When an owner searches for a sitter, results are ranked by a straightforward set of factors — no hidden boost system to game.
What determines your position
Distance from the owner's search location — this is the primary factor whenever a location is provided.
Average rating — higher-rated sitters rank above lower-rated ones at a similar distance.
Response time — sitters who reply quickly rank above slower responders at a similar distance and rating. Owners are almost always choosing between a few sitters at once, and the one who replies fastest tends to win the booking — so this carries real weight, not just a profile stat.
Number of reviews — as a tiebreaker among similarly-rated, similarly-responsive sitters.
To protect your privacy, distance is calculated from an approximate location near your home, not your exact address — so nearby sitters can still find each other in results without your precise location being exposed.
What doesn't affect ranking
Badges and your completed-bookings count are shown on your profile and in search results, but neither moves your position — they're there to help owners decide once they see you, not to change whether they see you. The most reliable ways to improve your placement are gathering more (and better) reviews and replying to new requests as quickly as you can.