Hi
Normally for shorter stays I get applicants right away. For this longer stay Aug - Sept, I got a few, but one withdrew, another who was perfect ended up not being able to do the dates, and another accepted but she was coming from Germany and decided to not travel to the US under current circumstances.
Now it is posted as low applicants - which always makes me wonder if people think something is wrong…
So I am wondering if I can take the posting down for a few days, and repost it to get it seen as a new listing?
Of does anyone have other suggestions on the posting - or any other ideas?
I know it is still a few months away, but, I really like having someone in place as early as possible for such a long stay.
(Listing added to member’s profile in accordance with forum guidelines
Hi @PreciousPets
I must admit, longer sits are generally more popular than shorter sits.
Your listing has supposedly been added to your profile but I can only see your profile as a sitter. If you’d like to add your listing so we can read it and see if it can be improved upon then please add it. Here’s how:
In answer to your question then, yes, if you remove your listing and maybe change it in some way to improve it, then report it will put it nearer the top when people are searching for sits
@PreciousPets, welcome back to THS Forum.
Encourage deep breath! Your dates are over four months away; property seems popular for single/couple; and three-week sit should be popular.
Other threads have highlighted some international housesitters have curtailed US housesit applications. But there is still probably plenty enough US housesitters that would love to spend time with your cat Cassia.
Ideas to improve your listing
Main photo. Subjective but consider replacing primary photo image. Your cat is certainly cute but THS has thousands cute pets, so this may not be distinctive. Consider what aspect of your property or location may most attract a housesitter to read more and ideally to apply.
Location. Listing notes some local attractions - great. Consider adding an approximate drive time (as car seems required).
Trips. Consider adding the length of time that your cat can be left. Given presence of local attractions, a prospective housesitter will probably seek to reasonably explore.
More photos. Listing mentions various local attractions. Consider adding photos of some of them - prospective applicants may not be local.
Pet. Consider stating if cat is indoor-only or indoor+outdoor. If latter, is there a cat flap or other means of access?
Sleep. Consider adding location where cat sleeps. Bonus points if pet bed. Some housesitters avoid/prefer housesits where pet sleeps in human bed. Listing does not state so prospective applicant may make assumptions.
Just have to say YAY for cat tricks Mine did a lot of tricks too. (I ended up on your sitter link first.) If you haven’t already read “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor in your animal training experiences, you might enjoy it.
You have a duplicate pic, the one of you and Cassia (cute!). I’d suggest adding a photo of the exterior. A studio apt. “attached to a house” might make people wonder about the privacy/third-party-on-the-property issue, so a photo to show it’s really a separate dwelling might help.
In the title, maybe take out “Cat sitter needed for” so that the rest of the title shows. Just start at “Easy cat…”
It sounds like a nice sit. (Dang, this Canadian isn’t crossing the border these days either.) 4 months is a long lead time. I know lots of people like to make travel plans far in advance, but, I don’t know how many sitters might actually want to book that far ahead. You have plenty of time. I think it’s just a matter of waiting – your good reviews will help too.
Good luck!
Thanks. Yes, Karen Pryor’s book is truly a classic and so excellent. Sad that she passed away last year.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve implemented those. Once the sun is out later I will take some
Exterior pictures and add those.
I am a loving pet-sitter who is tech-impaired, so I cannot figure out how to see your posting
I almost always book many months in advance and like to be away from NC heat and humidity in August into September.
Can someone tell me how I can get to PreciousPets’ listing? I found her sitter-listing.
I understand Sandi! I moved here from Virginia. It is so much more temperate and lovely. We may get a few hot days, but generally it is not like the NC heat and humidity. After 8 years, it is still a relief and so enjoyable. Here is the link for the listing. Thank you.
(Link removed from message as per the Community Rules. Member’s listing can be viewed from their Forum profile.)
Yes! Do exactly this. In fact it doesn’t even have to be a few days. It could be five minutes. Your location is fabulous. I’m sure you’ll get a tone of applicants. If my spouse wouldn’t be upset with me for abandoning him and our own clowder or 3 weeks, I’d take the sit myself!
It’s probably not too early for August, but it’s no where near too late.
I just had something similar happen. Today. I had someone or a sit. Ten days before the sit something happened and I had to find another sitter. The system offered to let me “unpause” the sit but I could see it wound up reading as “low applications” which definitately reads as “something wrong” to many sitters. Twenty minutes and no applicants which NEVER happens. So I deleted the dates and reposted it immediately and got 3 instant applicants one of whom was perfect. Things have a way of working out. You have a fab location and one cat. It will be fine.
I normally prefer longer sits if I can. Otherwise, only shorter ones if I can tag them together in some way, going from one sit to another. I am noticing more and more short sits of only two nights. It is not worth the expence and time taken to travel to do these sits unless not far from another sit. August is quite a way away yet, so I would not worry. You have ample time to take it off and put back on though if that helps.
I do find your listing very appealing as it is, and with good and appealing info.
For people not knowing your area, it could be an idea to already in the intro to tell them why I would want to consider your area and continue to read your listing. You also give good tips on excursions, but use more space on why I should leave your area and not so much why I would like the local area.
I asked Copilot to write a text, so this is just an example (and might not even be true! ) :
Arroyo Grande, California, is the perfect blend of charm and adventure! Wander its historic village with unique shops and free-roaming roosters, sip local wines, or relax on stunning nearby beaches. Small-town magic and coastal beauty await!
Mine did a lot of tricks too. (I ended up on your sitter link first.) If you haven’t already read “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor in your animal training experiences, you might enjoy it.
