Rent a room to foreign students and experience many benefits as a result. Each September, a lot of students will be going to university for the first time, and many of these students will be coming here from another country. It will be the first time they have left their families, and providing them with a place to stay can be very rewarding.
For foreign students, the start of their university life can be a very scary and lonely time, as they are moving to a place where they don’t know anyone. By opting to rent a room out to foreign students, you are helping to make their journey much easier, and there are numerous benefits you will gain as a result. Of course, it can be very rewarding to help someone who is in this situation. But, you can also learn from them too.
They may be able to teach you their native language, for example. You will also learn about their customs and culture, including their general day-to-day life, expectations, law and food. It can be a real eye-opener and very interesting, to say the least. You may even develop a great friendship with the student, although you don’t need to look for a potential best friend when looking for someone to rent your room.
Finally, who wouldn’t like to benefit from additional income each month? Renting out your spare room to a foreign student will give your bank balance a great boost and give you peace of mind. Expenses are minimal with property management all you really need to consider.
How to ask questions like a pro
Once people have shown interest in your listing, you may be excited about making more money, but the next step is always to meet them in person for an interview so you can get a feel as to what they are like. This doesn’t need to be a formal interview – it can be more of a laidback chat, but it is important that you ask the right questions.
There is an art to asking questions, and we are going to reveal how to get it right. The trick is to ask questions that are open-ended – don’t choose something that can be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You should also hold back on your point of view and expectations, instead of allowing them to express their thoughts first, otherwise, you could skew their answers.
So, what sort of things do you need to ask when trying to find flatmates? Of course, there are the obvious, technical aspects, such as how the rent will be paid. But, when getting to know the person, you should ask general questions about their life, as well as their views on the big things. The latter includes topics such as friends staying over, parties, paying bills and cleaning. When it comes to general questions, ask them about their interests, work and plans for the future. The purpose of this is to gain a better understanding of who they are before you rent a room out to them. Finally, propose real-life scenarios and ask for their response. This is a good way of finding out how they will deal with conflict and any issues that arise during the tenancy.
(Disclaimer: This content is a partnered post. This material is provided as news and general information. It should not be construed as an endorsement of any investment service. The opinions expressed are the personal views and experience of the author, and no recommendation is made.)
