Tag Archive for: shared housing

Whether it’s Facebook, Linkedin, or a dating website, personal profiles are an important part of online life. Homesharing is no different. Your profile is a place for you to share about yourself and what you’re looking for in a roommate. It’s also an important source of information for potential roommates to learn about you, your home, and what living together might be like. In fact, many Seekers will decide if they’d like to meet a Homeowner based on what they see in their profile–and a good first impression can go a long way!

The Odd Couples Housing profile questionnaire has many of the important factors for homesharing built in. However, there are also many opportunities for you to personalize your profile and make it yours.

So how do you put your best foot forward?  If you’re having trouble deciding how much to share or what to include in your profile, you’re not alone. It can be hard to know where to start. To help, we’ve compiled a few ideas to inspire you! 

Here are some tips to help you showcase yourself and your home: 

HELLO, IT’S ME

You may be tempted to stick with homesharing logistics in your profile, but your future roommate is thinking about the house match and personality compatibility. Instead of focusing solely on the bedroom amenities or parking situation, share a bit about yourself! If you’re feeling stuck or aren’t sure how to talk about yourself, think about how a good friend might describe you or share a unique hobby or fun fact. That could end up being a good ice-breaker when you meet Seekers. Or you might find that you and your potential roommate have more in common than you expected!

CHECK YOUR BOXES

Your profile is a great place to share about yourself, but it’s also an opportunity for you to describe what you’re looking for in a roommate. The Odd Couples Housing profile questions cover many of the basic issues that can come up with roommates, but you might have more specific ideas about what you’re looking for. For example, you can note in your profile that you’d like to eat together regularly or go on occasional errands. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Sharing a “typical day” or an “ideal day” is another way that Seekers can get to know you through your profile. You don’t need to get too detailed, but it’s nice for Seekers to know if you work the night shift, travel frequently, or have weekly friend gatherings at your home. It can also give some insight into what’s important to you and how you like to spend your time, which is important in a roommate relationship. 

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Seekers are curious to know about you and your home, but they’re also often curious about the area in which you live. The questionnaire includes a section about your home, where you can indicate what is  near your home (bus routes, shopping, night life, parks, etc.), but in your profile, you can elaborate beyond the checklist. Consider sharing a bit more about the coffee shop near your house, the library you frequent, or the bike path you’ve been meaning to check out. Let Seekers know why they should be as excited about your home as you are!

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

A few photos of your house can have a big impact on Seekers who are imagining themselves in a new home. Use your phone or a digital camera to snap a few pictures of your space and upload them to your profile. We recommend taking photos of the Seeker’s bedroom, bathroom, and common spaces, like the kitchen. If your home has other interesting features (back patio, garden or cozy breakfast nook), you also might consider posting those photos. 

DON’T WORRY!

Constructing your profile may feel overwhelming at first, but you’ve got this! As long as you complete the questionnaire, you’re off to a great start. Your home will become visible to Seekers as soon as the basic questionnaire is complete, so once that’s done,  you can take a break and edit the details later. Remember, you can complete your profile at your pace—there’s no need to do it all at once if you’re feeling stuck. You can update edit your profile at any time by logging into your account and going to your profile tab.

Good luck! 

Still have questions or want to sign up? Odd Couples Housing Match Team can work with you to answer your profile questions.