How It Works

Home Providers--Step by Step

• Check the Do I Qualify? page to see if you meet minimum qualifications.
  
• Have your valid photo I.D., 3-4 references on the ready. Fill out Home Provider Screening Application.
• We conduct background screening and check your personal references.
• We will do a home visitation.
  
• Be patient while we find you compatible matches.
• You conduct phone interview with selected home seekers (pre-screened and qualified). We help by providing interview questions.
• Meet your potential match in person. (We suggest a neutral location, such as a coffee shop.) Again, we send you a list of questions covering the main areas of concern.
• As the home provider, YOU are in control. 
• If all goes well, we strongly suggest a trial match of a few days, with the home seeker bringing just a suitcase and any pets who will be part of the household.
• You select the seeker to share your home with.
  
• Get it in writing with a Living Together Agreement. Our template covers all the bases, from rent amount, to utilities, to parking and more. We've added space for your COVID precautions so you're both on the same page and agree on cleanliness, masks, visitors and outside exposure.
• Your match fee is half the first month's rent for homeshare matches.
  
• Monitoring. HomeShareSLO staff will check in regularly to make sure all goes well, assisting with mediation if necessary.
• Exit strategy. The average home share match lasts 1-4 years. Make it a smooth transition by planning in advance with exit strategy guidelines as part of your written agreement.

Home Seekers--Step by Step

• Check the Do I Qualify? page to see if you meet minimum qualifications.

• Have your valid photo I.D., proof of income, 2-3 months of bank statements, and 3-4 references on the ready. $50 application fee is required. Fill out the Home Seeker Screening Application.

• Minimum credit score of 650.

• Proof of income of $1,100 per month.

• We conduct background screening and call your references.

• We give your contact info to suitable home providers. They call you for the first conversation.
• First meet them in person at a neutral outdoor location like a coffee shop or park. We supply helpful lists of questions to discuss.
• If your phone and in-person conversations go well, they'll invite you to see the space and meet outside their home.
• If you agree on the main terms and everything looks positive, they may invite you to conduct a Trial Match, where you stay for a few days with just a suitcase to test the match.
  
• Sign the Living Together Agreement and start home sharing! At this signing meeting, you will pay your first month's rent, and your deposit will be due, usually an additional month's rent.
• Note: please factor the cost of shared utilities into your housing budget. These can range from $100-300 per month, depending on size of shared spaces, seasonal variations and amenities.
• Feel free to contact us with questions--we're here to help and dedicated to your successful home share experience.