6 things to avoid for a successful listing, according to our member

Struggling to find the right house and pet sitter? Fear not! Your perfect match is out there, they just haven’t found you yet! It’s time to jazz up your listing and make a lasting impression, so our wonderful member Josie (or @Nagy26, as those who use the Community Forum will know her) is here to share six things to avoid when searching for the ideal sitter. 

1. Boring titles and weak profile pictures 

First impressions count! Your title and profile picture will be the first thing a sitter sees as they scroll through hundreds of other listings – you don’t want to send them to sleep. Choose an eye-catching title and a profile picture that stands out from the pack to stop potential sitters from simply scrolling past.

How to write the perfect title

“A good title explains, excites, and attracts,” says Josie. “Use of generic titles such as ‘seeking a reliable pet sitter’ or ‘sit for my pets’ render themselves unnecessary on TrustedHousesitters, as anyone viewing your listing is already a sitter and knows what they’re here for. Such titles, as well as titles that simply state your pet’s name and nothing else (e.g. ‘Bonnie and Max’, ‘Care for Bella’, or ‘Bobby care’), keep sitters completely in the dark about your sit and do little to attract attention and create engagement. Instead, try a striking title that clearly highlights what your sit offers and why a sitter should choose you. For example, ‘Enjoy sea, sun, and surf in stunning Cornwall’ or ‘Explore the remote Scottish highlands with my dogs’.”

How to choose the right profile picture

As for profile pictures, Josie explains that these should complement your title.

“An attractive image of a local Cornish beach or an image of the dogs on a walk in the Scottish highlands supports the above titles. Images unrelated to your title do not help paint a clear image of what your sit offers. A selfie of you or an image of a random room in your house (especially your bathroom or toilet!) gives sitters little reason to click on your profile.”

So boost your listing’s appeal with an engaging title and a striking profile picture, and watch the applications roll in! 

2. Repetitive, poor-quality images 

Sitters can quickly spot whether a sit is right for them by scrolling through the photos, so it’s important to get them right!

Which photos should you choose?

“Your images should aim to showcase and sell your sit by revealing what’s on offer for sitters. Well-rounded listings present 10-20 attractive images that clearly reveal what the owner’s home, pets, and local area look like. Bad quality, blurred, shaky, or unclear images will not serve your listing well,” Josie explains. 

She recommends avoiding images that:

• Show a messy, dirty, or uninviting environment (such as clutter, mess, unmade beds, piles of laundry, or dishes in the sink).
• Are exclusively real-estate screenshots (these photos are staged, outdated, and lack authenticity, which can be an instant red flag for sitters).
• Are continually unrelated to the sit (including those images of you on holiday in the Maldives!).
• Are repetitive (we don’t need to see 20+ images of every room in your house from all angles).
• Include other pets that are not yours (this can be confusing and misleading for sitters, as they may think there are other pets involved in the sit that were not mentioned).
• Are clearly outdated and don’t match descriptions of your home and pets (photos of your pets as puppies/kittens or images of your home before major changes).
  

Adding photos that are clear, relevant, and attractive will go a long way in helping you find your perfect sitter. 

3. Autobiographical introductions

Okay, it’s story time (or is it?). Take a look at this intro: 

“I was born and raised in a small town nestled in the Cornish countryside, and have to admit, I haven’t strayed too far! I always had a passion for animals growing up, but we were unfortunately unable to have pets at home as my mother was allergic to them. For this reason, I volunteered at various animal shelters throughout my youth, and it wasn’t until my 20s that I was able to get my first cat, named Millie.”

Compare it with the following introduction, and think about which one makes you more eager to go and take care of the owner’s home and pets (spoiler alert, the second example is probably going to be more of a hit with sitters). 

“Do you want to discover and explore the magic of Cornwall – sunny days by the ocean, stunning nature, and local Cornish art, history, culture, and cuisine? Do you love cats and are traveling without pets? Then this is the sit for you! Hi, I’m Kate, I’m a 35-year-old publisher living in the lovely seaside town of St Ives, Cornwall, which is complete with plenty of attractions and all the amenities needed for a pleasant stay. I have 3 cuddly cats that require simple care and a bit of company…”

How to write your introduction 

While TrustedHousesitters might prompt members to write about themselves, what they do, and why they need a sitter in their introduction, often, Josie says, owners interpret this as a chance to give an elaborate autobiography.

She suggests using the introduction to clearly outline what owners are offering, who they’re looking for, and compelling reasons why sitters should apply to their sit. Sitters should be hooked from the very first sentence, understand exactly why they’ll benefit from it, and have a strong reason to explore the listing further. 

4. Inaccurate descriptions of the home and location

We get it, you adore your cozy corner of the world, but will your house sitter feel the same? While your rustic retreat with spotty Wi-Fi and limited hot water may be your slice of paradise, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. By steering clear of your own personal bias in your description, you give house sitters the chance to decide for themselves whether it’s the right place for them or not.

How to write a description of your listing

“A well-rounded description of your home and location should aim to highlight the most attractive features of your sit that clearly define what a sitter may gain in return for their free services,” Josie explains. 

“This should include a brief, concise outline of your home, its most attractive or unique features, and how it can benefit a sitter (perhaps they’ll have their own guest room or access to a home gym or entertainment systems). Remember that sitters are looking for a short overview outlining key features rather than information that becomes lost in elaborate descriptions of each room.”

Top tip: “A good way to keep details succinct is by listing key bullet points,” she adds.

How to describe your home’s location

Next, it’s a good idea to give a brief overview of your home’s location, including its proximity to facilities, public transportation options (if available), and local points of interest such as beaches, nature reserves, and tourist attractions.

“Sometimes,” Josie says, “owners neglect to mention anything at all about the local area, which does not serve their listing well. Owners may also unintentionally skew listed attractions towards their own interests and age demographic, which can give the wrong impression about the area or type of sitter they are seeking (for example, a retired owner listing bingo, lawn bowls, and a morning tai chi club as the top attractions in the area).”

For the best results, Josie recommends including general attractions that might appeal to a wide range of ages and audiences rather than just your own personal interests.

5. Unclear responsibilities

Despite being one of the most important elements of a listing (if not the most important), owners can sometimes have difficulty finding the balance between giving too much information or not enough. 

Josie points out that overloading information can be overwhelming for sitters and drive them away. “A listing should be fairly evenly skewed across each section, and when there appears a large body of text in the responsibilities section that outweighs the rest of the listing, sitters may immediately believe the sit to be too demanding or complex, simply due to the sheer amount of text present.” 

Remember, this section does not take the place of the Welcome Guide – potential sitters do not need to know details like ‘where to find the dog waste bags’ or ‘how to open the mailbox.’ 

The responsibilities section of the listing should be reserved for the following: 

1. Identifying pets – their name, age, breed, general sociability, and any health or behavioral concerns that a sitter should be aware of.
2. Identifying sitter requirements – who would suit your sit best? A sitter without pets? One who is happy to let pets sleep in the bed with them? Someone with the physical capability to take dogs on long walks? 
3. Identifying main house and pet care tasks. A simple list of bullet points will keep tasks clear and concise – minute details such as ‘lock doors and turn off lights when leaving’ should be saved for the Welcome Guide. 
   

According to Josie, the responsibilities section should be “as simple, clear, and transparent as possible, so sitters can gauge whether they are a good match for your needs. Providing vague descriptions such as ‘care for my dog’ will not serve your listing well and leaves sitters completely in the dark about your sit. Sometimes, owners also give rather vague or subjective instructions such as ‘my dog should not be left for too long,’ which is not helpful – how long is ‘too long’? Staying as clear and direct as possible is key.”

6. An unfair exchange 

At times, listings also struggle because the owner’s needs and expectations don’t quite align with TrustedHousesitters’ goal of a fair and mutually beneficial exchange. Some owners expect too much from their sitters, from juggling a mountain of chores to all-encompassing pet care.  

Josie explains that TrustedHousesitters is intended for travelers rather than locals, and is “designed to be as much of a cultural and travel exchange as it is a pet sitting service. Most sitters on the platform come from abroad or a different area of your country and offer their free pet and house sitting services in exchange for a free stay in your home and the opportunity to see a new area or part of the world. Listings that expect sitters to offer round-the-clock care, barely leave the house, or cannot offer sufficient free time for a sitter to see the area will not often find success. Such needs do not match the intended purpose of TrustedHousesitters, and are often much more appropriate and better suited to local, paid sitters or services. Ensuring you have a good understanding of the platform, how it works, and who it’s designed for is key.”

Making sure your listing offers a fair exchange on top of being clear, concise, attractive, and engaging is the key to success with TrustedHousesitters. So give your listing a little spring clean and get ready to welcome the perfect sitter into your home! A big thank you to Josie for sharing her expert tips with us!