FINDING A ROOMMATE
Many of us can’t wait to get away from sharing our living space with someone as soon as those college dorm days are over. Unfortunately though, it isn’t
always feasible to make that immediate leap to solo living. There are just too many practical advantages to living with a roommate-- lower
rent, split utility bills, as well as the sheer fun of getting to know another person. So if you find you have to suck it up and share your
digs with another, here are some tips to make the search a lot less frightening.
1. Don't necessarily live with your best friend
You've known her since high school, and the two of you have always had a blast hanging out together. She already knows everything about you
– so wouldn’t she make the perfect roommate? Well … maybe. But don't fall into the trap of just assuming that things with your best friend
won't change once you share the same roof. The honest truth is that sometimes you won't be able to stand the way she leaves her dirty
dishes piled up on the kitchen countertop for a week, or eats those yummy leftovers you were saving for lunch tomorrow, or sleeps until noon
every single weekend. The things you love about her as a friend might – and probably will – start to grate on your nerves when she's living
with you.
2. Don't be afraid to put out an ad, or answer a roommate wanted ad
Put aside your Single White Female-esque fears and go ahead and pick up the want ads. This is one of the best places to place a roommate
ad, or to search for an open room. You immediately get all the pertinent information (price, utilities, and what the other person is
seeking) without having to do a whole lot of sleuthing. However, be warned that in today's low vacancy world there will be scads of people
calling this person, wanting that place just as much as you do. So be prepared for some disappointment, and...
3. Start searching early!
I can't stress this one enough. This is probably because I just endured 2 long months of helping my boyfriend find a roommate. He looked at
apartment after apartment, talked to one potential roomie after another, until finally finding a place, a mere three weeks before he needed
to move. If you know you need to vacate by a certain date, be sure to start looking for a place to move to a couple months in advance.
Some popular resources to search for potential roommates include: the classifieds, your favorite coffee shop, bookstore, or other hangout,
which will likely have a bulletin board for you to check out or post on. The plus side to this method is that you know you're meeting
someone who likes the same places you do.
4. Network, network, network
Word of mouth can be a very handy tool when it comes to the roommate search. I once was pontificating on the bus to a friend of mine about
possibly moving out, when a girl in front of us whipped around, and inquired, "Are you looking for a roommate?!" She then proceeded to
give me her name and number, just in case. The truth of the matter is, there are tons of people out there seeking roommates or who have a
place to rent. You never know if a friend of a friend of a friend might be the perfect roommate. So make sure to "casually" mention to all
your friends that you're looking and if they hear anything, to let you know.
5. Be specific, but open-minded
Once you find some ads that look promising, or decide to place an ad yourself, you’ll need to determine what roommate qualities are most
important to you. But don't go overboard. Case in point: One of the listings I saw when I was helping my boyfriend with his housing search
mentioned a website in their ad, where the current tenants had laid out what they were looking for in potential roommates. Cool idea … in
principle. However, their list of requisites specifically called for a guy who lacked a steady girlfriend, would adhere to a chores list,
was straight, and oddly enough, liked South Park. While it's good to state that you want a female, non-smoking, quiet person, it can get
extreme if you'll only speak to people who understand the genius of Cartman. Keep this in mind when you place an ad-- more qualifications
equals fewer phone calls. And besides, it's no fun having a roommate who's an exact replica of you. Really.
6. Use your creativity
Although the South Park guys were a little off with their specifications list, they did have one thing right: creativity. By creating a
website, they immediately drew more people to their place, by setting their ad apart from all the others... definitely a good thing. So
feel free to get a little wild. Get out the magic markers and glitter, and make some pretty flyers to hang up around town. Use your
digital camera to take snapshots of your place and post them on the Internet. Describe yourself in a fun, conversational way in your ads
and you're likely to get more calls, and from people who are obviously drawn to your personality
7. Feel free to follow your gut
This is hugely important when you start meeting potential roomies. There are some people you just know you'll get along with, and others
who are, well, creepy. Now, I’ve been on both sides of the roommate search. Last year I was looking for a place to live; this year I had
to find someone to live in my place. Both times I went with the very first person I met. Not because I was lazy or didn't care, but
because it just seemed right to me. You'll have a good suspicion when a situation will work out, and you'll for sure know when it won't.
The girl I just found to move in to my place had been having a horrible time finding a roommate. She’d met guys whose decor of choice were
Star Wars action figures, girls who wouldn't talk, and one psycho who oh-so-casually mentioned his excitement about sleeping with her.
Seriously. There are some real wackos out there, so be careful. Trust your instincts-- it's far better to keep searching than to end up
living somewhere you won't be comfortable.
8. Be prepared
Interviewing a roommate is pretty much like conducting any other kind of interview. You have to be prepared to answer some strange
questions, and ask a few of your own. It's good to know beforehand what the deal breakers will be. Get them out right away so you save
yourself the pain of finding out later that your roommate is nocturnal or drinks out of the milk carton. Also, be prepared to spill your
guts about your own personal quirks. If you’re showing your place to someone, be sure to know the basics of the apartment. What do
utilities cost? What kind of amenities does the building have? What's the landlord like? Is there parking? You should know these things
already, but have some telephone numbers on hand (the landlord's especially), in case you discover someone has some special questions you
simply can't answer.
9. Put your best face forward
I know this sounds like something Mom would say, but it's very important. Be polite, friendly, and open and people will respond positively
to you. If you're hunting for a place, you'll most likely be competing with lots of other people. So dress nicely, don't be too shy, and
sell yourself! You want him or her to decide that you – and not that guy who they interviewed yesterday -- are the right person for the
place.
10. Have fun!
Searching for a roommate can be stressful, but it can also be a lot of fun. You get to meet a lot of new, interesting people, and
hopefully, connect with someone you'll be friends with for a long time. So just go with the flow, and you'll find yourself with the
(almost) perfect roomie in no time
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