I move around a lot – I’ve spent almost my entire working life in the tourism industry, which is highly seasonal. The most sought-after destinations attract a glut of visitors (and an influx of workers to cater to them) only during certain times of year.
Most of my past work contracts have been fixed-term, lasting only some portion of the year. I’ve lived in a wide variety of shared housing situations, many of them flexible and temporary. Where I live, and how long, depends on the length of my work contract and what city I am in. At times I’ve also rented space in two different cities at once–paying for a stable, long-term situation even while I am away for a few months of work in a different locale.
I am by no means rich–my yearly income is very moderate. But, shared housing is what has allowed me to live in all of the places that I have. A shared apartment or house is vastly more affordable than an entire space that I pay the entire lease or mortgage for on my own.
Casting a Wide Net
As a frequent homeseeker, I believe that one of the keys to finding a good housing situation is to cast a wide net. A good housing situation is out there! But it usually requires some searching and legwork to find it. Since not every space or housemate(s) will be the right fit for me, it’s usually necessary to look around at several options before settling on the one that works best.
Resources I have used to find housing
Over the years I have used a variety of tools to find housing or housemates. Below I will share some of the tools and platforms that I have found most useful, and that might help expand your own home or homemate search:
Craigslist
I tend to use Craigslist in larger cities, since it is an aggregate of listings. While there are plenty of impersonal or scam posts to sift through, the genuine ads that have been penned by real people are generally easy to spot.
Local Bulletin Boards and Word-of-Mouth
In smaller communities, good old-fashioned bulletin boards (in grocery stores, community centers, cafes, or the local library) and word-of-mouth referrals are often a far better source of information than a website like Craigslist.
Facebook Groups and Marketplace
Most cities and small towns have a dedicated Facebook group such as, “Rooms for Rent Seward Alaska” or “Los Angeles Sublets and apartment shares.” Even in the smallest towns there is usually a general “Community Page” on Facebook where locals post on all sorts of matters, including who is looking for housing or a housemate.
You can also find listings via Facebook Marketplace. If you’re active on Facebook, posting on your personal profile that you’re looking for a housemate–or housing–may lead to a match, or at least a tip about a possible match.
Other websites that I have used in past searches:
AirBnb: While most people think of AirBnb as a platform for renting a vacation home, I’ve rented rooms by the month using Airbnb. Hosts are often open to long-term arrangements.
Zillow (https://www.zillow.com/learn/how-to-find-a-roommate/)
Though thought of mostly for purchasing a house, Zillow also has a “Rooms” filter that allows for searching shared housing options
Furnished Finder – this website specializes in furnished rooms for stays of a month or longer and caters to professionals and people who are relocating
Depending on your situation–say, if you are unsure if shared housing is for you, and you want to experiment with a temporary housemate before committing to a full-time one, it may suit you to rent to professionals (like me, a seasonal worker) who are only in town temporarily.
All of these platforms are helpful tools for making an initial connection.
Before You Start Searching
But, no website can replace a thorough interview process and reference check. Also, having a clear well-written ad will attract the right people from the start. If you are unable to post the full set of information in your housemate advertisement – some newspaper classified sections, for example, only allow for a limited number of words – write up your full ad, with all of the information and some pictures of the space ready to go, so that when potential homemates contact you, you can send them the full set of information.
Whether you are a homeseeker like me or a homeowner searching for housemates, I highly recommend Chapters 4 and 5 of Sharing Housing: A Guidebook for Finding and Keeping Good Housemates. Chapter 4, Finding Each Other and Chapter 5, Getting the Word Out will walk you through how to create a well-written advertisement that contains specific, thoughtful details about your living situation and what type of person you are hoping to live with.
Feeling overwhelmed? That was a lot of information! And, honestly, at times during past housing searches I have felt overwhelmed. But, I’ve learned that by taking one step at a time and exploring multiple options, my efforts will pay off.
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