If you have decided to rent out a room in your apartment or house, then the goal is to find a good roommate that you’ll get along with and won’t give you any trouble. It would be nice if every roommate could be as fun as the ones on Friends. Actually, with a little due diligence on your part you might be able to find your own version of Chandler or Rachel! Here’s what you need to do to find a good roommate.
Ask Your Friends
Just as you would ask your friends for recommendations for a doctor or a plumber, you should also ask them about a potential roommate. They may know of a coworker or someone in their family that is looking for a place to stay. It’s much better to get a recommendation from someone you know then looking for a total stranger.
Conduct Multiple Interviews
Obviously, you’re going to meet your prospective roommate in person and show them the space they will be moving into. Before you settle on a final pick, you might want to conduct multiple interviews of your leading candidates. This will let you get to know them a little bit better and to find out if there are any “red flags.”
Don’t Hold Back Asking Important Questions
Picking a roommate is not unlike setting up an online dating profile. You’re going to want to share all your likes and dislikes. At least with dating, if something doesn’t go right you can always end the relationship. That’s not the case with the roommate. That’s why you want to do as much prescreening as possible asking them about everything from smoking to drinking habits. Always remember, you are inviting this person into your home that will become their home. But it doesn’t mean they need to take over.
It is also important to ask them about their work and living history, as well. If you find out that they have moved from job to job and from place to place, then this might not be someone who is ready to make a commitment.
Be Clear About the Costs
You are already know exactly what you’re paying in terms of rent and bills. The reason for taking on a roommate is to cut those costs in half. You should let that prospective roommate know up front exactly what they’ll be expected to pay and when those bills are due. This is where finding out about a steady job is vital.
Give Them a Clean Space
Once you’ve settled on the roommate you want to make sure that they have a clean space to move into. That I require you clearing out some of the clutter you have in storage in the spare room a closet. This is the perfect job for Junk King Phoenix. These are the junk removal professionals who won’t have a problem climbing stairs or hauling away heavy objects. You just tell Junk King what you want gone and consider it gone.
Find out everything you can about your prospective roommate will make sure you make the right choice.