Selecting a Roommate/Housemate

[NotCranky]

If it is for money, there are a lot of people who will take a room and bathroom without kitchen or common space priveleges, this is especially easy with a separate entrance for the renter. Maybe give them a small fridge and a microwave if they want it.

[UCGal]

I had roommates well into my 30’s. (Including in 2 houses I owned.)

My criteria – stable income, stable personality (no drama)… I didn’t care if their room was a disaster -but they had to keep common areas reasonably picked up.

Shared food/cooking or seperate food needs to be negotiated up front. For me, because of schedules etc – we usually did most meals separate… but weekends one or the other of us would cook.

I’m still friends with ALL of my former roommates. 2 of the roommates were housemates for multi-year stretches. My best friend was my roommate in the mid-80’s for 3 years, then she and her (now ex) husband moved in with me when they were building their house. The key is to establish expectations and communication. (The same could be said for marriage, lol.)

[UCGal]

I had roommates well into my 30’s. (Including in 2 houses I owned.)

My criteria – stable income, stable personality (no drama)… I didn’t care if their room was a disaster -but they had to keep common areas reasonably picked up.

Shared food/cooking or seperate food needs to be negotiated up front. For me, because of schedules etc – we usually did most meals separate… but weekends one or the other of us would cook.

I’m still friends with ALL of my former roommates. 2 of the roommates were housemates for multi-year stretches. My best friend was my roommate in the mid-80’s for 3 years, then she and her (now ex) husband moved in with me when they were building their house. The key is to establish expectations and communication. (The same could be said for marriage, lol.)

[UCGal]

I had roommates well into my 30’s. (Including in 2 houses I owned.)

My criteria – stable income, stable personality (no drama)… I didn’t care if their room was a disaster -but they had to keep common areas reasonably picked up.

Shared food/cooking or seperate food needs to be negotiated up front. For me, because of schedules etc – we usually did most meals separate… but weekends one or the other of us would cook.

I’m still friends with ALL of my former roommates. 2 of the roommates were housemates for multi-year stretches. My best friend was my roommate in the mid-80’s for 3 years, then she and her (now ex) husband moved in with me when they were building their house. The key is to establish expectations and communication. (The same could be said for marriage, lol.)

[UCGal]

I had roommates well into my 30’s. (Including in 2 houses I owned.)

My criteria – stable income, stable personality (no drama)… I didn’t care if their room was a disaster -but they had to keep common areas reasonably picked up.

Shared food/cooking or seperate food needs to be negotiated up front. For me, because of schedules etc – we usually did most meals separate… but weekends one or the other of us would cook.

I’m still friends with ALL of my former roommates. 2 of the roommates were housemates for multi-year stretches. My best friend was my roommate in the mid-80’s for 3 years, then she and her (now ex) husband moved in with me when they were building their house. The key is to establish expectations and communication. (The same could be said for marriage, lol.)

[UCGal]

I had roommates well into my 30’s. (Including in 2 houses I owned.)

My criteria – stable income, stable personality (no drama)… I didn’t care if their room was a disaster -but they had to keep common areas reasonably picked up.

Shared food/cooking or seperate food needs to be negotiated up front. For me, because of schedules etc – we usually did most meals separate… but weekends one or the other of us would cook.

I’m still friends with ALL of my former roommates. 2 of the roommates were housemates for multi-year stretches. My best friend was my roommate in the mid-80’s for 3 years, then she and her (now ex) husband moved in with me when they were building their house. The key is to establish expectations and communication. (The same could be said for marriage, lol.)

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[north park girl]

I have lots of experience with roommates, both as a renter moving into a house, and now as a homeowner. All in all, I’ve had a total of 11 different roommates in the last 3.5 years, and all have been pretty good situations. I tend to look for:

1. Have they lived with roommates before? It’s a very different dynamic than living by yourself and many who are used to living on their own are not used to sharing their space.

2. Photo of their previous living space. I’ve never done this but I read about it somewhere and it seems like a good idea. Gives you an idea of cleanliness, decor, how “lived in” their space is, a bit of their personality.

3. Why are they moving? Watch out for baggage (breaking up with a boyfriend of 10 years, like one woman I interviewed).

4. How much time do they spend at home? Do they watch a lot of TV or movies? Do they cook often?

5. Typical sleep hours, do they like playing music around the house or would rather want quiet? Are having guests over OK?

6. Cleanliness.

7. Smoking, drugs, alcohol.

7. Credit history, and possible references from previous roommates

Generally though, I just look for someone I feel I will get along with but isn’t going to be too needy or clingy.

[Hobie]

Better to be the 51% rent payer and write a contract covering everything. If it a big lease, then all should be named on it. Think about a utility and cleaning deposits.

[Hobie]

Better to be the 51% rent payer and write a contract covering everything. If it a big lease, then all should be named on it. Think about a utility and cleaning deposits.

[Hobie]

Better to be the 51% rent payer and write a contract covering everything. If it a big lease, then all should be named on it. Think about a utility and cleaning deposits.

[Hobie]

Better to be the 51% rent payer and write a contract covering everything. If it a big lease, then all should be named on it. Think about a utility and cleaning deposits.

[Author]

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