Member Stories: Melanie Eddolls — Digital Nomad | SharedEasy

SharedEasy Member Stories: Melanie Eddolls — Digital Nomad

Meet Melanie Eddolls, our in-house digital nomad and copywriter. Originally from Texas, she’s spent the last few years travelling around Europe, and she came to us in August of last year after a year in Portugal. Why New York? “New York is a love affair, once you experience it, no place measures up.”

Melanie lives in our ​Long Island City Home​ in Long Island City near Astoria, Queens. In our recent member interview with Melanie (​catch that on our YouTube Channe​l) we asked Melanie, “Why SharedEasy?” “I heard about coliving in Europe and spent a short time exploring some of the brands that are located in Lisbon. I love the idea of having my privacy while still knowing that someone is home, that people are living their lives, enjoying New York, and working on projects Celebrating big holidays and moments with planned events is also a real bonus especially during the holidays when “going home” to family is not an option. “There is something about knowing that at the end of the day, you’ll be around like-minded people, the idea that someone is coming home.”

Melanie says her favorite things about the Long Island City Home are the charm and the proximity to subways, cafes and eateries. The house is three stories with two full kitchens and a common living area for movie nights and Netflix binges (especially handy during the lockdown these last few months.) There are also two shared laundry spaces and a courtyard in the back. It’s really everything and more one could hope for .Having lived in the West Village in a tiny studio with a HUGE monthly rent, Melanie appreciates how easy it was to reserve her home, the affordability and the spacious accommodations. It was great to be in such a hip and cool area and the studio was ok for about a year then she just decided to hit the road and travel. Coliving allows her the option to do that again when all of this is over. “I am just at a time in my life where being locked into a lease or a mortgage is no longer an attractive option.”

“Coliving has really helped my business,” Melanie says. More than once, she says, she’s been at a standstill of creative ideas and at a loss as to where to go with her business; and by chance, standing in the kitchen on a late-night, she started a conversation with her housemates who happen to be an app developer, web design guys, and a travel blogger. The ideas that came out of that unplanned meeting “really helped me over the hump and gave me a direction.” “The best thing about coliving is you just never know who you will meet, what you will learn from them, and when you will meet again. I’ve truly made friends for life and that never would have happened if it wasn’t for SharedEasy.”

The modern conveniences and upscale furnishings are also a bonus and the idea that the home is already set up and ready to go with all supplies and kitchen gadgets, bedding, cowork space and reliable wifi were big perks for this digital nomad.

“After my experience with SharedEasy, I consider myself a coliving evangelist. I tell everyone looking to move to the City, needing a change of pace, needing a spark of creativity and the security of community that coliving is absolutely the way to go.”

You can catch Melanie everywhere on social media. She’s on ​Twitter ​and Instagram.

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FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the FAQs by people considering transitioning to coliving.

  • What is Coliving?

    Coliving is a residential model in which individuals get a private bedroom in a furnished home with shared common areas. It is a bunch of biologically unrelated people living together in the same place. Usually, residents in a coliving space share interests, values, or intentions.

    Coliving is a type of housing where people live together in a shared space, often with shared amenities. It is a re-imagination of the age-old concept of community, based on the tenets of openness, collaboration, the sharing economy, and social networking.

    Coliving spaces can be found in cities all over the world, but they are particularly popular in New York City. There are many different types of coliving spaces, from small apartments with a few roommates to large co-living communities with hundreds of residents.

    Coliving spaces often have common areas for residents to socialize, work, and relax, as well as shared kitchen and laundry facilities.

  • What are the benefits of co-living?

    Coliving can be a great way to meet new people and make friends, as well as save money on rent and other expenses. Co-living is affordable, convenient, and flexible.

    Many co-living spaces are located in convenient locations near public transportation, restaurants, and other amenities, which makes your commute time shorter, and affords you the advantage of greater productivity.

  • What amenities are typically included in a co-living space in NYC?

    Amenities typically available in coliving spaces include laundry, kitchen, swimming pools, workspaces, access to gyms and other health clubs, leisure areas, and spas. All the utilities and WiFi are included in the rental amount. Some spaces offer access to house cleaning services, and occasionally catered parties depending on the community. Coliving spaces catering to new parents may offer a playground for the children or access to vetted child care services.

    Co-living sounds like an answer to everything you’ve ever asked about homes, neighborhoods, or life as digital nomads. Some coliving spaces offer private bedrooms and bathrooms, while others have shared sleeping and living areas. Coliving spaces often have common areas for residents to socialize, work, and relax, as well as shared kitchen and laundry facilities.

  • Is co-living a good idea?

    Coliving can be a great choice for someone who wants to move to a big city, save big on a luxury apartment, and keep things simple. However, for someone who wants to live outside a major US city and doesn’t like the idea of sharing their space, it’s not a great choice.

    It is also a great fit for those who want to belong to a company of like-minded people and build their social network. It can be very rewarding and enriching to belong to a community of people with the same interests. You get to learn, grow, and develop yourself. You can also build a great working relationship, and potentially snag yourself a mentor or a co-founder.

    All the great companies were built by people in the same network! Coliving offers flexibility and helps foster friendships between strangers. Newcomers are sure to find themselves welcomed into the community with open arms.

    Coliving is a great way to learn about the cultures of other people and appreciate diversity. Another attraction of coliving is the lifestyle. Coliving houses are situated in busy areas, so cafes, bars, and shopping are only a couple of minutes away from your house, which is great if long commutes are a chore for you. It is a plus for you if your coliving community is located in a place with excellent nightlife.

    In terms of cost, coliving is firmly within the average price range for properties, being that you’re paying for both the house and the service rendered.

  • Does SharedEasy Have an App?

    SharedEasy does not have an app at the moment, just an amazing website with ample information and details on each property. Important information includes the number of units, their availability, and the appliances contained in each unit, as well as a map of the place and a tour of the property. There’s something for everyone on the website.

  • Where Can I Find a Coliving Space?

    There are coliving spaces all over the United States. SharedEasy offers coliving options in New York and Los Angeles. If you are interested in coliving spaces in New York City, SharedEasy has many destinations for you. There are spaces in East New York, Cobble Hill, Clinton Hill, Bushwick, Brooklyn Heights, Broadway, East Village, Inwood, Soho, Chelsea, Ridgewood, Hell’s Kitchen, Harlem, Midtown East, and Jersey City.

    All these coliving apartments are furnished according to the standards, and there are pictures up on the website. Beware of websites that have listings without pictures. Most of those are scams, and in these cases, people pay a security deposit, only to lose it.