Roomates

Many people recommend having a roommate to try and make things affordable but it's not always easy to pick the right one(s). It's likely that when looking for a new place, you'll also need to look for a roommate. Whether you want to live with someone you've known since middle school or someone completely new, there are some things you need to consider. Living situations are worth what the people involved are willing to put into them. Whether or not you are happy in your living situation depends mainly on the people you live with. Remember to be open-minded and give some effort to making the situation work! This goes for roommates in the residence halls too where often roommates are assigned.

The best advice when looking for a roommate is to know yourself. This is not to say you should draw up a list with the traits you possess, rather you should at least have an idea of what sort of person you are, so that you know what to look for. If you're meeting a potential roommate for the first time, try doing it on neutral territory- that is, not in your living room or his/hers. That puts pressure on one person as the "intruder" and the other as the "host/ess". Instead, try meeting in the HUB or a local coffeehouse, so that you can see each other's personalities before tackling living habits.

Make sure and address the following:

Finances: Make sure that no one person will pay for the phone, newspaper, utilities, etc. If you're on a tight budget, it may be difficult to keep up with a more extravagant roommate.

Food and Chores: If you like doing dishes and your roommate likes vacuuming you may be able to strike a bargain. Another suggestion is to try keeping a rotating cleaning list to divide up chores. Also, keep in mind that you or your roommate may have strong dietary preferences, such as vegetarian, non-sugar, etc.

Dating/Guests: If you only want one roommate, make sure that you're not getting two.

Habits and Preferences: Attitudes toward smoking, drinking, drug use, etc. Personal preferences; religion, political, etc. And don't forget- study and social habits.

It's a good idea to enter into written agreements with your roommates specifying how all of these things will be handled. This could save you a great deal of headaches in the future. Click here to see our Sample Roommate Agreement, or download a pdf copy, and you're encouraged to add any other conditions that apply.

Don't just take any roommate. Compare personalities and living habits. Take the time to look and choose a roommate who really seems compatible with you. Remember, if you sign a lease, you may be sharing the same roof for months or even a year.