The good roommate guide
After explaining how to find student accommodation in Paris, the next step is to help you find the perfect roommate in order to make the roommate experience as enjoyable as possible. On this page, you will find our 6 tips for finding the roommate of your dreams - that perfect person is out there somewhere! Here's how to do your search.
Tip #1: A similar pace of life
When you imagine your perfect roommate, also consider whether your lifestyle fits with that of the current tenants in the apartment before you sign your lease. For example, do you imagine yourself in a student apartment with a party atmosphere, going out often at night and regularly having friends over in the apartment? Or do you prefer a quieter atmosphere, to focus on your student life or your deadlines at work, ideal for relaxing after a hard day? Whatever rhythm of life suits you, it is important to visualize it within the roommate dynamic to see if it will match with the other tenants: successful experience guaranteed! A good way to find out could be to simply ask potential roommates what they like to do in their free time. This way, you don’t take any chances!
Tip #2: Be yourself!
Do you feel lost searching among the countless ads put on rental websites every day or even among our student housing in Paris? And you want to find that rare pearl for your shared flat? You can create your own online ad on some sites. For example, choose a photo that best shows your personality. Don't forget to smile and have a positive attitude, they are your best assets (unless you are looking for a supermodel roommate...) and be self-confident. Concerning your description, don't hesitate to describe your personality as well and honestly as possible - after all you are looking to meet people you are going to live with everyday!
Don't forget to mention your age, whether you are a student or a worker, and what you like to do in your free time. Be concise, long descriptions can be off putting on rental / roommate websites! Finally, the most important thing is simply to be yourself. This will allow you to trust your instincts to choose the best roommates for your search. 9 times out of 10, you won't know the people you are going to live with, so it is important to be yourself to avoid unpleasant surprises. If you are going to visit a flatshare for an interview, don't hesitate to bring a cake or something to drink, it will help you break the ice and make a good impression!
If you find a roommate in Paris with Chez Nestor, then you will be able to exchange with your future roommates by email to get to know them before moving in.
Tip #3: Find common ground!
One of the most important criteria for finding your roommate(s) is to figure out what you have in common. Naturally, the atmosphere in the apartment will be much more pleasant if you agree on several subjects. This can be, as mentioned before, the rhythm of life that fits together, but also your hobbies and passions. For example, sharing a flat with a student can be beneficial for studying together for your exams, or for going out on Thursday nights.
Do you love cooking? Sports? Board games? These are all interests that can help you bond with your roommates, and eventually become friends. If your roommate is passionate about hiking, yoga or running? These can be great shared activities! Are you a Harry Potter fan, a manga fan or a movie fan? A great opportunity rto organize movie nights in the apartment. If, on the other hand, you prefer to spend time reading in your room, the atmosphere in your apartment will be much more pleasant if your roommates are also of a quieter disposition - and also like to be alone in their rooms from time to time.
Tip #4: Learn from your differences
While it is important to find your common ground, it is also interesting to know the differences between you and your roommates! This is important because the differences of others can enrich your daily life! If you choose a room mate who is a carbon copy of you, who agrees with you on everything, your daily life may be a little less stimulating (it is always interesting to debate with another person!). You will soon realize that it is the differences in opinions and views that will help keep your discussions with friends interesting, and discover new hobbies or activities.
The idea is to live with people who have a similar lifestyle and who respect your own values (respecting other people's values doesn't necessarily mean that you have to agree) but it's also good to live with people who have their own interests to keep a stimulating dynamic in the home and maybe discover a new passion! Who knows, the gym mat you keep in the back of your closet might be useful if your roommate is passionate about fitness, or vice versa - don't hesitate to share your passion for cooking or painting if that's what you like to do every day. It's not always easy to recognize differences in people when you first meet them, but if you let the conversation flow naturally, you can get a good idea of the roommates you'll potentially be sharing your apartment with.
Tip #5: Define your non-negotiable criteria
After seeing the importance of common grounf/differences, you will need to define non-negotiable criteria for yourself. For example, are you OK with a roommate who smokes in the house? If yes, can he/she smoke inside the apartment or must he/she leave the apartment and the residence? Do you accept pets, can your roommate own a cat, a dog, a hamster? Just as each tenant has the right to his or her own peace and quiet, do you allow your roommate to organize parties in the apartment? If so, how often and with how many people? Do you need quiet for your studies/work and do you appreciate privacy when your roommates are in their rooms? Finally, one of the most important criteria in your search, and often a source of conflict, is cleaning. Define your tolerance level for housekeeping from the beginning and be honest about your involvement. Is it okay for you to leave the dishes for the next day, or do you want everything to be clean right after the meal? Many such rules need to be defined from the beginning in order to live in harmony within your shared apartment.
Tip #6: Be open to an international roommate
Finally, an important point to consider, think about creating or joining an international shared apartment! Half of Nestor's roommates are from other countries, so it's easy to find an international roommate by renting one of our rooms! This will allow you to enrich yourself in every way! Conversely - are you a foreigner arriving in Paris for the first time? The world of real estate is complicated, your French roommate will be able to help you with administrative procedures such as CAF (Caisse d'allocations familiales) to get your APL, or be able to explain your lease contract if you have questions, how to pay the bills (housing tax, insurance, for example), the aid available for your rent, where to buy groceries and at the best price, the law, etc. On the other hand, hosting an international tenant who arrives in France will allow you to learn more about their culture, their way of life, their country and their traditions. Having an international roommate is a great learning experience! And that is priceless.
To conclude, flatshare living is a great experience that we recommend 100%. Whether it is made up of students, workers, foreign or French roommates, the ideal flatshare for you exists! You just have to know how to find it. Be yourself, search the rental websites to find the accommodation of your dreams (we recommend Chez Nestor, of course), and check out your future friends!
