TrustedHousesitters Profile Tips: How to Secure More Sits

Most sitters write profiles about themselves - their travel dreams, their love of animals, their life story. Owners don't care about any of that. They care about one thing: whether you can handle their home and their pet.

A strong profile makes an owner feel confident. They need to know they can hand you their keys and their beloved pets without worry. This isn't about telling your life story: it is about clarity and proof of responsibility.

1. Profile Photos: Get This Right First

Having good photos sets you up for success. Choose images that are clear and well lit. Owners often look at your photos before they read a single word of your bio.

What 3:2 means in practice:

• Examples: 900 × 600, 1500 × 1000, 3000 × 2000
• The width of your photo should always be 1.5 times the height

If you upload a square or vertical image, TrustedHousesitters will shrink it and it won't display full-size. That immediately looks sloppy and unprofessional. Authentic, well-lit photos with animals build immediate rapport.

2. Profile Content: Write for Owners, Not for Yourself

Owners care about one thing: whether you can handle their home and their pet. Avoid generic travel manifestos and long childhood stories.

What to do instead:

• Make it easy for an owner to picture you in their home
• Answer their unspoken questions quickly
• Focus on: What pets you've cared for, how you structure your day around animals, your approach to home care

Good vs Bad Bio Language:

3. Show Responsibility and Cleanliness

This matters more than personality. Be explicit about how you handle homes and routines.

Owners want to know you take this seriously. Specific statements about cleanliness and routine adherence build trust immediately.

4. Highlight Your Situation

Owners want to know if you'll actually be home with their pets. Be clear about:

• Remote work: "I work remotely, so I'm home with pets throughout the day"
• Retired: "I'm retired and have full flexibility with my schedule"
• Flexible schedule: "I structure my days around pet care needs"

This reassures owners that their pets won't be alone for long stretches. It's one of the biggest concerns they have.

5. Keep It Scannable

Owners are reviewing multiple profiles. Make yours easy to read. If you're just getting started, check out my guide on how to get your first sit with no reviews for strategies that work even without a track record.

• Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
• Lead with your strongest points
• Avoid walls of text
• Be specific, not vague

Profile Completion Checklist

Before you start applying, make sure you've completed these essential steps:

• Verify your identity: Complete all verification badges TrustedHousesitters offers
• Add references: Personal or professional references build credibility
• Fill all sections: Incomplete profiles signal you're not serious
• Proofread everything: Typos and errors undermine trust
• Upload quality photos: Remember the 3:2 aspect ratio rule

Common Profile Mistakes

Once your profile is solid and you've built up some reviews, you'll want to move fast on competitive sits. Read my AI strategy for applying to high-demand sits to scale your applications without sacrificing quality.