We have had 2 separate applicants interested in our sit. I have asked what it was that drew them to our ad (just wanting to see what appealed to them about our request). I also asked how they would be getting to our home (as we would pick them up at the airport or bus stop - plus if they had their own car, we only have a parking spot for 1 vehicle at our apartment and would have to make arrangements for that. Otherwise, they were welcome to use our car). I have heard nothing back from either applicant. They read my reply and days later, still nothing. ??
If you have serious interest in a sitter, ask to video chat promptly.
If their application is so weak that you have to ask a bunch of Qs even before deciding whether to video chat, itâs probably a nonstarter.
Personally, I have a robust sitter profile and in my application make clear why Iâd be interested in the sit. If a host sent me random Qs before asking to video chat, unless the Qs focused on dealbreakers, Iâd figure theyâd be more likely to drag things out or maybe power trip and Iâd withdraw my application.
So many sits, itâs easy to move onto the next listing.
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Hi. Thanks for your reply. I feel our 2 questions are non-invasive. Do you require transportation? Why does our particular sit appeal to them. If they choose not take reply, then they are not the type of sitter we are looking for.
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The Qs werenât invasive. The point is, sitters typically donât want to bother with those kind of Qs in writing, because they can be addressed in a video chat along with other Qs that are more important in deciding whether thereâs a match. Thatâs why it can seem like a waste of time, for example.
You wanted to know why they ghosted you, right? If not, shrug, just move on.
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I agree with @Maggie8K - suggest a video chat. I probably wouldnât bother answering the question either what appealed me about the sit. If youâre seriously interested in me, then letâs video chat. If not, then Iâll move on
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I have to agree with @Maggie8K, the questions were fine but poorly timed and in the wrong format.
@REH14 When pet parents receive applications theyâd like to pursue, its more usual to arrange a video call so that everyone can ask questions and all parties can assess best-fit. Please bear in mind that itâs not just for you to determine the kind of sitter youâre looking for, itâs also for sitters to assess hosts. Iâm guessing your questions may have been perceived as a job interview type response, simply because they were in writing, when answers are more happily volunteered in the context of a mutually beneficial and friendly chat.
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Unless your offer truly stands out as the top choice and dream listing that surpasses all others in the area, it might lead someone to reconsider their interestâŚ
The question âwhat drew them to your ad?â can come across with a job interview tone. Keep it as a relaxed conversation between host and potential guest - final decisions and confirmations for both parties are rarely made before the video call
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I do a lot of hiring professionally and wouldnât pull this even in those circumstances â Iâd either offer someone an intw or move on, because Iâd figure that good candidates choose us as much as we choose them. And thatâs even when we pay them. I wouldnât want to damage our companyâs brand by seeming to waste candidatesâ time.
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As a HO, I, too, prefer to ask some questions before the video chat. Obviously it would be ideal if all the facts were covered in the application, but often theyâre not.
I do keep things moving promptly, though. So, when I read an application, I react to it pretty much immediately (but because of time difference, there might be some delay for sitters).
When I have applications, that seem good, I ask couple of more clarifying questions, if needed. As I tend to get applications pretty fast, this would happen within the same day that I got the application.
Then, if everything seems ok, weâll arrange a videochat, typically within 2 days. The sooner the better.
Itâs much easier and less time consuming to ask couple of important questions before the video chat, than arrange one and then find out that it isnât a match.
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When there is a sitter applying that I would like to come to take care of our dog, I usually ask something along the lines âWhat brings you here this time? Do you have any special plans for your stay here?â, if they havenât write about in their application.
Obviously the message I send is more elaborate, friendly and chatty, not just the blunt question. As Iâm sure yours is too.
If the sitter wouldnât write back within a day or so, I most likely would just move on.
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Talking with my host hat on. I donât think asking questions prior to asking for a video chat is in any way unusual or indicates dragging things out or power tripping. However, if a sitter feels that way, Iâd rather they just decline if offended, so I can move on. I often see applications from people who look great, but there might be a question â not exactly a red flag but just something I canât figure out and I want to know before setting up a video chat as it might be a reason why a video chat would be a waste of time for both of us. Iâve also had sitters apply with immediate questions because they are trying to work something out in their minds before moving forward and sometimes after I answer, theyâve declined!
As to the OP: If it looks like they read your email and havenât responded, Iâd just move on and look at other applicants. If you really think they are otherwise great or you donât have a lot of other applicants, you could try again to reach out again and maybe suggest you could discuss the logistics during a video chat and see if they answer.
As a sitter, Iâve had lots of applications where hosts had questions they wanted answer prior to a video chat and often they involved logistics â Do you have your own vehicle? Would you actually be able to arrive by _____? Is it going to be an issue if weâre delayed coming home and need you to stay longer? etc.
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Please note what I actually wrote:
If theyâre dealbreaker Qs, like can you make it by X time, sure. If theyâre not such, then why?
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Maybe some folks think that a video chat must be a big investment of time. It doesnât have to be.
At work, whenever we might have a written exchange that will take more than a few mins, my boss and I hop on video â itâs faster than the back and forth of messaging. We might video chat for only five or 10 mins.
Note: I accepted a THS sit yesterday. The duration of my video chat with my host was 17 mins, during which time we got all key Qs answered. The only msgs we traded before were about arranging the call. My host promptly sent an invite after, which I accepted.
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Welcome @REH14
No I donât think itâs usual to ignore a response from a host . If we apply we are eager to hear back from the hosts . Usually we have had a video call with them within 24 hours and the sit confirmed shortly after that . On several occasions itâs all been done within hours of the sit being listed .
You said that
Just to clarify when you say âour requestâ are these sitters that you invited to apply ? (In which case they may find it strange that you are asking why they have applied )
However if these are sitters that saw your listing and applied -( you didnât invite them ) if after reading their profile and reviews you donât feel that they are a good match you can decline them and wait for some more sitters to apply .
Asking about how they will be travelling is a very reasonable question to ask , it can be asked in a video call along with all the other questions that the sitter might want to ask you ( like what arrangements have you made for payment of any emergency vet treatment )
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Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer me. Appreciate your replies and input.
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They arenât invasive but theyâre time wasters that should be covered during the call. Youâre just adding an unnecessary step and as most sit selections move quickly, youâre putting yourself at a disadvantage to other HOs who just jump on a call. If you really need the answers to those questions before you can talk to the sitter, add to your profile that youâd appreciate they provide that info in their application. 1) youâll get the info you want and 2) youâll see if theyâve actually read your profile.
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I think it is ok to ask something about for instance travel and other practicalities. As of what made you apply - I would think that a little bit strange, as I have said something about why I petsit in my profile. Donât know whether your applicants did that, but I think sitters are suggested to cover that setting up the profile.
What would lead me to ghost you is if you used the word ârequestâ or similar. That would be a major red flag for me. Could seem strange for a host, particularly if one hasnât been too much on forum, but sitters are sensitive to signals that come across as a possibly troublesome sit where one is treated as unpaid staff and not an equal. I donât say that you did - or intended - that, but it could be useful to know how wording like that is perceived. If one for instance is in a work environment where on use formal language, words like ârequestâ could seem âneutralâ but it is not in this community, I think. So we who are used to formal language must reflect a little bit on that so that our message come across as we really intend it. 
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@REH14 did you just ask your questions, or did you actually say something nice and friendly firstly about their profile?
The reason I ask is because when an owner responds to our application they usually say they love the sound of our profile as their opening words. Which obviously we love to hear, and we know they are positive thinking people straight away. Weâve NEVER had anyone dive straight into questions. If thatâs what you did, then maybe that could be a reason.
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Hi. This is what I wrote:
Lovely to hear from you. If you could give us a bit more information such as what appealed the you about our sit, do you live in your own home and how will you get to our place. Love to hear more about you. We like that there are 2 of you. Makes it easier to walk our boys. Thanks,
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Hi. These are 2 sitters that applied to us. This is what I wrote back after they applied:
Lovely to hear from you. If you could give us a bit more information such as what appealed the you about our sit, and how will you get to our place. Love to hear more about you. We like that there are 2 of you. Makes it easier to walk our boys. Thanks,
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