USA: New York's latest networking craze, speedroommating - inspired by the dating method which allows couples to connect quickly - works to unite apartment room seekers and providers

Record ID: 838830

  • Title: USA: New York's latest networking craze, speedroommating - inspired by the dating method which allows couples to connect quickly - works to unite apartment room seekers and providers
  • Date: 15th March 2012
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT - MARCH 07, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DANIEL UGARTE WALKING ONTO THE PROPERTY WHERE HE LIVES INTO THE BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANIEL UGARTE, FOUND A ROOM AT A SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT, SAYING: "This is my room, and it's my home away from home in the city." UGARTE'S ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANIEL UGARTE, FOUND A ROOM AT A SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT, SAYING: "It came with the bed, even the sheets, a table to do my homework, closet. It's really good lighting. I've got two windows. And, there's a fire exit, which is kind of cool." VARIOUS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF UGARTE ENTERING HIS BEDROOM, SITTING AT COMPUTER AND TYPING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANIEL UGARTE, FOUND A ROOM AT A SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT, SAYING: "I came into the apartment, took a tour of the room, took a tour of the apartment, two of my roommates were there, shook their hands, said hello and then I said I want it (LAUGHS). Because I was tired, I was tired of looking all over the place for different apartments, different rooms." NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT - MARCH 06, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AT A SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT CLOSE-UP OF BADGE READING "I NEED A ROOM", PAN TO CLOSE-UP OF BADGE READING "I HAVE A ROOM" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TALKING SIGN READING "SPEEDROOMMATING, THE ORIGINAL ROOMMATE FINDING PARTY", TILT TO "COULD IT BE LIVE AT FIRST SIGHT?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEREMY SWIFT, ROOM SEEKER AT SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT, SAYING: "If you don't, if you're not from New York and you don't know anybody from New York, trying to maneuver through the websites is like pulling your eyes out." (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIM GLAZIER, ROOMMATE SEEKER AT SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT, SAYING: "Dating is more like, do I want to be with you. Roommate is, yes, I have to have someone I enjoy living with, but it doesn't have to be the best match ever." (SOUNDBITE) (English) VINCENT DEBENEDITTIS, ROOMMATE SEEKER AT SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT, SAYING: "It's all about chemistry, it's all about whether you have the same timeframe, whether it be morning or afternoon or evening." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHECKING IN TO SPEEDROOMMATING EVENT CLOSE-UP OF STICKER READING "I NEED A ROOM" FOUNDER OF SPAREROOM.COM, RUPERT HUNT AT EVENT CHECK-IN TABLE
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAER1IIL5N1D95KM9GT62U5V7K5
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Daniel Ugarte moved to New York City in January, 2012. The 23-year-old attends college in Miami, Florida and is spending his final semester in the Big Apple as part of the National Student Exchange program, before he graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
    New York City is home to more than eight million people. And in mid-2008, according to the 2008 NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey, there were 2.14 million rental apartments in the five boroughs.
    And with high rental prices and competition for space, Ugarte, like many residents found it very difficult to find a room to rent.
    Until he heard about a new networking event called Speedroommating.
    Like Speed Dating, it's a way of bringing people together, but not in the romantic sense.
    Launched in London, U.K. in 2008 by on-line rental agency Spareroom.com, the events are for people seeking rooms and for those who have rooms to rent out.
    One visit to Speedroommating was all Ugarte needed to find accommodation in Brooklyn.
    "I came into the apartment, took a tour of the room, took a tour of the apartment, two of my roommates were there, shook their hands, said hello and then I said I want it (LAUGHS). Because I was tired, I was tired of looking all over the place for different apartments, different rooms," said Ugarte.
    Spareroom.com's founder Rupert Hunt, says New Yorkers have really taken to Speedroommating -- which started in the city in January 2012 -- and he believes meeting someone in-person gives candidates a better idea of whether they'll successfully be able to to share a living space.
    "On websites you can see a list of their lifestyles and interests, and on paper they seem perfect, but you can spend a whole evening going across town to meet them and find out within a few moments that actually, no, you couldn't get on with them and live with them," said Hunt.
    Speedroommating is free. On arrival, attendees fill out a badge to indicate whether they have a room, or whether they need a room, their price range and the neighborhood they desire or reside in. Unlike Speed Dating, clients don't have a time limit with each person - the style is more like informal networking. With their free beverage in hand, room providers and room seekers get chatting.
    Newcomer to the city, Jeremy Swift is struggling to find a room.
    "If you're not from New York and you don't know anybody from New York, trying to maneuver through the websites is like pulling your eyes out," said Swift.
    Kim Glazier and her roommate Sarah Bonnell are looking for someone to share the apartment they're renting. Glazier says Speedroommating is not as intense as Speed Dating.
    "Dating is more like, do I want to be with you? Roommate is, yes, I have to have someone I enjoy living with, but it doesn't have to be the best match ever," said Glazier.
    Another roommate seeker Vincent Debenedittis says finding a match is all in the chemistry.
    "It's all about whether you have the same timeframe, whether it be morning or afternoon or evening," said Debenedittis.
    Ugarte says it's particularly difficult for newcomers to the city who aren't acquainted with the city's norms and regulations. He says that he can rely more on his intuition when looking someone in the eye.
    "Depending on who you meet at this kind of event you can kind of gauge whether or not they're honest or, especially when you're new to a city, you don't want to meet somebody online," explained Ugarte.
    Hunt says his company provides the free events in the hope of steering more clients to Spareroom.com. But he concedes that ultimately, it's better to meet someone in person before signing on the dotted line.
    "I think when you're trying to find someone to live with, I think there's only so much you can do online, you've got to bring it offline at some point and meet each other," said Hunt.
    The next Speedroommating event will take place in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register