Just wondering if any homeowners here have accepted sitters who weren’t the best communicators pre-sit, and how it went?
Right now I have only one applicant: everyone is different, but the way she’s communicating to me seems disinterested.
Assuming we proceed and she accepts the sit, I’m wondering if her lack of enthusiasm in these pre-sit communications is an indicator that she won’t be very enthusiastic about responsibilities and communication during the sit?
Oof, that’s a little scary. I’d be concerned that they’d cancel last minute.
If you are willing to take the chance, I recommend keeping in touch with them to make sure everything is set.
Have a back-up plan.
I would pass. Communication is so important and slow or curt responses can cause real frustration to build up.
Maybe they are interested but their personality is reserved. It could be cultural or just who they are. I would say to them, other sitters I’ve had seem more excited about the sit, I just want to make sure you are really interested before I book you. See what they say then go with your gut.
@AllTheFerretsDied Have you actually spoken with this sitter yet? Or just messaged? If not I’d set up a video call asap to get a proper feel for them and take it from there.
If she’s disinterested now, chances she will be for the sit if she doesn’t cancel on you. I would pass on this sitter.
@AllTheFerretsDied, we’re experienced sitters rather than homeowners but our contributions …
If we encounter Pet Parents that are slow to communicate then we assess their number of prior housesits/reviews. Some newbies (probably on both sides) probably fail to appreciate typical cadence of THS communication. If we’re keen to progress a slow comms Pet Parent then we may politely reach out to them a whiles after application date. This often presents fear-of-loss psychology to nudge them to engage.
If we are slow to respond, after application, to Pet Parents then it is almost always due to us concurrently exploring another, preferred listing. An application is just an expression of interest, rather than a commitment. Seems quite possible that your applicants may be exploring alternative listings.
You have one applicant. Your choice on whether to positively court and encourage their interest, or to decline them and hope for incremental applicants. No right answer.
Gave her my # 4 days ago and told her to call/text any time. she read the message that day and never responded. I followed up on THS website yesterday asking if she’s still interested, she replied yes on the website and gave me her #. So we texted today. I suggested video chat this weekend, and she said she’ll get back to me next week about video chatting etc.
She’s stringing you along, because she’s got other sits and/or other priorities that she’s more interested in. I would avoid such a sitter.
As pet owners we wouldn’t wait long (it never happened) if a sitter applied to sit with us but didn’t respond within 24 hours to a message we sent in response. We would question their interest in sitting for our pets. As a general rule we respond quickly to any message, be it email or text message on any platform. If we were sitters and applied to sits we would be expecting messages and responding quickly.
That sounds all too slow and non-commital for me. I’d pass on her.
@AllTheFerretsDied you can always attach your listing to your profile for feedback from the forum.
I would pass on her
Exactly my thoughts.
I have never done that. Communication is so important for me, that if I apply for overlapping sits and I get a prompt response from one which, initially, wasn’t my favourite, it automatically turns into favourite. If, after a chat that works well for both parties, I am offered the sit, I don’t hesitate, I accept it right away because I think chances are that communication will continue to be prompt and smooth through the sit.
Well we have been on the other side when new, it was clear to us the host was hoping another sitter who had applied would work out, we assume they had more reviews. We were ok with waiting as it suited us and nothing else in the fire. Turned out well, we guess we were the second choice but happy days in the end for all of us.
As a sitter I have sometimes been chatting on WhatsApp within half an hour of them reading my message. The sit has then been confirmed immediately afterwards. I only apply for sits that I would like to do if offered. It sounds like your potential sitter has applied for several at the same time, and is hoping to be offered one of the others but just stinging you along, in case not offered one of the others.
Trust your gut instinct.
@AllTheFerretsDied, not great. Suggest assume that housesitter is exploring another, preferred listing. But you have capacity to receive up to five applications. Keep hunting.
As proactive folks, we’d encourage taking opportunity to take a fresh look at your listing to elevate its attractiveness to incremental applicants. Ensure that photos include all key areas and avoid clutter. Pick great primary photo. Complete amenities section, if not done so. Review text content and ensure that it is covers pet care and key topics. Consider adding content, as appropriate, to aid non-local applicants (e.g. local airport/train/bus, supermarkets, attractions). Checkout other listings in your area (that’s your competition).
If it feels off, don’t do it. If it feels ok but you’re just wondering how it’ll be, I’d start a conversation about it. Like hey I’d like to be updated every two days about how everything is going. Is that doable for you? Something like that. Depending on the answer and how you feel, of course, you can make a decision. Or maybe another sitter will apply in the meantime. ;D
Recently I had this with a homeowner. She was so slow with her responses, and I NEEDED to get the location of the house, and she stayed quiet. My messages weren’t even arriving. Finally, she did, and I asked her if she would be more available during the sit. Which helped!