Anyone having trouble with potential sitters applying for a sit and then not responding to schedule a video call? This has happened twice now and I find it confusing and irritating!
We’ve discussed this quite a lot on here. Owners do it to sitters too, which to me seems even more bizarre
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Aside from a true, immediate emergency during which communication is impossible, there is absolutely no excuse for ghosting (and even then, an apology is due after the fact).
Sorry you’re having a challening run with potential sitters ! Please don’t give up as the majority of us are more communicative and responsible.
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I’ve had various versions of this experience as a homeowner with Sitter applicants. I’ve had about six sits by now in about 14 months. One applicant, a couple, said sure video chat on Saturday am sounds great. Then I message them with a time for that Saturday a.m., then they replied a day later that they were not available. I then declined them and told them I didn’t think we were a good fit and I found a sitter. That was their 2nd time applying to one of my sits. Hopefully they don’t apply again or I’ll simply ignore. They were super slow to respond on pretty much all messages. With each message I send to Sitters I’m considering, I am always very transparent and let them know I’m working through applicants and trying to set up video chats.
Interestingly enough, another Sitter, who applied for my 3 month sit (which I received copious amounts of applications for, declining those that don’t fit quickly and unpausing many times), was somewhat slow to reply to each of my messages, but once we got to the video chat, it turned out she was the one! She confirmed, did a fantastic job on the sit and she’s coming back for this years same 3 months sit, which will be an annual thing for us. Her personality is extremely laid-back and independent. It works really well for the summer sit at my house, which is only for my cat. Things in the heat / stormy season of the Mexican summer can be different than one might expect.
those applicants that do the hard ghosting and not just delayed replies really blow my mind. Just withdraw your application if you’re not interested, it’s not that hard.
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Yeah, it’s rude. But not really surprising to me at least, because I think similar behaviour is just so common everywhere. People don’t have the attention span or the manners to attend to little details like that. This made me think of the “fun” (not) I’ve had trying to sell things locally on FB marketplace. “Me please!” and some will even go through the whole conversation of setting a day/time to pick up, and then you never hear from them again. The general mindset to ghost on little things like that seeps up into bigger things like ghosting on appointments for lots of things, apparently including housesits.
Anyway, it’s nice that you found a great sitter!
@Comtgirl , don’t give up hope, and don’t take it personally. People can just be twits.
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Typically, I respond to host messages as soon as they arrive, and as far as I know, I have never ghosted anyone
Nevertheless, the following can (and does) happen:
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Occasionally, when I am occupied with other things, I reply as soon as I am available. However, there have been a few instances where I have inadvertently forgotten to follow up.
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Occasionally, I receive multiple notifications from THS (which I do not read) simultaneously. On more than one occasion, a host’s message has been buried among these notifications, and I am simply unaware of its arrival.
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Occasionally, I simply miss the initial notifications for incoming messages.
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Occasionally, I purposely delay my response, waiting for a response from another host
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That can vary a lot depending on availability and access to Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage as well as personal habits regarding use of cell phone/ computer. Some people are always checking their phone. Some just do so at specific times or on specific circumstances.
There’s also glitches on the app to be considered. I have discovered that the app is really slow to show messages.
It would be really interesting to know what people on this forum consider a slow reply.
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If someone doesn’t reply within 24 hours we’d assume they’ve lost interest/aren’t organised/poor at comms in general/have gone elsewhere. Almost all our successful sits have come via hosts that reply within a few hours and then swap to what’s app (because of the delay on the THS messaging). What’s your benchmark @Newpetlover? #speedisourfriend
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Because your sit probably isn’t the only one we’re applying for and we confirmed with the hosts that replied first. Ya snooze…ya lose!
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I think within 24 hours is reasonable. If someone has internet issues, they should specify that in the initial app IMO.
Curious if you @Comtgirl are replying to the applicants quickly (same day)?
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IMO, 24 hours is generally enough time to get back. If something unexpected came up, it would be possible to send a short message to let the other party know.
If I am expecting communication, I usually reply immediately if possible or within a couple of hours.
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Less than 24 hrs after application comes in and I think 48 hrs is reasonable for a sitter to respond especially since they applied for specific dates.
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Don’t you still have an obligation to respond when you have applied? If you’ve accepted another sit that’s fine but I would expect that you would withdraw your application or msg that you’ve accepted another sit. I think it’s rude to not respond and I would never consider that sitter in the future. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect something!
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Not exactly an obligation but I also think it’s rude and
Right now there’s a listing I really liked. I communicated with HO, it took her ages to respond just to say she would get back in a couple of days, then crickets for over a week. I haven’t applied now even though the dates are perfect, the place, too and the cats looks adorable. I just don’t think I can rely on her communication and I think that’s essential for both sitters and HOs.
There’s no obligation just like hosts don’t have to message a sitter they declined.