Analyzing the best of Craigslist summer share ads

The lead up to summer own the shore is counted by many markers on the calendar: Easter week half price ticket sales, the Ocean City Doo Dah parade, Mother’s Day. We’re hitting another one right now: the scramble to find enough roommates to fill out a summer shore house.

I took a tour through Craigslist to see what’s left. Here’s are some gems, with my analysis:

Headline: $2050 Summer Share in Sea Isle!Cost: $2,050Ad: “We are a group of 6 girls, ages ranging from 25-30, looking for a few more girls to fill our house in Sea Isle City this summer. The place is only 3 years old with great features. We have a great location in the center of town and only a block from the beach. Please respond to this listing if you are interested. We can answer any questions you may have!”What to expect: To end up at the “OD” every weekend even though you all swear you won’t ever step foot in that place again. Everyone will have one of those nights that ends in tears, vomit and some strange dude sleeping on the couch.Labor Day 2013 Prediction: Albums of Facebook photos carefully edited to remove that one housemate who will never be spoken to again. The group will end up paying for a cleaning service so they can spend that last weekend on the beach instead of scrubbing.Last Drink Left: Half a bottle of tequilla – another thing that will never be spoken of again.

Headline: Looking for Roommates!Ad: “Want to spend the summer at the shore? Well then you came to the right place! We are 3 College males looking for roommates to help fill our 4/5 bedroom house for the summer…We also know how to have fun at night though whether it be parties, bars, boardwalk, or anything! The roommates range from 19 to 22, so we would like you to be around that age. We have open spots for weekenders or full-time, it is up to you. Feel free to contact me and we can discuss more about the amazing opportunity and trust me you’ll have the time of your life!Price: Not mentionedWhat to Expect: To never ever ever walk around the place barefoot.Labor Day 2013 Prediction: Wiffle ball tournament on that Sunday night, followed by the usual division of activities – the underage will continue to drink the beer that the of-age bought for them, while the of-age hit the bars.Last Drink Left: A bottle of wine one guy bought to prove to a woman that he’s classy.Headline: Avalon Bay House Summer Share Ad Excerpt: We are a great group of mid 20’s- mid 30’s professionals who are looking for a few people to join our shore house for the summer of 2013! Bay House (29th and Ocean)- 5 BR; 2 ½ Bath, 2 Decks and Stationary Dock, Convenient location across the street from Wawa and a short walk to the Princeton/White Briar and other attractions. Price includes – house, deposit, utilities, cleanings, supplies (e.g. toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, etc.), and an alcohol fund (the house buys beer, a couple bottles, and mixers, each weekend). 

Price: $2,500 full time, $1,500 part time.What to Expect: A “no hook up between roommates” rule. The breaking of the “no hook up between roommate” rule.Labor Day 2013: A low key BBQ to cook all the food in the fridge followed by one last night at the Princeton where you all stay until last call. One new couple to survive the summer, never to return again, with the progress of their relationship to be followed on Facebook.Last Drink Left: None. The youngest “professional” in the group shotgunned it at 4 a.m. as one final toast to Summer 2013.

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Jen A. Miller writes the Down the Shore with Jen blog for NewsWorks.org. Jen is author of The Jersey Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May, which is now in its second edition.