Moving out of your parents’ house and into your own apartment is very exciting. However, to save costs, you might need a roommate to help share expenses like rent and utilities.
Picking a roommate can be pretty difficult, especially if it’s your first time. This is why we came up with some handy tips for you as you face this new milestone in your life.
Hopefully, these tips will help make the process of looking for a roommate easier and prevent uncomfortable living situations.
Table of Contents
1. Just because you’re friends doesn’t mean you’ll be good roommates.
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You might enjoy hanging out with someone and you might get along, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a good time living together in a shared space. Although camaraderie is a green flag for a harmonious relationship, there are more factors to consider.
So before you sign that lease with a friend, get to know each other better first. Be acquainted with each other’s in-home habits and get to know your expectations in a roommate.
You can also consider looking through ads and social media or asking for referrals in looking for a roommate. Sometimes, it’s actually ideal to look for someone outside your immediate circle.
That way, if things don’t exactly work out, you won’t be losing a friend.
2. Don’t be afraid to go deep and ask questions.
Asking a lot of questions prior to deciding on becoming roommates can save you a lot of trouble. Inquire about each other’s lifestyles to see if you’re compatible and suited to live together.
Ask about each other’s schedules, drinking and smoking habits, possible guests, credit ratings, health concerns, etc.
Consider what your priorities are when choosing a roommate. Maybe you’re the type who can’t stand the smell of smoke, so you’d want a non-smoker roommate.
This is the time to ask each other questions regarding your concerns.
3. Talk about each other’s cleaning habits.
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One of the common issues among roommates arise from different cleaning habits. Different people have different ideas on what’s “clean”.
So before deciding to be roommates, be honest about your expectations and cleaning preferences. If you’re the type who likes keeping everything spotless all the time, it’s important to find someone who matches you.
If anything, you both have to be honest about your capabilities to pitch in with the household chores. This will prevent resentment between you.
If you think this will be a problem, you can also consider sharing the cost of cleaning services and professional organizers. You should also talk about how to go about with other parts of the house that need cleaning and maintenance.
The good thing is there are professionals like chimney cleaning services, air duct cleaning services, upholstery cleaning services, drain cleaning services, gutter cleaning services, vent cleaning services, and window cleaning services who can help make maintenance easier.
4. Inquire about finances.
It might seem intrusive but since you’re signing a lease together and will be bound by a contract, it’s important to talk about finances. Ask potential roommates if they’re employed or are supported by family and can contribute his or her half of the bills and rent each month.
It’s important to see if your living situation is sustainable. You can even go deeper and talk about debt and overall financial situation.
5. Good communication is key.
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Lastly, good communication is crucial to a good roommate relationship. Sharing an apartment or house together is a huge responsibility, so it’s very important to be able to talk freely.
You have to be both willing to discuss how to divide your responsibilities and learn how to deal with conflict.
Picking a roommate can be tricky especially if it’s your first time. We hope this guide helps you find your ideal roommate.
Do you have any more tips for picking roommates that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
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