Is home share right for you?
Home share matches are different from traditional landlord/tenant situations, because each match is a personalized blend of trading some services and/or money in the context of building a new relationship between two or more adults. While there may be a monthly rent involved ~ the average is $175.00 ~ we like to emphasize that this is a home share, not simply a rental.
For home seekers, “sharing” usually means agreeing to do grocery shopping, run errands, bring in firewood, or shovel snow from the deck. Every home provider has a different list, but home seekers must be prepared to do some work.
Sometimes home seekers with care giving experience can be matched with home providers who need more day-to-day health care. More often, the home provider’s needs are pretty basic household chores that take no particular expertise.
We have found some qualities that are helpful for both home seekers and home providers: a willingness to embrace change, a sense of humor, flexibility, patience, and an ability to speak up — and listen. It’s also a plus if you’re realistic. Home sharing is not meant to take the place of fulltime care or to provide anyone with a free ride. If you have realistic expectations that are respectful of the other person’s needs, you’re far more likely to be satisfied with a home share arrangement.
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