Hello! I was told today by a pet parent the reason I didn’t get the listing is because my References are Unverified. I have two refs and both external (my boss and a pet parent I sat for via Facebook marketplace).
Does anyone know if the fact that these are external is the reason my refs are unverified?
External references are not verified so the home host is correct however don’t let them put you off. Many home hosts are willing to give new sitters a chance and your references will probably give you a better chance over a new sitter with no references.
Apply to a couple of very short, preferably local listings to try to get your first couple of reviews as these carry more clout than references.
If you are looking for sits in Australia I recommend you also join Aussie sitters as there are more OZ opportunities on that site.
Also, Christmas is coming, and there is always more sits than sitters at this time of the year so getting accepted it far easier
Good Luck!
Off-site references generally mean less than THS reviews. That’s just how it works because you could just write them yourself if you wanted. Just keep applying and eventually you’ll get a sit who will take a chance. Target local short sits and ones with low applications to have the best odds. You might also consider asking for a profile review so we can make sure there are no red flags that might worry home owners. But really it’s just a number
s game when you’re just getting started. Good luck!
Yes they are unverified simply because they are not THS reviews, that’s all. We didn’t have any external references when we began 1.5yrs ago, we had zero! Now we’ve done 30+ reviews with THS.
That’s just 1 owner who wouldn’t give you a chance as a newbie. Switch off to them, and apply to others. Once you have a few THS reviews, owners will view you differently. So focus on getting a few THS reviews. You’ll have a higher chance of success with local sits, or last minute sits. Look for short stays of a couple of days because there’s less sitters apply to those ones too, plus you can get more reviews in a short space of time that way too.
When we first started housesitting I used to tell the HO that i could provide them with the details of my referees so they could contact them directly if they wanted to.
Make sure your profile and application messages are optimized to address hosts’ typical concerns and to address any key needs in their listing. Like if they have a pet that’s reactive, highlight relevant experience or approaches you’d use.
Anticipate what hosts will wonder or worry about and cover what you can without them even needing to ask. Leverage every opportunity available to you when it comes to writing a compelling headline, choosing relevant photos, paying attention to details.
Look through a stranger’s eyes and review your profile critically. Consider what it would take for them to consider you trustworthy and responsible with their beloved pets and home, and how they can get a sense that you’d be kind and communicative, and good at problem-solving.
If you have a strong LinkedIn profile or Airbnb profile, include that. Why: If you’ve had a career that reflects responsibility, that can help reassure hosts. That’s because solid people tend to behave consistently — they’re not usually responsible in one part of life and irresponsible in others.
What worked for me: By doing the above, I quickly got sits, starting with a few back to back across the country. And my second sit offer was an unsolicited one for a six-week sit with two sweet dogs across the country. Lovely coastal home, late-model car, and hosts invited me two days early (timing worked better for my telecommuting needs). They met me at the airport, welcomed me with a cocktail and dinner, offered me three guest rooms to choose from, and invited me to eat or use whatever in their well-supplied pantry and kitchen. Their dogs turned out to be easy, exactly as described in their listing and welcome guide. They even split the sit at my request, because I didn’t want to be away from home for six weeks.
I mention the above, because depending on how trustworthy you come across (showing is better than telling), you might be able to save yourself some suboptimal sits.