Home owners, a two part question.
When you get an application for your sit do you read the sitter’s profile in full or do you depend solely on the information in the application?
Is there anything noticeably missing from sitters’ profiles in general that you would like to see mentioned?
I read the profile in full, but the application message is the first thing I read, and if it’s not good (meaning personalized/not canned, and not obviously created through ChatGPT), I may not get to the profile. I know some sitters send applications that basically direct the PP to their profile. I haven’t gotten one of those yet, but I’d just decline.
I can’t recall any specifics noticeably missing from profiles, but I look for continuity between the tone of the profile and the application, a love of animals and experience with them, and a sense of adventure. The last one is certainly not universal, just what resonates with me.
Maybe it’s my age but I can’t comprehend how anyone would think that using ChatGPT is a good idea 
Hi @CathyCat, I don’t think that our age is the problem… Although we may be reluctant, apparently all AIs are here to stay. I don’t like the idea of introducing ourselves through AI, but one example I tolerate is applying for a position in Italian or French. The simple act of writing: translate into another language, while affecting the text, offers possibilities that wouldn’t otherwise exist. I understand that this is a minority of cases since the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia lead the platform.
But I managed to make a first impression for applying in France with a retired couple who only speak French. I always make a video call, regardless of the language difficulties. I find speaking French easier than writing it lol.
Hi @belluca, unfortunately, due to the THS 5 application rule the “most desirable” locations, like Barcelona, force sitters to apply quickly or lose the opportunity to do so.
In these cases, there isn’t enough time to write everything I would like in detail, so I write a very brief introduction to apply and then the full message, which usually takes me more than 20 minutes to write. It’s not a general rule, but it’s clear that both sitters and PPs can lose the opportunity to apply/get a legend sitte due to the rule. i.e. by declining an application from a sitter with 50 reviews who writes a short introduction and an invitation to check their profile, to avoid staying under the radar.
I hope this message provides useful information and a different POV.
That’s an interesting point. I still wouldn’t have a clue how to do it though. 
@Skylos - I don’t mind the quick note with a follow up to get in under the 5-applications rule. But if the follow-up doesn’t arrive within a half an hour, I would decline to free up the spot for someone else, who might be even more stellar. I haven’t had to do that yet, fortunately.
I read the full profile.
We are in France and would appreciate a mention in the application of any languages the sitter speaks besides English. It doesn’t matter if it’s not French — some of our friends and neighbours don’t speak English well or at all but do have a second language so it helps us decide whom to list as emergency contacts.
I’m an owner & sitter. When I’ve listed my previous sits which were for 5.5 months and 3.5 months, I got smashed with applications as it’s an apartment in a desirable location with no pets. I immediately declined applications that merely said “I can do your sit, please read my profile.” If a sitter can’t be bothered putting in effort to write a personalised application then neither can I. I know there are other seasoned successful sitters on here who use the “refer to my profile” method as this question has come up in other threads.
I want to see an application that is personalised for my sit rather than a general profile.
I also look for a strong opening in the application that quickly captures my interest. If I’m not getting that then I don’t go any further and read their profile as there is no point for me. I decline the application with a thank you message. If I’m interested in the application then I read their profile and every review thoroughly and go foward from there to a video chat.
I have had fantastic sitters who have had a great time staying at my place who I keep in contact with.
It might be a sitter’s market at the moment but sitters (and owners) who don’t put some effort in to the appplication process shouldn’t expect to get a positive sit outcome. That’s a slippery slope which we often see on this forum.
It seems unlikely that hosts who are careless about reading sitter profiles would be on the forum or admit that. And in various cases, they probably wouldn’t even realize that they’re careless.
As a sitter, I can tell hosts read my entire profile, because they usually comment on its robustness and/or on specific elements that I mention. Or they ask about details. (Like toward the end of my sitter profile, I give a friendly heads up about THS dealbreakers.) They also check out my LinkedIn profile, because they often bring that up.
I think hosts who are thoughtful and reciprocal tend to read sitter profiles more carefully. And personally, I look for host listings that come across that way and apply for such, ignoring all others, no matter how good the sit otherwise.
For example, I never bother with skimpy host listings or ones where everything is about them and their pets. I don’t think those hosts are interested in sitters, except in transactional ways.
That’s an interesting point, I must add that to my profile, thank you.
I’m stunned that anyone expects an application of that nature is acceptable
Yes, I was pretty gobsmacked too and it wasn’t a one time only. 
That’s good to know. I’m bilingual (in French) with some Spanish and it’s mentioned in my profile, but I don’t always think to mention it when applying for a sit in France if the position is described in English.
We invite HOs to read our profile to see if we’re possibly a match and their kind of people. I also write that ‘If they like what they find we suggest that we explore further…’ I do write a précis paragraph of the key areas where we would be suitable but it’s very much an invitation to find out more. I’m not ‘all in’ at this point…
Top tip! Thankyou. I will add languages to my profile.
I agree, it’s a top tip! Thanks @KChev
We do inform sum of languages that we speak and also:
EU passport x2
Driving licence x2
Usually HOs mention that back during the videocall, so we think that really helps.
We are on the same page then! 
Relatedly, my application includes this line: “Happy to video chat and see whether we’re a mutual fit.”
That’s to note that choosing goes both ways, avoiding hosts who think they’re the only ones choosing.
I doubt that every owner I’ve met has read my sitter profile. I think people focus more on reviews, especially recent ones. Profiles are probably most important in the beginning, when you are new and don’t have reviews.