After you’ve debated the pros and cons of living with someone and decided to have a roommate, the next challenge is figuring out how to find one. If you don’t already have a potential roommate in mind, you’ll need to start looking for one, which is its own challenge. Here are tips on how to find a roommate who will be compatible with your lifestyle.
Ask around
You can ask your family, friends and other acquaintances if they know anyone looking for a place to live. At the very least, you can let others know you’re seeking a roommate, so they can pass along the word to their friends and family. There’s a good chance that your contacts know someone who needs a place to live.
Furthermore, you’ll have the benefit of a reference you know already. You can ask your friends and family about the potential roommates and what they think of them. If a friend says their old roommate is looking to move, you can get great insights on if the potential roommate is clean, easy to live with, etc., from your friend, rath
er than relying on unknown references provided to you by that potential roommate.
Leverage social media
This can be a farther-reaching method of asking friends and family if they know anyone looking for a place to live. You can make a post with details, such as the area you’ll be living in, how much rent will be and how many other people will be living in the apartment. Make sure that your post is shareable, then ask everyone to share your post to get the word out!
You can also do some searching on socials to see if others from your city are posting about looking for an apartment. Reach out to those individuals and let them know what your apartment and the living situation would offer!
Some social media platforms like Facebook have groups specifically for housing in certain cities or areas. You can post in these groups that you’re looking for a roommate and it will be seen by plenty of others.
Place ads and listings
There’s no shame in using platforms like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to find a roommate. It’s easy and usually free to create a listing and it’s searchable by location, so those who are actively seeking to live in your area will quickly find your listing. Many local or state news networks will have a place for classified listings and rentals, so check to see if your city has one where you can post your apartment.
Try an app
Using apps is one of the best ways to find a roommate. There are plenty to choose from, but some of the most popular are Cirtu, Roomster, Roomi and SpareRoom. Such apps often allow for a more personalized search where you can specify what qualities you want in a roommate (quiet and keeps to themselves, extroverted and likes to socialize, clean, etc.). They also often require background checks or multi-step verification for users, so it can be safer for you to use.
You’ve found a roommate, now what?
As much as you want to find a roommate, your personal safety, credit history and even your reputation matter. So, make sure you research every potential roommate thoroughly.
1. Review references
Ask applicants for references from employers and previous landlords. Even notes from friends, clergy, professors and former roommates can help you get a sense of their character and habits.
Search each potential roommate’s social media pages to see if they’re respectful in their interactions with others and if they show good judgment in what they post publicly. If you see evidence of illegal activity, angry messages from friends or hostile, hateful, racist or sexist posts from your potential roommate, cross them off the list.
2. Check their criminal background
Search each applicant’s name and look for arrest records. Some states also have circuit court access websites available for your reference. People with common names are sometimes mixed up, so make sure you’re researching the right individual by cross-referencing details like photos and location.
If you find something questionable, you can reach out to the police department that made an arrest. They can offer clarification while still preserving privacy.
3. Do a financial check
Of all the questions to ask potential roommates, financial questions are among the most important. You’ll be paying bills with this person, so their bad credit and financial habits could affect you.
You can request a credit check from a potential roommate to make sure they have a solid payment history and ask about their job. Someone with a steady full-time job is likely more stable than someone who works sporadically or changes jobs frequently. You can ask for pay stubs as proof if you’re concerned.
Keep in mind that a potential roommate might have alternative sources of income, like alimony, savings, stipends and investments. Or, if they’re a student, they can typically get extra help via student loans or grants.
Other questions to ask potential roommates
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of candidates, it’s time to go a little deeper by discussing your personalities and habits to find the best fit.
Consider creating a rough outline of a roommate agreement and using it as a conversational guide. If you hit it off, you and your future roommate can edit it together before they move in.
1. Additional financial questions
You don’t have to be best friends to be successful roommates. But you do have to cooperate and be good financial partners.
Ask your roommate what they can spend on rent and utilities and how much they can contribute to the security deposit. Discuss how and when you’ll pay bills and what will happen if someone comes up short.
2. Chores and responsibilities
The bills aren’t the only thing you’ll be dividing — roommates need to split the chores, as well. Be honest about how often you plan to clean, which chores you’d like to handle and if you’re tidy or messy. If you’re on opposite sides of the spectrum, you could face an uphill battle.
Shopping, deep cleaning and other household management tasks like corresponding with your landlord also fall under this category. Hash out how you’ll allocate these tasks and figure out a system that will work for both of you.
3. Personalities and habits
An introvert and an extrovert can live together quite happily, as long as they establish ground rules. Figure out a communication style that works for both of you.
Little disagreements can cause big drama, so chat about seemingly insignificant things like how warm you like the apartment and what you consider a “normal” volume level before you move in. If your views on habits like drugs, alcohol and smoking don’t line up, that’s probably a deal-breaker.
4. Schedules
Get an idea of how often your potential roommate will be at home. A traveling sales rep has a very different schedule than someone who works and socializes on a laptop in their bedroom.
It’s also smart to talk about how they plan to use your joint living spaces. If they cook three-course dinners every evening, like to throw parties or plan movie marathons every weekend, find ways to make sure their activities don’t interfere with your at-home workout sessions or meditation time.
5. Personal relationships
How do you feel about friends and family members coming over or spending the night? What happens if you both want company at the same time? If they’re dating someone, discuss how often their partner will be in the apartment and expectations around what privacy will look like.
Pets are like family, so make sure you know the details about your potential roommate’s pets. Discuss how they’ll share the space with yours and brainstorm how you might split pet-related chores. If one of you is allergic to animals — or if pets aren’t allowed in the building — move on.
The best way to find a roommate
Once you’ve done your homework, it’s time to make your future roommate an offer. Eliminate anyone who gave you a bad feeling or people with whom you just didn’t click. Basic respect and good communication are the building blocks of a solid roommate partnership.
Figuring out how to find a roommate can be challenging. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Ask smart questions, leverage your personal networks and use tools available to help you find someone with similar goals who will be a good fit.
Source: rent.com