When choosing a roommate you want to be sure that the person you choose is someone that you can live with in relative harmony and peace. No doubt there are going to be some challenges, but if you are the type of person who doesn't shy away from new experiences, having a roommate can actually be a rewarding and exciting experience. The following is some helpful advice that can help your roommate search be a great deal less intimidating and will help you find the perfect roommate.
Create a Listing that Works (5 Things to Include)
One of the first things you need to do when you are looking for a roommate is to create a roommate ad that works. The first thing that potential roommates are going to see is your listing, and you want it to be informative, attractive, and professional. At iHomeConnect.com, you can easily create your own listing which thousands of people will be able to view. If you want a listing that really works, the following are some essential things to include:
- Amount of Rent and Required Security Deposit
First of all you need to give the amount of rent and the required security deposit in the listing you make. If no rent is listed, more than likely people will assume that the price will be out of reach and they may never respond. Be sure to let readers know if the rent is paid on a monthly or weekly basis, the amount you expect for a security deposit, and if there are other expenses required, such as high-speed Internet or cable TV, or if the rent is all inclusive.- Location and Type of Residence
You will also want to provide your location and the type of residence in your listing as well. If you don't feel comfortable with giving out your exact address, list the cross streets, town and state. Also be sure to specify whether your residence is a condo, apartment, or a house. Include some information about the benefits as well, such as beautiful views or having cable TV.- Number of Roommates
Most people will want to know how many people they will be living with, so include the number of roommates. Some people may want to live in a small household, while others may enjoy living with more people. Letting viewers know the number of roommates will definitely help with the screening process and will improve your chances of finding a roommate that works.- Top Traits
When you are creating your listing you will also want to list a few of the top traits that you desire in your roommate. Maybe you prefer a smoker, a specific gender, someone who does not drink, or a person with no pets. Making the traits clear in your listing will help you weed out people who would not be a good fit.- Local Information
You should also mention some of the highlights and attractions that are nearby, such as a college campus, restaurants, clubs, shopping malls... you get the picture. Local amenities are often a deciding factor when someone is looking for a room for rent.
The First Email
Once you have posted your roommate listing, you will begin to get a variety of replies. You will not want to take the time to personally interview every person who replies to your roommate ad, so crafting a specific response to potential roommate inquiries will help you initially weed out people who will not be compatible. The goal of the first few emails is for you to find out more information about the person before making a decision to interview them.
When replying to a potential roommate, your tone should be polite and professional. Watch your grammar, as bad grammer and typos can negatively affect what type of roommate you'll end up with. You should come up with four to five routine questions that you ask everyone who you reply to. Craft you questions wisely, because your choice of questions will also have an impact on your final decision. Assuming that you have already specified your personality traits and roommate preferences in your free iHomeConnect.com roommate ad, the following are a few questions you may want to include in your replies:
- Have you lived with a roommate in the past?
- Are you currently employed, and what is your occupation?
- What types of music/movies do you enjoy?
- How would you describe yourself?
- What do you expect from a roommate?
- What are your pet peeves?
Determining Compatibility with an Interview
After reading the responses to your emails, you will probably have a good idea of who you actually want to interview. While you may be tempted to go with one of the first few people you interview, make sure that you interview a variety of people before you make your final decision. The interview is extremely important because this is the point when you get to see how your potential roommate behaves in person. When conduction an interview, it is usually best that you meet somewhere public, other than your home, for the very first time. A coffee shop, bistro, or small restaurant are great places for the first interview.
When you are interviewing prospective roommates, there are a variety of things that you want to learn about them from the interview. First of all, you want to get a good idea of who they are. Ask about their background, where and how they were raise, their education, and what type of employment they are involved in. Also, be sure to find out their likes and dislikes, such as whether they like to drink, smoke, have (or desire to have) pets, and what music they enjoy listening to (and whether they enjoy it LOUD). There is nothing worse than a roommate who loves to blast the stereo at night when you're trying to concentrate on something or sleep. Be sure to find out if they have a boyfriend or girlfriend, friends and family, and whether they are considering having them stay over.
Finding out about the boyfriend of girlfriend is definitely an important matter, as I discovered in my own experience. There is nothing worse than waking up in your own place and walking out to kitchen to make the coffee, only to be greeted by a strange man in boxers eating up the rest of the contents of your box of Lucky Charms. Talk about a rude awakening. So, always, always, ask about a significant other.
An important thing to find out when interviewing your prospective roommate is their sleeping habits . Find out if they are a morning person or a night owl before you make your decision. Other things to ask about in the interview include privacy, neatness, meals, utilities, cleaning, hobbies, and entertaining friends. Remember this, though, that while asking questions and getting to know the person is important, you want it to be a comfortable and relaxed interview so you can truly get to know their personality. If the initial interview goes well, then you may want to show them the room that you are renting out, which may give you more hints as to whether or not this person will make a great roommate.
Potential Problem Areas - How to Spot Them Before They Become Reality
Finding a new roommate is an exciting, new experience. However, the newness and excitement can cloud our judgement, and if you're not on the lookout, can cause you some serious grief. The following are some potential problem areas and how to spot them so you don't get stuck with a roommate that you just can't stand.
Potential Problem #1 - Late Rent Payment
One of the worst potential problems that can occur is a roommate that always pays the rent late, or even worse, never pays it. You can actually spot this type of a problem early by doing a credit check on prospective roommates and checking out any previous rental history. If they have a credit report showing various late payments or previous landlords had a problem with them always paying the rent late, you will probably want to scratch this person off as a roommate.
Potential Problem #2 - A Messy Roommate
A messy roommate can cause a potential problem as well. Although you probably will not be checking their room for dust with a white glove, you will want to make sure that they are clean and that they keep things clean and looking nice. You can spot a very messy or unclean person by taking a good look at their appearance. Are their clothes neat and clean, or frumpy and dirty? Have they taken care with their appearance, are their nails neat, and do they smell like they have recently showered?
Living with a messy roommate is not something desirable, and this is something that I can attest to from personal experience. Not recognizing some of the warning signs early on, I once ended up with a roommate that hated all things clean and loved everything nasty. Laundry was a word that she was unfamiliar with and walking into her bathroom was liking walking into something out of my nightmares. Even the spiders and ants couldn’t take it anymore, moving out with little suitcases saying, “We can’t live like this anymore!” Okay, so a bit of exaggeration, but if I would have been a spider, I would have moved out. Catching that problem before it developed would have saved me a great deal of problems in the long run!
Potential Problem #3 - Alcohol
Another prospective problem is a roommate that has a drinking problem. While drinking the occasional alcoholic beverage may be okay with you, you probably do not want a drunk roommate who is bringing home a different person every night. Check out how they act when you are out at a restaurant for your interview. Do they have just one or two drinks, or are they on first name basis with the bartender and throwing back another drink every few minutes?
Potential Problem #4 - No Respect
When you are cohabitating with a roommate, one of the most important things going for you both is respect. Someone who disrespects you (or your roommates) will cause disaster, and you need to try and detect if they are disrespectful from the moment they reply to your roommate ad. Observe the way the prospective roommate treats the wait staff at a restaurant and how they treat you when you first meet them. Do they look you in the eye when talking to you or the waiter? Do they leave a tip (and if so, is it an appropriate amount)? Any signs of disrespect should be an immediate red flag to avoid having this person as a roommate.
Remember, choosing a roommate is an important decision, and not one that you should take lightly. Creating a detailed roommate listing, fielding applicants with introductory emails, determining compatibility with an interview, and keeping an eye out for potential problem areas can help you find an awesome roommate! Keep these important things in mind, and you may even be lucky enough to find a roommate that you can one day call your best friend.
Joy Burgess lives in Florida. She has had many an experience with with roommates and landlords. She has participated in various charity efforts, including volunteer work at a local hospital ER, Relay for Life, Dog Walk for the American Heart Association, and local church events.
