I finally went live!
I have received a message from someone who would like to do the sit.
As I’m a complete novice, what do I do next?
Just confirm the offer?
Silly question I know.
Also had 4 sitters who sent their profiles.
I can’t find them now and would just like to reply to them.
Is that the norm?
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Hi @Sheila7 I’m glad to hear that everything finally worked out well!
I suggest as a good practice, once you’ve received one or more interested sitters, taking the time to carefully read their applications and visit their profiles. This will help you determine if they’re a good match for your needs and your pets’ requirements during the stay. 
If that’s the case, I believe that having a video call is important for both owners and sitters. It will allow you both to clarify questions and discuss any topics or concerns that either party may have and stablish your deal to be on the same page before the sit is assigned.
If the video call goes well, you can send the invitation, which the sitters can then accept (or not).
After this step, you will be able to share the Welcome Guide as soon as possible (sitters will usually request it). Only the sitters you have assigned will have access to it until the end of the sit.
Regarding the other applicants, while it’s not necessary to respond, your reply will be appreciated for sure. 
You will find the sitters who sent their profiles in the Inbox or the Archived tags:
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Like @Skylos says read all applicants profiles and reviews, make sure you’re picking someone you feel you can relate to and has a number of 5* reviews. Don’t just take the first application, go with your gut, if you don’t feel comfortable with any decline their application and wait for others to apply. Best practice is to have a video call so definitely arrange that asap and certainly before accepting. Best of luck finding a match.
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If one of them is from me - just accept
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Maybe next time!
If your a cat person, you’d love Cafe Meow in Blackpool.
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I was at Cafe Meow today!
I’m not sure if I’m using the forum correctly¬
I want to contact a sitter to see if they are still interested in the sit.
I assume I reply, “Invite sitter”?
Hi @Sheila7,
If you already started a conversation with them, I suggest resuming the conversation and discussing the terms of the sit, make a deal and just then push Invite sitter.
If you only received a message saying that the sitters applied to your listing but there was no actual conversation, I recommend starting the dialogue. Receiving an application message doesn’t guarantee anything, it just means the sitters applied to your listing, but they can just dissapear without declining it if they are not interested anymore for example.
It’s super important to have a conversation and reach an agreement before sending the invitation to sit. Also, once the invitation is sent, sitters still have the choice to accept or decline it.
In any case, moving forward in silence leaves the sit up to chance, and that’s when surprises and headaches can begin.
The cancellation process is tedious, and it can also create unnecessary tension between owners and sitters in my opinion.
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While you can click the Invite button before a video chat I can’t recommend you invite a sitter without some further contact. At least a few messages back and forth will help you weed out unreliable sitters, make sure they are available to come for a handover when you need them, discuss travel plans if necessary, and generally establish a personal relationship. Some sitters will take any sit that fits their needs, others are extremely diligent and won’t accept an invitation from a homeowner who doesn’t bother to communicate. Overall it’s just best to open up communications and make sure everyone is happy before finalizing anything.
Make sure you’ve read the THS Terms and Conditions, forum posts, and blog posts, etc, about how to offer a great sit. This is an exchange and everyone should be prepared to offer their best and know what is expected from the other.
The process is this:
- You post your sit dates and complete listing with great photos, descriptions of location, responsibilities, etc.
- Sitters who are potentially interested will Apply to start the conversation. Applications (in your Inbox) will often have a personal message from the sitter showing they’ve read your listing and are specifically interested in your sit (Hi, I love the look of your sit, Lucy looks like a sweet dog and I think this could be a great fit… etc". I usually gloss over applications without at least a brief message.
- Look at all applicants’ profiles, read their reviews, and pick one or two top choices.
- Respond to all applicants. If there is one I really like - my #1 choice - I message them back immediately to see if they have additional questions regarding the sit, confirm the dates with them, and request a video chat if all looks good. To the others, I send a quick “thank you so much for your application, I will get back to you very soon.”
- Video chat with prospective sitter. This is not an interview, it’s just both of you getting to know each other and feeling things out. If the chat goes well and there are no concerns or “red flags” ask them if they’d like to do the sit. (Listen to your gut. You’ll know when it’s a good fit, don’t settle if you’re unsure)
ONLY after confirming verbally via video chat (or at least a phone call or several WhatsApps convos) do I click the Invite Sitter button. They will then click to Confirm on their end and the sit will be officially accepted. Hope that clarifies things. Good luck finding the perfect sitter!
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I suffer with anxiety and I’m bipolar 2.
I’m struggling now which affects how I don’t always take information in.
I have 2 weeks before my holiday.
No suitable people interested.
I didn’t understand that sitters who are available would have their availability in green.
I’m struggling to find calendars marked in green.
Sorry to hear of your struggles…
If you have received 5 applications, and none of these applicants are suitable, you need to DECLINE all of them and UNPAUSE your listing, so that you can receive more applications.
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