pbbth, as someone currently living in a box-like, over-priced efficiency in Manhattan, can I ask whereabouts are you located, and about how much is rent? Just curious, is all.
love
yams!!
yams!!, I currently live in Washington Heights and my half of rent/utilities is $800. My apartment is a 2 bedroom, over 1000 sq ft and absolutely gorgeous!
If all you were looking for is a price comparison that should help, but if by some strange coincidence you are considering moving and might think about taking my roommate’s half of the place I will be glad to tell you all about my apartment and I will even send you some digital pictures if you would like!
Don’t forget to specify furnishings in the room to let and, if fully furnished, whether you’re amenable to their bringing any furniture of their own.
Do you think I would do better with the room furnished or unfurnished? The rest of the apartment is fully furnished but that room will be empty except for a dresser that is in there currently. I have no problem with getting rid of the dresser or adding more furniture depending on what would be the most helpful in my search for a roommate.
I think being flexible where you can (on furniture) will help by not ruling out people based on something you don’t care about. In general I expect people with their own furniture are a little more stable. Unless you plan to target people coming to town for temporary gigs or training courses, I think you’re better off letting them bring their furniture.
In my own experience, having total strangers as roomates was definitely a good thing. While I had long wished I could live with my best friend, honestly there are several issues him and I have that would have made a lot of aspects of it difficult to deal with.
As others have said, its much easier to be assertive with a total stranger and have all the rules set up from the get go.
I’d mention in the ad that furnishings are flexible, that you’re willing to provide additional stuff if necessary or to accept [some of] their stuff in your place, whichever applies – and for interested applicants who meet your criteria to not be discouraged by the furnishings issue.