Finding a new roommate is not an easy task. In a traditional lease, it’s up to the housemates to fill rooms for rent without help from the landlord. And if they can’t find a replacement, they’re stuck footing the bill themselves.
But as rent prices continue to rise, that’s a reality many people can’t afford. While there are plenty of tools to help people source new roommates, they can’t guarantee that the person you pick will be a good fit. The last thing anybody wants is to end up with a nightmare roommate who makes day-to-day life miserable.
Coliving spaces, on the other hand, simplify the entire process. You find the space that fits you best, and the coliving community fills it with compatible and like-minded people.
In this article, we will illustrate the traditional approach to finding a roommate, explain how the coliving concept solves this chaotic problem, and outline the difference between the coliving experience and shared apartments.
The traditional approach to finding a roommate
Before the Internet, people would put ads in the paper or find a roommate via word of mouth. Today, the World Wide Web has made this process far more effortless.
There are dozens of roommate finders on the Web—some free and some paid. Craigslist, Padmapper, Roomates.com, Facebook, Roomster, Diggz, and SpareRoom are a few of the big names on the scene.
Each site claims to have the answer to helping you find the perfect personality match in a roommate. While these platforms are certainly helpful, they still require a ton of time and effort on your part.
Finding a new roommate can take several months, especially if you’re the one with a vacancy to fill. You have to sign up for the site, write an engaging ad, choose a fair rent price, take beautiful and captivating pictures and interview people.
That’s a lot of work! And it still doesn’t guarantee you’ll end up with an ideal pairing.
The coliving approach
Coliving spaces are designed to make finding a place to live and a community to love easier.
They’ve completely reversed the traditional idea of what a roommate should be.
Many coliving spaces are created with a specific group of people in mind, such as entrepreneurs or artists, who share a common passion or experience in the world. And if the spaces are open to all types of colivers, they attract those who share similar values, regardless of their cultural, professional, or lifestyle differences.
Best of all, instead of forcing people to spend their time scouring the web for a suitable roommate, they screen the applicants themselves to ensure the group will be in sync. Some spaces even select compatible members and allow people to choose their roommate(s) from their vetted list.
To get started, you must go online, find your ideal space, and request to rent a room. Coliving makes this process remarkably easy, as we categorically display verified listings from multiple companies with spaces worldwide. Our platform makes it easy to compare spaces, and our filters help you find the best match for your needs.
Once you apply to your preferred space, there’s a short screening process to confirm that you’d be a great addition to the house. This often includes standard things like background checks for safety and general personality questions to learn more about who you are.
Company spotlight
Source: Outpost Club
Outpost Club manages coliving spaces in New York and San Francisco. Their goal is to provide affordable and hassle-free housing to successful creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and experts. They host dinners, seminars, and activities to help their members broaden their horizons, learn new skills, and cultivate connections.
They chatted with Agustina Cal, one of their house leaders, about what it was like to be part of their coliving community:
Agustina Cal @Outpost Club
“My favorite Outpost memory is the day that I arrived in NYC. George, the manager, welcomed me as if I was family. Outpost’s team is comprised of caring, warm, and generous people and behind their actions, there is always an intention to go further than needed.”
Coliving communities go above and beyond to redefine the idea of home. In a traditional roommate scenario, whether or not you bond with your roommates often comes down to luck. In contrast, coliving communities host events to allow like-minded members to take their relationships to the next level.
They don’t just remove the stress of finding a new roommate, they give you a comfortable space full of people ready to welcome you with open arms.
How is the coliving experience different from shared apartments?
At first glance, coliving spaces and shared apartments seem pretty similar. In both cases, people share living spaces and resources. And in many situations, the roommates develop friendships.
But the similarities end there. One of the most significant differences is in the length of stay. Most traditional leases force the tenants to sign a one-year lease, locking them into a commitment they may or may not be comfortable making.
Coliving spaces offer flexible agreements, allowing the residents to stay for as little as one week to as long as a year or more. They understand that people’s lifestyles are more fluid than a one-year minimum lease can offer, so they’ve created spaces that promote diversity over restriction.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Coliving spaces host community gatherings to encourage group bonding. They are designed to bring people from all different backgrounds, home states or countries, and professions together to share and learn from one another. They put on networking events to help you expand your personal and professional development horizons.
: UPS(T)ART – Harvard House
Alternatively, specific coliving spaces are tailored to bring like-minded groups together specifically to elicit professional growth. From entrepreneurs to startup founders, remote workers, digital nomads, creatives, interns, and more, there are dozens of coliving spaces to choose from.
For example, remote workers who enjoy working at home in a private coworking space can join a space designed with that in mind. Or, startup founders eager to reap the benefits of networking events with local investors may join a community that offers such opportunities.
On a more practical level, coliving spaces offer far more perks than traditional shared apartments do. Here’s a breakdown:
Source: Coliving.com – What is coliving?
Do coliving spaces give you enough privacy?
Two types of rooms are offered in most coliving spaces: shared and private.
In shared rooms, you sleep in the same room as other people. In private rooms, you have the area all to yourself.
908 – North Beach (left) Startup House – Stanford (right) @Coliving.com
Each option has its benefits and drawbacks. Shared rooms are cheaper as you’re distributing your space amongst more people. They also offer bounteous chances to get to know your roommates, as you’ll inevitably spend time together talking in your room away from the group.
Private rooms are a bit more expensive, but having a separate space to call your own is worth it for many residents.
This is especially true for couples, as having a place to be alone together while still being ingrained in the wider community is a win-win. Plus, as a couple you get to split the private room cost, meaning you may end up individually paying less than you would for a shared space.
Besides the sleeping spaces, coliving houses have many different communal spaces to relax. The rooms are designed for people to socialize with the group whenever they please and relax away from the crowd when they’re craving peace and quiet.
Final thoughts
Coliving spaces are easier to find, join and move into than traditional rental properties. They’re designed to give people easy access to furnished rooms for rent while providing amazing roommates and an extensive community.
Coliving.com is the best and easiest way to find your next roommates today. Your tribe is waiting to meet you; get browsing today.
