
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We can’t find a sit for August no when we applied people are not being polite (which is a rule) to answer your request. When we checked last only 2 airplane tickets left to UK - if we can’t find a sit then we have to cancel our sitter - who actually lives where we want to go - but says they don’t have a house of their own, some of the members seem to be in that situation now!
@Alderson I think you’ve misunderstood. It’s not me being impolite not answering applications, it’s sitters being impolite by dropping out after confirming that they will do the sit. I’ve been more than polite to everyone who has applied. Sadly, the people I initially declined have now found other sits so are no longer available. I’ve now got a potential sitter who has read my message offering her the sit two days ago but hasn’t replied, leaving me wondering whether or not I’ve found a sitter. I do think prompt and polite replies to applications and offers are essential on a site like THS. I can only assume my potential sitter has got busy or is doing more research on the area before committing. Fingers crossed she decides she’d like the sit.
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I applied to a sit over a month ago and heard nothing. Unusual, but it happens. Maybe they posted but did not confirm their travel details. I am just leaving it as I am staying with a friend. And will decline if I get offered.
I didn’t mean you are not being polite I was saying if people don’t answer you they are not being polite! It is one of the rules of the site to get back to people! Sorry you misunderstood me. Difficult though to find a sit or a sitter! At present I can’t find a sit and am waiting for one as I have a sitter.
Hello, that’s a very stressful position to be in. I’ve been in that position where I’ve had people cancel just before and didn’t think I’d be able to get a sitter, but did. If you haven’t already, don’t forget that you can also search for a sitter. You don’t have to wait for applications, so go through appropriate profiles and invite them to come and sit and even mention that you could have them break it up for shorter periods of time if that works if they can’t commit, but they’ve got calendars usually so you can see who is available.
You could think about breaking up your set into 3 weeks, etc. could manage if you have a friend or somebody that could come and welcome the Sitter but make sure you do interview them online at least and check reviews. Just thinking six weeks is a long time for a sit, so maybe it’s because they don’t want to commit to that they could have a paid job or something in between.. So I would consider advertising that you could split your sit up if they were available to commit to partial and then have two sitters that have High recommendations. But you would need to help from your neighbor’s family or friends to let them in and welcome them and have the other Sitter wait until the other one arrives.. they could even maybe greet them.. There’s no rule that says you have to have your sitter present when you leave. I’ve left and then had a sitter come and I just had neighbours come and check. It’s not the best case scenario, but it might help your situation. Good luck!!
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