We got a new flatmate! I’ve both organized and been to a lot of flat viewings over the years. One thing that always surprises me, is how little time everyone seems to spend looking around in the apartment before deciding if they want it or not. Now, there’s nothing permanent with a flat share and you can always move if it doesn’t work out. But it’s still going to be someone future home, even if it’s temporary for a few months or years.

There’s so many people that hardly steps through the doorway of a room that could possibly be their home. They peek in for a few seconds and then quickly move on to another part of the apartment. They might as a few questions about the rent or the bond, but most of them are pretty quiet and leave the apartment after only 5 minutes.

It’s so weird. I get it if they wouldn’t be very interested in the room, but most people are indeed interested. Most flatshares in London and the travelling community in Australia are already furnished, but yet nobody asks about storage space, if the bed is comfortable or if the neighbors like to throw wild parties in the evenings. Instead, it’s a little bit like playing Russian roulette. It might turn out to be a fantastic accommodation if you’re lucky and if you’re unlucky? Well, then you just move. Or maybe it’s just me that thinks that moving is a hassle and want to live somewhere nice.

I can understand if someone is desperate and perhaps need to move out of their old place in a week or two. A room is always better than no room at all, but not everyone can be that desperate?

I was like that when I first moved from London from Sweden. I was naive and went to viewings, peeked through doorways and didn’t really know what to look for. I was in a new country, had no idea what to expect and I went with my gut feeling. I picked my first apartment in London because the flatmates seemed nice. It wasn’t until after I had moved in that I discovered that the bathroom ceiling was solid black from mold or than one of the other girl’s bedroom window (ground floor) could not be looked properly and anyone could just swing open the window and climb inside.