Since I am looking alone, I've been searching on Spare Room, and Gumtree - without much luck at all. Part of me wonders if I'm selling myself correctly, or whether I'm simply not compatible for the 15 or so places that have said no to me so far. Here's some of the "reasons" why I haven't found somewhere yet
- "We really liked you, and thought you'd fit in, but I gave the room to a friend of mine who asked about it"
- "I really liked you, but I decided to give it to somebody I had mutual friends with, as I thought it would be easier"
- "Something has come up on the survey, so I don't think I'll be leaving now. Get back to me in October"
- "The room has gone, sorry" (This was within 6 hours of it being listed online)
And the only place that has said yes to me so far, I turned down after this comment came out during the viewing
- "Yes, about the mouse traps - we've been free of mice for 4 months now, so I'd like to find someone who can keep the place clean so that they don't return".
Yes, that's literally it. A whole month of looking and still nothing, and now I'm really feeling the heat. Part of my frustration in this process comes from the ridiculousness of Gumtree and other sites. You have to sell yourself to extreme levels, make out you're something that you're not. You tell them what an amazing job you do, how you're always up for trips to the pub, or to the cinema. You conveniently neglect to mention that you'd much rather relax on the sofa after being at work. Pretty much every advert I've read has asked for somebody who is "laid back and easygoing".
Cliché alert...
This is the bane of my life right now
Then comes the viewing, a quick show round the rooms, noting the dimensions and trying to gauge the people you'll be potentially living with in 5 minutes. Most people are quite casual about this, I once heard somebody having rather loud sex in the room next door whilst we were looking round. After most viewings comes the polite interrogation.
- What do you like to do in the evenings?
- What sort of music do you listen to?
- Do you cook for yourself or for others?
- Are you a presenter? - I always get asked this when I tell people I work for the BBC.
- What sort of TV do you watch?
Whilst I appreciate questions like this increase the chances of finding that perfect person, I can't help but think that most of them are trying to find a new friend, rather than a new housemate. Fall foul of one, and there are easily 30 others waiting in line behind you.
And so the search continues, sending out idealised aspirations of what I'd like to be, in the hope that somebody sees through it all and says yes.
