Absolutely true @Jonsar just as sitters have the same choice when deciding which sits to apply for.
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Dear @Pattijones007 - I donāt think thereās a high chance THS will change the 5 applicant limit rule. It has been in place for something like at least 9-10 months now, has resulted in a (locked) thread with over a 1000 replies of mostly people not in favour of the way itās currently being implemented, and at the same time not a single change has been made so far to the number of people that can apply (incl. HOs actually choosing the number).
So yes, for time being weāre stuck in a treadmill of āwho can spend the most time online & apply the fastestā. And thatās unfortunately not me. So maybe it could well be that a higher percentage of inexperienced sitters are now applying.
Those donāt have to be bad sitters: we all have to start somewhere, although once people switch from the āfanatic stageā (online all the time to get those 1st sits in) to the more āI have a life & a job beyond THSā stage, perhaps they see their success drop as sits disappear before they can respond. E.g. right now as an experienced sitter I have zero advantage over inexperienced sitters if I canāt get my application in with the first 5
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Couldnāt agree more!
I agree, the 5 application rule has nothing going for it, in my opinion. If you are not in the same time zone, you have little or no chance.
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Agreed. We have 17 successful sits but have gotten stuck in the loop of near or timezone. I wish THS would listen to their users.
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An interesting option for TH to add would be to be able to block applicants from reapplying.
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As others have said, I really believe the answer to this question, the issues with an increase in the numbers of people canceling are related to the 5 application limit. People are being forced to apply before having a chance to thoroughly review posts and many are being shut out because of the time zone they are in.
I know THS has made up their minds and half of these comments will be relegated to the dump bin thread but they are related.
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Silver fox
We took some time off from sitting as we spent 2022- or the first 8+ months of it - on sits, traveling, visiting friends and relatives while waiting for our home to be finished building.
We begin a sit tomorrow within 90 min of our home in a new state. Your home country is one we would definitely be interested in seeing and sitting. However, airfare has become cost prohibitive and an ever increasing uncertainty. There are too many cancellations, delays, fights on board, etc.
Perhaps others outside Australia have run into this, too?
@Cyn Great insight. We would class ourselves as experienced sitters and although we have always budgeted for these costs, recently we have been having to factor in any rising costs in areas such as flights, car rentals, gas, and hotels on route or before/after a sit etc.
This might not be the case for other sitters, but it is something we are accounting for more at the moment. This has been discussed before in a couple of threads and may be relevant here as one of the reasons? :
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Maybe there needs to be better control on the app. For example if an applicant was declined why isnt there a way for the homeowner to either block the applicant for that listing or be able to permanently block the applicant.
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All of us who are highly recommended and very experienced used to not have any. Be the one who gives someone exceptional a start. You may end up working with the best possible person you have ever met. Get them before they are in demand.
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Changing the phrasing from āa couple of experiences sittersā to āan experienced sitter coupleā would clarify this preference/requirement.
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@Star I started applying this year as a family and we have 14 sits confirmed this year. Out of everyone, I will never forget our Colorado pet parents who took a chance on us when we had no reviews. We gave their two dogs so much fun and love and one day, we hope to return to the area so that we can petsit for them again.
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I am finding just the same, not enough applicants because of this 5 rule. Also Ibam finding sitters not even reply to a message.
I ask tgem for a whatsapp call and boom nithing. As houseowners we are tokd to reply to new applicants asap but updoes not seem to be the other way round.
I am beginning to wonder if I will rejoin.
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@Laura28 , I am wondering at what point in the interaction you requested a video call? Usually, there have been a few back and forth emails following the receipt of the sitterās application before arranging a video call. Then both the HO and I, the sitter, exchange phone numbers to set up the call.
I had one HO a while back who did not have much on his listing, he was new, but I had saved it. He contacted me and immediately asked me to call him. I was not ready at that point as I wanted more information. He didnāt seem to want to write and the whole thing fizzled out. Did you have much preliminary communication prior to sending the applicants your phone number?
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Hi
I have not given my number out. I just said that it is better to have a call so if they have any questions then I can answer them.
I have had a number of time wasters by communicating just through written communication.
Also a number of HS asked for one immediately.
Laura
I hear you. I donāt like jumping into a phone call straight away. I also like at least 2 rounds of emails. When a sitter messages me or they respond to my invite, I always ask if they have any questions about the neighborhood, my dog, or the apt.
I donāt know. I kinda feel that establishes some type of rapport. I only give out my number when they agree to want to do a discovery video chat.
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2 posts were merged into an existing topic: Conclusion Of Pausing Application Test - Updated Post
@Gretch You just made me thinkā¦I have been wondering why for the life of me why the majority of my applicants are unqualified to do the sitā¦Now I read that you canāt even get your application in.
Iām not trying to start anything, but I really want to discussā¦Are some sitters just applying willy-nilly to listing without any thought just to try to make it under the 5 applicant cap quickly?
With the applicants I described, it seems as if they didnāt read my listing at all.
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I think thatās exactly whatās happening. I had a saved search come up today and since itās in a desirable place, I knew Iād better jump on it if I wanted it. I did take the time to read the entire listing, including the part about one of the dogs being incontinent and in diapers. I bet others apply just because they only saw the location and then the reality sinks in.
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