Writing a good housemate ad is an important part of the housemate selection process. Most ads are forgettable — a list of room dimensions and a price. The best ads attract exactly the right person because they give a real sense of who you are and what you’re looking for.
This post is part of our complete guide to finding a good housemate.
Here’s something worth remembering before you start writing: you are looking for one person. Not fifty, not twenty, not even five. Out of an entire crowd of potential housemates, you are looking for one that suits you. So write an ad that speaks directly to that person. Yes, you might feel like you want choices — but why spend time and energy talking to people who aren’t a good fit? If you talk only to the right person and they move in, haven’t you saved yourself a lot of trouble?
That’s the mindset. Now here’s how to do it.
Want the full process — not just the ad? Our guidebook walks you through figuring out who you are as a housemate and who you’re looking for, before you ever write a word. Get the Guidebook.
The 6 Things Every Good Housemate Ad Must Include
1. Location Be specific enough to be useful — neighborhood, proximity to public transportation, nearby amenities. People filter by location first.
2. Rent and financial requirements State the rent clearly. If you require first and last month or a security deposit, say so upfront. No surprises.
3. A description of the room and the house Be honest and make it attractive. If the room is small, say so — but also mention what’s great about it. Light, storage, yard, charm. One of us used to rent a tiny room that was light-filled and close to public transportation. Those benefits outweighed the size.
4. Something about yourself as a housemate This is where most ads fall flat. Don’t just list your occupation and age — give a sense of your personality and lifestyle. Are you home a lot or rarely? Neat or relaxed? Social or private? Be honest. You want someone who is a good fit for the real you, not a sanitized version.
5. What you’re looking for in a housemate Be clear about what matters to you. If you’re a neat freak, say so — you want someone for whom living with a neat freak is a good thing. If pets are a dealbreaker, mention it. The more specific you are, the better your chances of finding someone compatible.
6. Contact information Tell people how to reach you and what you’d like them to include in their first message.
A Few Tips
If you’ve spent time thinking about who you are as a housemate and what you want in a housemate, it is much, much easier to write your descriptions. Our guidebook walks you through that process step by step — get the guidebook — or start with our free worksheets to get going now.
Look at other postings for ideas — but remember you are a unique person and you want to attract someone who is going to be a good fit for you specifically.
What a Great Housemate Ad Looks Like
The best way to understand what works is to see it in action. Here’s a real ad that does everything right:
Subject: Future Awesome Housemate. Where Are You?
Hello!
I have a terrific house. I love it, I really really do. It’s maybe just a bit too big for a girl on her own. I’m looking for a kick-ass roommate to share space and expenses with.
About the house: It’s in the NE, a little ways out but not too far and right on the bus line. It was built in 1925 and has amazing built-ins and hardwoods and charm galore. The neighbors are fantastic and I’ve never felt more at home anywhere else. It’s a 3 bedroom, but I’m just looking for the one roommate right now. We’d share a bathroom, but that just makes for a cozy feeling. There is a ton of space in the basement for storage.
About me: I’m practically 40, but not yet. I am pretty active and social. I am rarely home. I am out of town most weekends and out of the house most evenings. I’m a professional woman, but not so professional that it prevents me from being a total dork a lot of the time. I like to have a glass of wine or pint of beer with friends, I like to run and do yoga, I like to read and write. Occasionally I’ll have some incredible people over for a casual cocktail in the back yard.
About you: You could be a boy or a girl of any variety from 25ish to 55ish, so long as you are awesome and enjoyable. I would hope that you are financially stable. I like open-minded people. I’m looking for someone with whom I can laugh at the absurdity of our daily lives, but who is not expecting me to be their very best friend forever. The ideal you knows what the dishwasher is and how to use it. We’ll know when we find each other, Future Awesome Housemate!
I am looking for either $500 + half utilities or $600 including utilities. In exchange you get your room, a front yard and back yard, storage space, a kick-ass roommate when I am there and pretty much run of the house when I’m not.
Notice how this ad covers all 6 elements — location, rent, house description, who she is, what she’s looking for, and contact info — but does it with personality and humor. You come away feeling like you know her. That’s what makes someone pick up the phone. She found her housemate in a week.
For another real example, see the ad we wrote with Ellen, a senior with a 160-lb Rottweiler, and how her search went: A Real Housemate Search: Writing the Ad for a Senior With a Big Dog.
Ready to write yours? Download our free worksheets to help you get clear on who you are and what you’re looking for before you start writing. Or for a complete, step-by-step process — from figuring out who you are as a housemate through writing the ad and interviewing applicants — get our guidebook
Originally published December 2008. Updated March 2026.Photo by Curtis Adams
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This is good and I will keep it. There are links on the first page after the original questionnaire that I have not viewed yet. The information in this is so good that it made me feel optimistic, especially the suggestion to use Craigslist. I find myself thinking of the negative newspaper items about Craigslist, yet I have used it successfully a number of times. I sold a camera for $250 on Craigslist about three years ago, and I made the meeting place a public place. I told the management and the waiter in Denny’s what I was doing there, waiting for someone to make a purchase and pay me cash, and be ready to call the police if anything bad happened. It turned out it was a very nice photographer who came in, but you never know!