Adapted from Sharing Housing: A Guidebook to Finding & Keeping a Good Housemate, Annamarie Pluhar 2019
WRITE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT
Advertising what you have to offer as a home provider or what you are looking for as a home seeker is one of the most important aspects of the DIY home-sharing process. Depending on where you plan to place your announcement (e.g. bulletin board, newsletter, index card etc. or on an internet-based Home Share Matching site), specificity, length, good grammar, and clear tidbits of information will be of the utmost importance. If you decide to list your announcement with an internet company only, it will most likely need to be more concise than on personal sites.
When you write your announcement as a home provider, it should contain the following information:
• Location of the home
• Brief description of the house and specific space available for use
• You as a person, your interests and routines
• Strong preferences, such as for a specific age group or gender identity or a “Must Have” or a “Can’t Live With” (e.g. “Need assistance with transportation” or a “No Pets Allowed” due to severe allergies etc.)
• Requirements: financial and/or service arrangements, number of personal references, security deposit, income verification, background check and end of life documentation.
As a home seeker, your announcement should contain the following information:
• Desired location of town
• You as a person, along with personal interests, routines, and/or employment
• Strong preferences such as a “Must Have” or “Can’t Live With”
• What contribution you bring to the relationship, such as handyman skills, ability to cook the evening meal, gardening etc.
• Availability of income verification and personal references, plus end-of-life documentation.