The introvert's guide to house hunting: How to charm your future roommates

Many students and young professionals look for shared housing at the beginning of the (academic) year. They meet with potential roommates to see if they're a match.

To present yourself well to a household of potential roommates, click further and read tips from experts on the Dutch platforms NU and 123studychoice.

Photo: Brooke Cagle/Unsplash

When you're looking for a shared apartment in the city, you are usually invited to see the place at a time when multiple housemates are present. That way they can decide together if you'd be a good match for the house.

Photo: Tim Gouw / Unsplash

Before you go, you will have already seen photos of the apartment and contacted the landlord or roommates by phone or text. Make sure the ad looks reliable, with clear pictures and a price that doesn't seem either too high or too low to be true.

The Erasmus Play blog has some important tips to avoid scams when searching for a room

Photo: Cytonn Photography / Unsplash

There's no standard formula for a visit with potential new roommates. Sometimes, they'll just give you a quick tour of the place and send you off, indicating that their inhabitants are quite independent and laid back about sharing spaces. Maybe that's not your preference though, and perhaps you'd like to have more rapport with your future roommates.

Photo: ThisisEngineering RAEng / Unsplash

In other houses, residents may ask questions, have other candidates present at the same time, and even offer drinks. For introverted people, it may be a challenge, but it's a must if you need to find shared housing.

Photo: Sarah Brown / Unsplash

It's important to be prepared to answer questions about yourself, such as your background, studies, hobbies, and working hours. Make clear what sets you apart from other candidates in terms of sharing a living space.

Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash

Visits with potential new roommates can be stressful because you usually make them when you are in the tough position of needing a place to live. They are a specific kind of meeting: less formal than job interviews but more formal than dates.

If you try too hard to make people like you, they may not feel comfortable sharing their home with you, but if you come off as cool and uninterested, they may feel unsafe too. Be open and friendly while sticking to the subject of being roommates. Important topics on how to share a home involve cleaning, cooking, characteristics of the neighborhood, etcetera.

Izabella Voortman, chair of the Amsterdam Student Union (ASVA), says that it's important to be honest. Roommates will find out much about your life anyway, so there's no point in lying. However, you don't have to emphasize negative qualities either. Make sure you look confident while showing you understand the potential roommates' life situations and wishes.

Photo: Brett Jordan / Unsplash

Talking too much or saying nothing at all are extremes that should be avoided. It's smart to talk about what you would like to do once you live in the house. Also, ask questions about your roommates' lives and schedules. It will help you determine whether your day-to-day rhythms are a good match.

Photo: Christina, wocintechchat-com / Unsplash

Look for topics of conversation in the room without being intrusive. You can get inspiration from the bookcase or other objects you may have questions about.

Photo: Tom Hermans / Unsplash

Some cities and areas can be quite competitive, with lots of candidates trying to rent the same room. If you are on a visit along with other candidates, you can demonstrate your social skills by showing interest in the guests as well as in the residents.

Photo: Sigmund / Unsplash

Be prepared for questions about your negative traits, for example, with respect to cleanliness, noisiness, or odd working and bathing hours. However, don't just try to please the people in front of you by telling them what they want to hear. Be clear about your own interests and personality, or you will all be in for a surprise once you've moved in together.

Photo: Nik/Unsplash

Among your potential roommates, there will be talkers and more quiet people. It is always a good idea to try and have an exchange with each of them. You're going to be sharing a bathroom with all of them after all, whether they are quiet or loud.

Photo: Priscilla Du Preez / Unsplash

If you are not chosen, you can kindly ask why they decided to choose another roommate and use their feedback for future apartment visits. Good luck in finding suitable housing!

Photo: the blowup / Unsplash