What do sitters want to see in a listing?

Whether you’re a seasoned pet parent with multiple sits under your belt or you’re new to the community and are looking for your first sitter, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to your listing. And who better to tell us what makes a good listing great than our sitters themselves? Yup, informed by our community forum filled with experienced members, their tips and wisdom, we’re serving up advice on how to make your listing stand out. Piquing the interest of a sitter is more than uploading cute pictures of your pets (although it’s very much about that, too), so without any further ado, let’s get into it.

Your pets…

Pictures of your pets 

Our sitters are pet people, through and through. So, it’s only natural that they’re keen to see as many pictures of your furry family as possible. And not just because they’re cute as can be - taking a look at clear photos (that are the right way up!) gives sitters a good initial idea on whether they’re capable of giving your furry friends the care they’ll need. And be sure to pick your primary photo wisely - this is the first impression that sitters will get of your home and pets - showcase them in their best, yet most honest light!

Your pet’s behavior, personality and energy levels 

It’s best to be open and honest about your pet’s personality - it’ll help attract sitters who can best handle your pets’ ways, giving them the care they really need. Many of our pet sitters revisit the same sits time and time again, not only because they had a great time in your home’s location, but also because they were such a good match for your furry family, too. So in short, being honest about your pets will set you up for successful sits now and in the future. 

Obedience and training 

Some sitters will be better equipped than others at handling pets with varying degrees of obedience. Like with your furry fam’s personality, it’s best to be honest about the stage you’re at with training - if your sitter can handle your furry family, your pets will be a whole lot happier.

How long can your pets be left alone for?

For some sitters, the idea of kicking back at home with your furry family 99% of the time is their idea of heaven. While for others, they may love the four-legged company, but prefer slightly lower-maintenance pets that allow them the time to visit local museums and attractions during the sit. So by being honest about your pet’s needs, you’ll attract the right kind of sitter who suits your pet’s lifestyle needs, so that everyone is kept happy.

Are they on any medication?

While this can be covered in more detail in your welcome guide and sit handover, it’s helpful to briefly mention that sitters will need to be comfortable with administering medication to your furry family. That way, you’ll only get sitters applying who are comfortable with fulfilling all of your pet’s needs.

Any other social or health issues?

Like we’ve mentioned, knowledge is power - the best way to attract the sitters best for your furry family is to be upfront about their needs. So, if your pooch suffers from separation or social anxiety or any other health or social issues, it’s best to briefly mention this in your listing, then go into the fine details in your welcome guide.

Your home…

Amenities - what are your home’s key features?

Found in the ‘Your home’ section of your member dashboard, the 'Amenities' section helps you highlight your home’s key features. It’s a great way to really show off your home’s highlights and to attract the attention of the right sitters. To find out more on how to add your home’s amenities, head to our blog.

Where your sitter will be staying

This is a must - our sitters (quite rightly!) need to be able to see exactly where they’ll be staying during the sit. Expect a whole lot more applications if you’ve been explicit about where they’ll be sleeping! 

Pictures of your home 

You can describe your home and pets to your heart’s content, but sitters need to see as many clear and bright photos of your home as possible. Include snaps of each room, the garden and the outside of your house or apartment - this will allow sitters to make an informed choice about whether to apply for your sit. Without clear photos, sitters may pass your listing by, and move onto another that’s more upfront. And when it comes to which photos to include, well we’d advise all rooms in your home (although don’t get hung up about the attic or airing cupboard!). And if your photos seem to be dark, simply dial-up the brightness in ‘edit’ mode for clearer images.

Is there parking and do they need a car?

Some sitters will be driving to you, so it’s important to clearly communicate whether there’s parking space available, as this could make or break their choice to apply, and ability to get to you. And on that note, it’s important to be clear on whether sitters will need to be able to drive to get around your local area - while inner city areas are simple to navigate vehicle-free, more rural areas will mean welcoming sitters with a driving license. Plus, many of the pet parents on our platform allow sitters to drive their own vehicles, which makes life a whole lot easier if sitters are flying - insurance and licenses permitting, of course.

Internet connection 

What’s the quality of your internet connection like? We’d advise making sure it’s reliable (unless it’s out of your control, of course). Many sitters work from home, so a stable internet connection is vital for a successful sit. Others might need to connect to stream their favorite shows while snuggling up with your furry fam. Either way, a good connection online is something people naturally expect these days, so be upfront if you live in a rural area where that simply isn’t possible.

Your local area…

Transport links

Sitters might be completely new to your local area, so to make their travels simpler (and to inspire their plans while on the sit!), describe all the handy transport links that’ll make seeing the local sights simple.

Tourist attractions

Our sitters are, first and foremost, pet lovers, but they’re also travelers who love nothing more than exploring new sights with a furry friend by their side. So, if you live near a well-known tourist attraction, be sure to include it in your listing, and if not, describe the local history of your area or lesser-known sights and attractions that are well-worth a visit.

Local shops

It’s important for sitters to know that amenities are closeby, or at least reachable via car or a particular public transport link. Think about the local places nearby that are a necessity (like a supermarket and pharmacy), then consider talking about cute coffee shops and restaurants that might pique the interest of a sitter.

Any local hikes?

Many of our sitters love the outdoors, and if you’re looking for a dog sitter, it’s especially useful to talk about the lovely walks in your local area. Whether it’s a dog park, route along the city river, a beach walk or even a popular mountain path, be sure to mention it in your listing.

Final tips…

What do you look for in a sitter?

It’s always best to stay open-minded when searching for a sitter - everybody has to start somewhere. But, in the interest of your furry family, it might be best to share that you need somebody who’s experienced in caring for pets with behavioral issues (or any other pet needs of your pets that are worth talking about). Plus, if you’ve got a particularly unique pet, it’s definitely worth talking about the specialist knowledge they’ll need to make time to read up on before starting the sit.

Sitter responsibilities

While you can cover these in a whole lot more detail in your welcome guide, it’s definitely worth talking about what you expect from your sitter in your listing - this will help them to know whether you’re the right sit for their application. Consider talking about how much walking your pup needs, how much attention your furry fam requires and whether you need the mail collecting or plants watering.

Make sure your listing title is accurate 

When writing your listing title, draw on the key features that’ll appeal to sitters, i.e. your pets, home type and location. It’s best not to include your sit’s dates here or the time of year, as this is included in your listing anyway.

Avoid large blocks of text

Naturally, you want sitters to read as much of your listing as possible, scrolling down to explore your home’s key features and getting in the know about what you need from them. To make that happen, our sitters have advised you avoid large blocks of text. While you might have lots to say, simply hit the ‘enter’ button to make room for white spaces between sections - it’s an easy way to make your listing a whole lot more digestible.

Be concise

While you might have a fair few points to share, try to say it all in the fewest words possible - sitters have multiple listings to apply to, so the more efficient you are at communicating your message, the more likely they are to read it all and ultimately, apply!

What's the house sitting etiquette for pet parents?

Welcoming a sitter means you’ve got a bit of preparation to do, so to make your journey easier, visit our blog where we answer our members’ most frequently asked questions on house sitting etiquette.