We are a family of four (mom, dad, 2 kids, 1 cat), who have lived in Menlo Park for 7+ years now (Linfield Oaks Neighborhood), and don't want to move out of this great neighborhood. However, the cost of rent has continued to overwhelm our pocket books. We are very resourceful and flexible, and have set up our home (2 bedroom apartment) in a way that allows us to rent our master bedroom, and help with the crazy rent cost situation. We love living in community, and have been Airbnb-ing our master bedroom for some time, but would like to consider renting to a more permanent room-mate (female preferred, but not required).
If you (1 person) are interested in renting a simple, clean, private master bedroom for $1250/month (a fraction of the cost of a studio in this neighborhood), and want to live with others, come check out our place! Here are some details that may help you figure out if this is the right living situation for you:
- We have a humble little home. It is not too fancy, but very comfortable and tidy.
- The master bedroom is 11.5 feet x 12 feet, with a large 5.5 foot closet space. The room comes secure with its own key to lock up if needed. It’s currently furnished, but we would be happy to remove the furniture if you had your own.
- The master bathroom is a full, private bathroom you will not share. It is 10.5 foot x 5.5 foot, with a retro shower tile/design still intact.
- Our kids (16 year old girl and 11 year old boy) occupy the second bedroom. They are pretty messy, but we enforce the rule that the messiness remains in their room, and not in the common areas. However, they are typical kids, and I am constantly reminding them to do their dishes, clean up after themselves, etc. You’d have to be a little flexible in this area, but would NOT be expected to clean up after them (or tell them to clean up… unless you wanted to).
- Our living room is HUGE, so we got creative, and created separated bedroom and living room space in this area. It’s hard to describe in writing, so you have to check it out. The adults live in this area, and we share the second bathroom with our kids.
- We still have a common “dining room” area, where we eat meals. This is shared space.
- We also have a 700 square foot deck, which is one of the best features of this apartment! This is also a common/shared space, where we have a grill, patio table, potted plants, and storage tent. You would be welcome to enjoy this space at any time. It’s a great place to park a bicycle if you need a spot.
- The kitchen would be shared. We cook a lot, and would not mind sharing meals with a roommate sometimes (if you wanted), or just keep things separate. We have dedicated space in the fridge and in the cabinets for your things. We also don’t mind sharing our pots/pans/spices/etc., but again, we’re totally flexible in this area.
- There is FREE laundry on site. Garbage is included in the rent. PGE would be split the following way: total monthly bill / 5 (you would pay 1/5th of the total bill each month). Summers it’s as low as $25 and winters it’s as high as $250.
- Parking is on the street, and the City of Menlo Park requires a parking permit ($150/year).
- We have ATT wifi, and would be happy to share it with you if you don’t want to get your own.
- Our apartment neighbors are pretty cool, very quiet, and friendly.
If after reading all this, you are interested in renting this room, we would love to meet you! Come check out the space and have dinner with us and get to know us. You will find we’re pretty easy-going for the most part. After that, if it seems like a good match, you will be required to fill out a rental application, submit a recent pay check stub, and pay a $30 application fee for a credit check. Your name would be on the 1-year lease agreement, along with our names. This is a requirement from the property management company that manages our 10-unit complex, and is not negotiable.
Hope to hear from you soon!