You want house sits, but you want to do it your way or the highway… Lol seems like you will stay on the highway
You need to keep in mind that this forum and Trusted Housesitters are related but separate. You don’t have to have a paid THS membership to create an account on this forum. And, yes, new forum member posts are reviewed and approved before going up on the forum.
You’re under post approval when you first join the forum and it stays that way for a minimum of 15 days. The forum is unrelated to the THS platform which is what the membership paid for.
Hmmm something isnt right with your process or understanding of the THS Membership and their website versus this particular THS Forum - which is in a dropdown menu from within your membership profile. The Forum is just a message board to chat with other sitters and homeowners - you do not apply in the Forum. In order to apply for sits, there is not any delay or approval process to send it your appliction. Here is an example of a sit you may immediately apply for - I picked a random one with low apps:
I clicked the fist one here,
screenshot removed
Then you click the dates you want to apply for then write your application note and hit Apply Now, That’s it - done and you wait for Homeowners to reply.
My print screens may get removed but that steps in writing are correct.
(Post edited by the Forum team as depicted above to remove a screenshot from another member’s profile as per the Community Guidelines).
Are you maybe only applying via an unofficial THS Facebook group? I agree with previous comments ahd to me now your experience as you’ve described it sounds pretty unfamiliar.
Expressions like “convo” – cf “defo” “addo” “reggo” - aren’t babyish. They’re mainly derived from Aussie English; the Aussies can - and do - abbreviate anything and everything (I will forever love “The 'Rona” for Coronavirus). Here in middle-class southern England (the realm I mostly inhabit) they’ve been adopted and are used tongue-in-cheek. They’re completely unrelated to the abominations that are “doggo” and “furbaby”. May I add “pup”, when referring to an adult dog..?
I’m an Aussie & don’t know these words. But you are right @DieFledermaus we do shorten many words & stick o on the end. When I’m in the UK I have to remember to say off-licence instead of bottle-o and garage instead of servo so my friends know what I’m talking about.
@DieFledermaus Thanks for educating this Aussie as I’ve never heard “The Rona” used here in relation to Coronavirus.
@temba you are forgiven as you were perpetually in lockdown in Victoria. Here is an explanatory video for you 
https://youtu.be/jFbcAu1IGd4?si=kbQ_vWLA_GB8WdG5
Reggo @Crookie car registration? 
It’s inevitable that if you assert that X comes from Bombadizzalia, there will be a chorus of “Well, I’m from Bombadizzalia AND I’VE NEVER HEARD OF IT!!”
I chucked myself into that one good and proper.
But I maintain that “convo” is a cazzo abbreviation, not a silly cutesy term.
Ah, rego @Cathie
Defo heard of convo @DieFledermaus that’s a common Aussie word. Although I never use defo as it’s very bogan! You threw me with the double g in rego! Rego spelling is with one g as in car registration Thanks for interpreting @Cathie 
Ah yes. Apologies. I was on a kinda consonantal roll there..
Hi Tip, You need more than great references and excellent background checks. You need to connect with the pet owner with an interesting message. You also need a very good profile that actually says something about you and what you enjoy etc.
When I first joined Trusted Housesitters I actually thought I would struggle due to no reviews and being an oider ladybut I didn’t. I only had one well written reference and found I had no need to obtain any more. I did not have any background checks etc. only email verification. I applied for two sits that followed one after the other, one for three nights and the other four nights. Both said 1-5 applicants. The first was Hemel Hempstead an area I would not go to again, as too busy but kind of halfway to the next on the edge of the Cotswolds and attempting to get that first review. The first was one cat and the second two dogs. I was offered both sits and never looked back after that, as I began to collect five star reviews. I have had owners comment on my interesting profile, saying that some only write one line, which they always discard, due to not telling them anything about themselves. Regardless, some owners can be long winded and not reply promptly etc. You will always get that. I do now find though that I tend to be offered about 90% of the sits I apply for, as I have built up some excellent reviews.
The key I believe, is to connect with homeowners on a personal level, and not just real off a list of qualifications. Good luck.
I’m an Aussie, and I defo think you are full of guano (I would say a swear word but on the forum I am censored).
If I have a nice house sit and someone approaches me saying “hey mate, I would defo love to look afta your kittie. Howabout we get on a call in the arvo.”
I would say, nah mate.
During the call I would be more lose and I would probably joke around, no issue. It’s just the initial approach feels to casual and a tad disrespectful. That’s just my thoughts and my preferences, each to their own.
I would recommend a new sitter to probably lean more towards a professional tone when starting out, but again it’s just my opinion.
100%. I also had a chat with some house owners that were telling me they had 41 applications before we applied (relisting the house sit) and only 2 of those 42 actually asked about the pet.
I think many house sitters think of THS as “their” holiday planning, and not necessarily as a combined holiday for the house owners and house sitters.
You need to sell yourself to the house owners, tell them how you will benefit them, their home and their pets. Once they see how you can benefit them, they actually end up being more interested in you and your plans (during the video call) at least that is what I found.
Good one @Crookie 
If you have a very specific destination in mind, you may be unhappy.
If you have broad interests you will likely find more matches including people who will want to confirm you the exact day you apply.