I’ve just had two applications for sits declined yet showing that they haven’t been read by the houseowner. Obviously no message to me either to explain. Is anyone else experiencing this? It seems to be the new normal! I’ll also ask this of houseowners!
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We have this happen a lot, even in pre-covid times, unfortunately. For us, I think it’s because we often tend to house sit in urban areas, and people are very busy, so they don’t look through all their applicants. They just look at the first few, choose someone, and don’t end up looking at the rest.
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Owners can see the headline and first few lines without opening the whole application. I get a lot of ‘standard’ applications and don’t go further with sitters who don’t get straight in there with something relevant to me/my pets.
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I always personalise my applications. I still think it’s nice for owners to at least acknowledge the sitters.
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Correct, it is nice. It is also time consuming and somewhat emotionally taxing to reject people ALL of which may be very qualified, but only ONE choice can be made.
Sometimes Owners do acknowledge your application.
Sometimes owners give an explanation for rejecting your application
Sometimes they do both.
But if they don’t, please do not take it personally. Two rejections are not a lot. Persevere.
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We find it totally disrespectful to not reply to an application. If someone has taken the time to apply, at least a small acknowledgment is the least that can be done. It doesn’t need to be something lengthy and can even be copied and pasted. Just a quick “Sorry we had a lot of applicants and we had to choose someone. If we have sits in the future, we’d love you to apply again.”
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Exactly what we think. Common courtesy isn’t it?
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I expect that as I’m offering free luxury accommodation to someone in a very sought after location, they should at least make the effort to personalise their application to me. I’ve had applications where people don’t even write something at all, or just put “see my profile”, or, almost worse still write gushingly about how they’ve always wanted to have a holiday where I am. I’m of course looking for someone who realises they need to demonstrate why they should be shortlisted. They should address the topic of my specific exotic pets and how/why they are the right person to look after them. There’s something in pet sitting for both parties and we both have a lot to gain/lose in choosing the right person. I have a standard acknowledgement reply that I send to everyone, saying I’ll be back in touch if they are shortlisted. Because of where I live, I often get 20 applications within the first few hours. My pets are precious to me, so I look for people who take their application seriously.
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@ChrisAndSuzeGoWalkies I don’t know if Trusted Housesitters requests that owners acknowledge all applications, if not it would be an idea that they add that to the general info when people join or send a message out to current members
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I was sure they would @Provence. Thanks for the clarification
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What I don’t like is when you take the time to apply for a sit, hear nothing, but the sit continues to stay advertised for ages with your application still unread! Or when there are 20 or 30 (or more!) applications and the sit is still up there.
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As a sitter, I totally agree. I find it very rude not to even acknowledge a sitter’s application. All it takes is one email which can be sent to all who applied. I wouldn’t even consider applying on the same sit again without an acknowledgement.
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Hi @AliDen thank you for joining our community forum and for your contribution to this discussion … as with all our members, we can’t wait to get to know you better.
Enjoy the conversations and connecting with other members, this is our community’s place, your place and welcome.
Angela and the Team
I can’t understand why anyone would be so rude, @Provence.
For a start HOs don’t hire sitters, we exchange the use of our home for the kindness of a person or couple willing to live there and look after our pets.
It takes only a very short time to reply to everyone, not that I’ve ever had 50 replies. It’s often hard to decide, but it’s not hard to be polite.
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Thank you for making that clear to me, @Provence. Yes, there is a big difference in the two French verbs. I think retenir in this context would best translate as choose. Not word for word exact but a polite usage.
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The Vienne, near St-Savin-sur-Gartempe. AKA the middle of nowhere
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Hi, Piper and Provence. I have so enjoyed reading your comments. I joined the site about 16 months ago and completed six sits in the UK during Covid, never missing one, although I divide my time between Washington, DC and UK as a dual citizen. This year more than last, everyone in the UK is turning me down, even though I have often been among the first to apply. All 5 star reviews and I always write an application and let people know I make plans to quarantine etc. Many people in the UK at least respond, over half, whereas those offering US sits just hit the decline button over 90% of the time. Not very polite, but sadly, a “buyer’s” market…
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@Provence
I’m going to take the no comment route on that just in case I incriminate myself. 
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Well, I would not want to make a judgment based on this narrow a fact, but I have found it quite interesting. The courtesy is always appreciated!
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If I’m honest, I wouldn’t accept an international sitter right now because of the pandemic. Not the virus itself, but travel is expensive and unpredictable and flexibility is necessary. There are still restrictions on people flying into the US. Like the UK, we’ve been in and out of lockdown for over a year. Things are easing a bit here in California, but who is to say what’s coming? I think it’s just too risky so people are looking closer to home. It’s a good reminder to be more specific in our listings about what we need to save sitters the bother and disappointment.
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