By Amy Nelson


You might still be in college, your rent is too high and you need to find a roommate. You might have other reasons why you should look for someone to share your rental or your own house with.

If you are looking for a roommate, it is a good idea to follow these easy guidelines to help make the process of selecting a roommate go smoothly. Following these guidelines can help you get a roommate that you will be happy with.

The first thing you should do is decide what the most important things you are looking for in a roommate. You will want to set priorities such as paying the rent on time, being respectful of you and the house, and keeping the house clean and these make these expectations clear to any potential roommates.

Emphasizing the importance of paying the rent on time is vital. In most cases this is the driving reason for finding a roommate so doing some research to see that your potential roommate can pay the rent is important.

During the interview, ask your prospective roommate about his job. Ask also about other sources of income. A roommate who lives on allowance from his parents might have a hard time making the payments so be thorough in your interview.

Ask also for references. You never really know if you're roommate is telling the truth so it's better to have a third person to corroborate his or her story.

It is also good to inquire about their living habits. If there is a way to check with a former landlord or roommate to see what kind of roommate or tenant they have been will be helpful. You don't want to come home to find your house a mess or worse.

If your roommate has pets, find out about them. His pet snake might just turn out to be your phobia. And last but not least, make sure your roommate does not have any bad habits like excessive drinking or doing drugs. The last thing you need is the police coming over to your apartment to search for your roommate.




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