Finding the right roommate can ease the burden of living costs and provide companionship, but choosing the wrong one can be disastrous. Advertise for a roommate in places that interest you, indicate preferences in your ad, interview potential roommates, and trust your instincts.
Having a good roommate can help ease the burden of rising cost of living, as well as provide companionship. However, choosing the wrong roommate can spell disaster. While finding the right roommate isn’t a foolproof process, there are steps you can take to increase the likelihood that a roommate will fit your lifestyle.
The first thing to do is advertise that you are looking for a flatmate. To increase the chances that the respondent is compatible with you, post flyers or classifieds in the places that interest you. For example, if you are a church goer, you can advertise on a church bulletin board. It is likely that the respondent will have similar interests and values.
You should also decide when advertising for a roommate whether you have preferences for gender, smoking, alcohol, pets, and so on. Indicate these preferences in your ad or flyer. You might say ‘a male roommate is desired; don’t smoke, cat OK’. Also indicate the amount of money you expect for your roommate’s share of the rent. Making these considerations in advance will avoid having to eliminate roommates who may be undesirable for you.
Once you’ve advertised that you’re looking for a roommate, you need to interview respondents. First, try to make sure that the potential roommate is responsible and able to pay rent consistently and on time. Ask questions about the person’s job and whether or not they like it. You can also run credit checks and request references from friends, employers or family members, and previous owners.
Explain your preferences and lifestyle to your potential roommate. Tell the person if you like being left alone or if you enjoy lots of company. Make sure you and your roommate are able to compromise and agree on some house rules before you start living together. If you find that you can’t match right away, it most likely won’t work in the future.
Finally, when choosing a roommate, it’s good to trust your instincts. First impressions say a lot about how well you and another person get along. If you are not a good judge of character, as some people are not, you may have a close friend or family member who knows you well to help you make the decision.
It’s a good idea to interview a lot of people rather than making a hasty decision. If you pick the first or second person you interview, you could be missing out on someone who would be more compatible with your lifestyle. When choosing a roommate, it’s important that you and the person share similar interests, schedules, and values. The saying that “opposites attract” is not true for two people sharing a living space.
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