Improve your flatshare listings

Using flatseeker.net you can advertise your spare rooms to a database of thousands of registered flatseekers throughout the UK giving potential flatmates a chance to find your rooms whenever they search their area for any new flatshares.

As the number of flatshare ads increase daily, it's worth noting the key points to getting your advert noticed;

• Use pictures and video to really make your advert stand out.  Take some time to take clear, well lit pictures and video footage.  Video tours are particularly effective as they help potential flatmates see the whole of the property, not just their room.
• Include as much information as possible on room sizes, and communal areas etc.
• Give details about the local area and local amenities as well as any social hotspots and places of note in case they're not locals or familiar with the area.
• Make sure the rent cost and deposit amount is clear, noting what is and isn't included in the rent.  Will there be additional costs involved, like broadband, TV or council tax? 
• Look at things from the flatmates point of view. If you were looking for a flatshare, what would you want to know?
• BE HONEST - Now you've got their attention, be upfront about the downsides too - are you next to a busy main road that is particulary noisy?  Does the neighbours dog bark a lot during the full moon?  Its better to make these points sooner rather than later, after all, they may seem like negative points to you but your new flatmate might not mind at all.

We find adverts that tick all the boxes above get far more views and enquiries than those that have minimal descriptions, only a few (or no) pictures and hardly any information at all.

So there you go, go update those ads and find yourself a new flatmate!

Taking the proactive approach when looking for a flatmate

Where services like flatseeker.net are preferential to the old fashioned newspaper and 'card in the window' methods of finding flatshares is when it comes down to the profile matching side of the service.

Once you have listed your rooms to let on site, have a look though the hundreds of registered potential flatmates looking for rooms in your area and have a read of their profiles.  Some may be appealing, some might not, and some might be exactly what you're looking for. 
If you find someone who you think is compatible with you, has the right budget and you would not mind sharing with them, then drop them a line securely through the site messaging system.

The profile system is a great way of getting the low down on potential flatmates and finding out about them without having to email them and ask awkward questions, or leaving yourself open to potential scams or dodgy adverts that are rife on many popular classifieds sites that also advertise flatshares. 

Remember, everyone of our members are here for the same reason and wherever your flatshare, we will have people looking for a flatmate.

Got a flatshare or room to let?

Flatseeker.net provides students, travellers and everyday flatseekers with thousands of rooms available to let throughout the UK.
Landlords can register their spare rooms for free on our site, advertising them directly to people in their area who are seeking accommodation, whilst those looking for a flat or houseshare can search available rooms by location, cost, and many other factors.
Registration is free, so if you're in the market, why not sign up? Thousands of flatmates and landlords are waiting to be found!

  

Free Flatseeker 'stickers' for your website or blog

Another new feature of the flatseeker.net site, we now have 'stickers' for your website or blog.

Let your friends and followers know that you're looking for a flatmate, that you've listed a room to let on flatseeker.net or that you simply love the site by sticking a virtual sticker online.

There are many to choose from, and variations include:

  
  
 

If you want a sticker for your site feel free to pop along and pick up the html snippet - you don't even need to download the images!  Oh, and by the way... they are completely free and easy to use.

Get your stickers here

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

It is always good practice when renting out a flatshare to offer your flatmates an assurance that when they reach the end of their tenancy they will get their deposit back in full, subject to not damaging the property and assuming they have upheld their end of the tenancy agreement.

Tenancy Deposit Schemes offer this, and in the case of properties that are let without the landlord in residence the use of these schemes are required by law should you be a landlord letting a property on an assured shorthold tenancy.

Whilst not required by law in the case of a flatshare when you live with your tenant Tenancy Deposit schemes offer not only the protection of deposits, but they also provide a means of resolving disputes at the end of a tenancy.

Should you decide to enroll in such a scheme, you should only use one of the following, as these are government recognised schemes and are protected by law.

MyDeposits

Deposit Protection Service

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Flat and house share end of tenancy cleaning service

If your tenants are almost at the end of their tenancy then now's the time to be thinking of an end of tenancy clean.


A clean, fresh, tidy view of your room to let or flat share is essential to your new prospective tenants when they come to view the property, and could mean the difference in them choosing your room or someone elses.

Even the most tidiest flatmate is bound to leave the odd mark or smudge on the carpet, sticky cup mark on the coffee table or the kitchen in a less than prestine condition when they leave so it's always best to get someone in to make sure you give the best impression to any new prospective flatmates who come calling.

There are numerous companies to choose from who offer this service but one in particular we've been hearing good things about is a london based cleaning company called Capital Clean, who specialise in the end of tenancy clean and they do it without breaking the bank.

They are known for being meticulous and thorough, taking care to ensure everything is clean - from wiping around door frames and skirting to giving the kitchen and white goods a good scrub inside and out. They are also extremely good at restoring rugs, runners and carpets back to their former glory (this does cost extra however)

For a full list of their services and an idea of price visit their website - http://www.capital-clean.co.uk/

Get the Flatseeker app from Nokia's Ovi Store now!

For all of you flatseekers sporting a Nokia mobile phone, the Flatseeker app is available now and for free from the Ovi store.

The first of it's kind to be available on Nokia, the Flatseeker app keeps you up to date with all the latest blog posts, tweets, classified and job postings (new feature coming soon) from Flatseeker.net and marks the beginning of some great new components and services rolling out soon throughout the site, along with a slightly different site design.

So if you're using a Nokia head over to the Ovi store and pick up our free app today!


PS.  For all you iPhone and Android users out there - watch this space, you won't be left out!