How to Find the Right People to Share Space With

So you've decided that you are ready to share space, but you don't know how to go about finding the right person to share space with. Or maybe you're not ready to commit to space sharing because you are worried about finding the right people. Either way, we understand how important it is to find the right people to share space with and how much pressure it can create just thinking about it!

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You might be asking yourself questions like, how do I find a great renter? What do I look for in a person? How will I know if it's a good match? Though it can feel strangely personal, we totally get it. These are real and valid questions, and we are happy to answer them for you!

Define what you're looking for in a space-sharing partner

Have you thought about the kind of person you want renting out your space? Some of us will be more picky than others, and that's okay. Boundaries are important. The ultimate goal is to rent out your space to someone you can trust and feel comfortable talking to.

So here are a few questions to ask yourself as you think about finding a renter:

• Do they need to have the same values as I do? Some businesses are financially driven while others value different aspects, like impact. Is this going to influence your decision to rent space to them?
• Do they need to have the same kinds of goals? Same as value, do goals matter to you?
• If these things are important to me, why? Ask yourself honestly why these things matter.
• Am I willing to budge if they don't share the same values or goals? If they seem to be trustworthy and professional, would you consider budging?
• Does it matter what kind of business they have? Does it matter if you're renting office space to a therapist versus a small marketing business?
• Will their working hours matter? Think about whether or not it matters if you have a renter that works better in the late evening hours.

Thinking about these aspects can help you define what the best renter for your space will be. While we do encourage you to define what matters to you, we also don't want your ideal renter to be impossible to find. Making sure you have reasonable expectations can help you find a great match.

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How to actually find them

At the moment, space providers set up their profile to the best of their ability and wait for renters to find their post. Renters will then request a tour if they like the posting they see. Once you get a request for a tour, you can schedule a tour, send a message, and check out their profile. This opens you up to communication and seeing if that particular renter would be good for your space.

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Stay tuned though because we have some changes in the works that will allow you to take a more proactive approach to finding a renter!

How will you know if they're a good fit?

First and foremost, the answer to this question has a lot to do with how you define your ideal renter. If you know that you want to keep your building closed at night, and you're not comfortable with having more than one person having access, then renting your space to a team that works best in the evening might not be the best fit.

Second, and most importantly, a good fit is heavily dependent on communication. If you're someone that has difficulty with open communication, then working with any renter will have its challenges. But if you're an excellent communicator, then finding the right renter will be considerably easier! If you're both honest about expectations, questions, answers, and details, then you will quickly know if this is the right fit.

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Finally, we recommend meeting face-to-face, which is why we encourage tours. While messaging can be effective for a lot of things, it's not always the best means of communication. Talking to your renter face-to-face sets a positive precedent that will be important for all future interactions. The importance of communication will never fade during the space-sharing process, and that's why we stress it in the very beginning stages!

Before you go

The biggest takeaway is to know what you want and be honest and communicative about it because that will help you find the right people to share space with. Taking the time to find the right people to share space with can help you build a solid professional relationship and make the entire process easier. As always, we're here to help. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to click the little blue circle in the corner and let us know!