What if the place you call home is holding you back from true love?
Have you ever been out on a date that was so awesome, you were certain that you had found THE One? Did you think that this is the person you’re going to marry and grow old with, but then you went to their apartment and everything came tumbling down? You’re not a bad person if you let love slip away because you realize your potential soulmate is total slob or has a roommate who sacrifices kittens every Monday night. In fact, you’re kind of in the majority.
Rent.com conducted a survey to see if where and how someone lives would have any effect on their dating life, and not very surprisingly, it does. Of renters who participated in the study, 67 percent said that if they met someone with a great apartment, it would pique their interest in that person even more. Can you blame them? When this statistic was broken in down, it was found that such importance is most prevalent when people are between 18 and 24 at 79 percent, compared to the older group of 48 to 67 years old who probably think there just might be more important concerns in finding a partner; they came in at 54 percent.
But it wasn’t just about size and the view from someone’s windows. Eighty-two percent of renters said that the cleanliness factor of one’s place was definitely a factor that weighed heavily; with 78 percent saying their biggest turn off was a filthy apartment. I mean, who wants to stay at someone’s apartment when you’re terrified of whatever might be growing in their bathroom?
If you’re looking to win someone over by your place, but don’t have one of those impressive views you usually see in movies, then it’s best to pay attention to the details. For 15 percent of women, the biggest turn on for them was family photos in the apartment, while for guys, at 13 percent, it was a “nice collection of books and/or magazines.” Say what? Before you start thinking men have started to matured in some way, their second biggest turn on (11 percent), was if they spotted a king size bed in the apartment.
Roommates, even if they’re not sacrificing kittens every Monday night, still come into play especially if that roommate is of the opposite sex. Of those polled, 26 percent of renters have no interest in dating someone who lives with someone they perceive, might be a threat — this was especially true for women. And 37 percent of people said that a “rude” roommate would have them heading for the hills. Actually, this could be used to one’s advantage if they want to break up with someone, but dont have the gall to do it — just send in the roommate from hell to do it for you!
Of course, if you’ve been living alone for awhile, you’re bound to have come up with some “single lady” behaviors that you may want to keep under lock and key. Case in point: your private naked time. The biggest embarrassment for women would be if they were caught hanging out in their apartment naked, at 40 percent. I, for one, am stoked I’m not alone in doing this all the time. Second and third to that concern was singing/dancing (30 percent) and watching too much bad reality TV (18 percent), respectively.
Apparently, dudes don’t do the naked thing as often as the ladies, or maybe they just don’t care, because their biggest embarrassment for 57 percent of them would be leaving a mess around their humble abode, followed by the mass amount of hours they spend playing video games.
We should probably take into account that, although going with your instinct when it comes to judging ways in which the person you’re dating lives is important, the reality is that people are raised differently and therefore have a different way of keeping house. One woman’s idea of a disgusting bathroom could be another woman’s dream. It’s a scary thought, but it’s true. You can’t make everyone happy, but you can at least make an effort. If you don’t have that penthouse flat (yet!) on Central Park West, then get some books, some photos of your nieces and nephews, and let your charm do the rest. Here’s hoping you at least have some of that.
–
Originally appeared at YourTango.
More from YourTango.com:
Gettin’ Steamy: The Art Of Showering Together
Dating Advice For Men: Ditch Yesterday’s Rules & Find Real Love
7 Dating Websites You Won’t Believe Exist
Photo: Flickr/George
To Editor(s):
“Is Your Apartment Is Thwarting Your Love Life?”
I think the second “Is” is not necessary. The question does not make sense.
Should read?,
“Is Your Apartment Thwarting Your Love Life?”