I’m delighted to say that I have now agreed a sitter, a lovely couple. they were my first choice and my only video call. I have politely written to the others, thanking them. Very many thanks for everyone on here who advised me. I’ve learned that sitters don’t always read through the responses THS ask for (for example I wanted a couple, no children, no pets). I’ve now learned that I should put this information into my description of myself, so that it’s there upfront. I was rather surprised to be taken to task by a single lady for ‘wasting her time’ when I clearly specified a couple. I was very polite to her, and will now add this to my introduction.
13 Likes
It gets easier! Even if the information is upfront, you’ll find people still applying, and that’s fine. I get a lot of applications as I have an “easy” sit (cats) in a popular location. I politely decline unsuitable applications quickly and always (eventually) find the perfect sitter. After you’ve done this a few times, you might even find return sitters or people who applied previously who sound great but didn’t get the sit previously because you flipped a coin. You can always write back to previous sitters and almost sitters and even invite them to apply for new dates.
3 Likes
Just to note though. It may not be that applicants are ‘not reading’ the information. Surprisingly, some of the boxes you tick about your requirements are not even visible to potential applicants. Causes a lot of confusion and wasted time. So, yes, put all your requirements in your own description.
7 Likes
Would you have felt differently if that host had replied and just said, Got your application. Thank you. And then you got the same dead air?
To me, acknowledgement is meaningless without other info attached. Because you’d still be waiting for actual info. But of course, we’re all different and are entitled to our own feelings and approach.
For me, if no reply within 48 hours (of my applying) to schedule a video chat, I withdraw. I want to partner only with hosts who move at a similar pace and are communicative. And it’s not just with THS — for me, I’m generally decisive and move quickly. That’s what I enjoy, what works for me and what I’ve been well rewarded for career wise over decades.
I have no interest is partnering with slow hosts, even if they’re nice, etc. We’re just not a fit. That’s perfectly fine on a matching platform — not everyone matches.
Plus, it depends on what our priorities and preferences are as individuals, whether as sitters or hosts. Personally, for as long as I’ve sat, I’ve not seen any sits that are so unique that I couldn’t pass without regret. For context, I’ve done sits only while telecommuting, as icing, not as vacations.
If there are any places that I really want to visit, I pay for them as vacations free of responsibilities.
BTW, this blurb from you sounds like you want more than just a thanks acknowledgment, which is exactly what I want — more info than just thanks for your application (which I find pointless).
2 Likes
Yes, this. There is a difference between the checked information and what you actually say in a listing. So if something is important always say it, maybe with a brief explaination. For example:
“We are interested in a couple or two people traveling together as our dogs need to be walked separately.”
“We can’t accept other pets in the home.”
“This is nonsmoking home so we can’t accept sitters who smoke.”
“We live in a hilly area, and there are steps to our home and to the guest room in our home. Sitters must be able to navigate hills comfortably and climb steps.”
1 Like
Yes, THS needlessly creates various inconveniences for users. It’s clearly because it has weak product and UX talent, and they don’t have what’s a standard expectation among good startups and other consumer businesses that product folks “eat their own dog food.”
They don’t use their own product/service and are too weak or inexperienced to anticipate ripple effects that would be obvious to better product and UX folks, unfortunately.
3 Likes
From a hosts viewpoint it’s not always clear who #1 is prior to a chat or if #1 is going to respond. What if my #1 choice keeps cancelling on the chat because they are actually waiting to hear from another sit and not that into mine though I have no way to know? What if there is no criteria prior to a chat to figure out who is #1 because there are 3 great sitters? Nothing to do with high-handed, everything to do with sitters who’ve kept me hanging on while they waited to take a different sit.
1 Like
And they have a lot of users who know a thing or two about UX design and web development! 
3 Likes
This information is not visible on the listing on the App - … it didn’t use to show up at all but maybe it shows in the web page now - I’m not sure - but definitely still not visible on the App .
1 Like
As a host with a desirable and popular listing, we fill our application pool within an hour and sometimes get as many as 8 applicants for one set of dates.
I look at the list and start with the most qualified based on what they’ve written, as well as history and quality and quantity of reviews. It’s been my experience that sitters apply first and ask questions later and many are not suitable. I have had at least one sitter withdraw within a couple of days of applying, presumably because they incorrectly assumed that we are “slow and not good communicators” when nothing is further from the truth. It’s possible the sitter withdrew for other reasons but at least one sitter has stated on this very thread they withdraw for that reason and that’s pointless because it makes assumptions about hosts based on nothing but speculation and may not be true. In our case those assumptions are wrong. We work quickly, efficiently, and more often than not are waiting for a slow sitter to get back to us to arrange a video chat.
During that time we do not contact the other sitter applicants because at that point there’s nothing to say other than “we will get back to you” which is a waste of time and effort for both parties.
That sitter who withdrew within 48 hours of applying for our listing was going to be the next one contacted and if they withdrew simply because they weren’t willing to leave the application pending (which costs them nothing) they lost the opportunity, probably for no good reason.
I think the fields they ask Go to fill out are oddly not all visible to sitters, so yes best to spell out that you prefer a couple, no pets, etc.
1 Like
Personally, I was willing to deal with various THS shortfalls up to a point, because I work and advise in the startup world and know that it’s really challenging to scale any business (versus mom and pop businesses, though I grew up with that as part of my parents’ business, as well as that of 95 percent of their immigrant friends). But THS has reached a point where its outlook is worse and worse, and is unlikely to improve, given current ownership and management and their ineptitude.
2 Likes
A bird in the hand…….
If the applicant meets your needs and seems, at this point, someone you’d like and trust in your home, there is no reason to NOT connect with them now.
A chat is not a commitment.
It is a way for the two of you to get to know each other a bit and then you both can decide whether it is a match…or not. Good luck finding a great sitter !
1 Like
I have no dogs and no children on my profile, but I still get people with these and still apply. I actually had one who applied twice to two separate sits in a 3 month period.
It is super annoying! But having it right upfront on your profile makes it easy to decline them immediately.