Greetings-
We are new to THS. After posting our June sit ~ 2 weeks ago, we received two applicants. We now have none (one took another sit before we could make an offer; the second applicant to whom we made an offer just told us ‘the dates no longer work’.
I’m open to all advice: listing, process, tried and true tips from THS veterans.
I have been reading the forum, which has been helpful.
(Listing has been added to member’s Forum profile)
Hello @mbc4695 and welcome. Your listing is pretty good but a few tweaks may help. House looks very comfy and a nice place to sit and the cats sound straightforward. Maybe add a welcoming sentence on your intro as it’s a bit formal and about you not why you’d love some THA sitters on your home. Change the title to something like “Golf, swim, chill & hangout with cute cats” or similar. A little more catchy as you don’t have many words before it cuts off. The cover image needs to be stronger - either one of the pool, one of the pets or one of the full front of the house, a front door won’t grab attention. Can you add how long the kitties can be left for and where they sleep? Also a few more things to do near you that sitters will enjoy to pull them into the listing. As they’ll need a car you’re less likely to attract international sitters but hopefully there are still plenty looking. Also mention use of the pool in the description as would think that’s a good draw. Pause your listing, make those tweaks and relist and you should go to the top of the page. #wishingyouwell
@Cuttlefish has given you some great tips.
Personally I’d swap your main image to be your swimming pool, it’s your biggest selling point.
Tweaking your title will help, as you’re appealing to mainly golfers at the moment, so that’s only a small percentage of sitters. Also we already know you’re in Florida without you writing it in your title, so putting it at the start of your title is a waste of good word space, as every other house in your area is in Florida so it doesn’t make you unique. Your pool is your biggest selling point, and will appeal to the most sitters so make that work to your advantage.
You’ve got -
Your Experience Florida, a golfer’s paradise with lots to do or simply relax
What about:-
Beautiful Pool House, Lake Views, Golf Paradise, & Florida Attractions
If you do get applicants always reply immediately even, if just to acknowledge their application. Do also let thm know if you are considering them etc. One may have taken another sit as had not heard anything back from you. I recently applied for a couple of sits and dspite having a symbol saying they had been read, I heard nothing at ll back after a few days. I applied for alternative sits instead. In both cases owners got back to me immediately and snapped me up immediately.
I would have been moire than happy to have accepted the first sits I ahd applied for but just felt pet owners not interested. Felt much happier with nthe ones I accepted in the end because at least knew I would get immediate responce to any queries.
thank you, Cuttlefish, your suggestions are sincerely appreciated. Will work on them…
Great ideas, HappyDeb and I’m very thankful for your help!
Great practical advice to navigate the important details of THS - muchas gracias!
So here’s a funny story. We applied to a sit in Az and didn’t hear back for a week so withdrew and applied for one in WA for the same time and didnt hear back for a week so now i feel bad as a sitter. I noticed the first sit was still up and so reapplied…we immediately got the first sit and withdrew for the WA one. A week later the WA HO writes and wants to know if we can do the sit because all the application have been withdrawn. I write a nice note to say please keep is in mind for next time and no response…we also recently applied for a summer sit and those HO wrote back the same day that they wanted to leave the posting up a few more days. That is i think the best way to keep sitters in the running, make sure to drop them at least a quick note. Hi thanks for applying , super busy week can we talk this weekend. Just something to let them know you are interested.
I often hear from hosts immediately after I withdraw, at which point I’ve ruled them out as good partners for sits.
One of those hosts also later asked whether I’d sit, because the sitter they eventually chose ended up canceling on them. No, thanks. I won’t sit under such circumstances. And anyhow, I’d already made plans by then.
Bummer for them, because I’m decisive, communicate promptly and reliably, and I take sit commitments seriously.
Personally, sitting part time and solo while telecommuting, I find responsive hosts pretty easily. No need to wait on slow hosts. I withdraw within 48 hours if I don’t hear back, like many experienced sitters do.
Thanks, cdrewco - I love this feedback! I do think our first round of issues was due, in part, to being newbies and unfamiliar with the ‘tricks of the trade’. With the help of all the veterans, we’re in editing mode and will hopefully repost in a few days.
wow - good to know!!
Helpful, info - thanks, Maggie8K!
@Cuttlefish @HappyDeb @Visit @cdrewco - thanks again for your feedback, which was used to pause, edit and re-post our sit. Here’s hoping…
I would change your headline to start with The Villages:… i would think many people in the US know what The Villages is. And if they do know they are going to be either immediately attracted to the sit or not.
Hi @mbc4695. It’s still showing Low Applications. You need to remove your dates briefly then re-post them to make your listing New again. From a non-US sitter’s point of view, I don’t know anything about The Villages! I also found your title a little strange, not realising 3P and WC referred to your cats. For many of us, WC refers to a water closet or toilet as we know it!