Choosing the Right Roommate

The cost of living is sometimes a burden, but there are many things that can help offset the cost – one of these being a roommate. A good roommate can not only provide companionship but can also share in monthly costs like rent, utilities, Internet and cable, and more. If you’re a student at a university, a roommate can also provide a familiar friend and even a study buddy.

There are plenty of websites available today offering roommate finder services and depending on your requirements, you can easily find someone who can be the other pea in the pod and won’t be an obstacle to your lifestyle.

Make a list of everything you want in a roommate. Perhaps the most important decision is gender – are you comfortable living with someone that’s a member of the opposite sex, or would you rather have someone who is the same gender as you? To avoid these issues, think about how someone from the opposite gender could affect your current household, in terms of existing roommates, varied lifestyles, personalities, certain gender-oriented characteristics. The age of your roommate should be another point of consideration. People of different ages hold different viewpoints, interests and living patterns.

Take pet keeping consideration, you might have a pet dog, but certain people have allergies to dogs. Same goes to smoking and drinking habits. You don’t want any arguments after all the living arrangements are made.

When searching for a tenant, be clear on how long her or she will stay. Some rentals are provided on an annual basis, while others are just monthly or weekly. Clarifying such issues and binding the agreement on paper are essential if you are to have a good relationship with your roommates. Make sure he/she is trustworthy; you don’t want to argue later due to lost or missing belongings. You can also perform credit checks and request references from friends, employers or family, and previous landlords.

The visiting hours and number of guests should also be discussed. Do you enjoy entertaining on a regular basis, or are you more into a laid-back scene? It’s a matter of deciding whether you prefer a busy home where people are continuously walking in and out or a quieter living environment.

Do your roommate search by using all of this as practical guidelines. Visit the web and utilize a free roommate search facility or roommate finder service to ensure you find just the right roommate. Here are a few sites that can help in that matter:

Easy Roommate (http://www.easyroommate.com) – This site allows you to search in two different ways – if you NEED a roommate to live with, or if you have a room but are looking for a roommate to share your space. The site requires you to create a profile, then you can search through thousands of possible options.

GetARoomie (http://www.getaroomie.com) – This is another good site to use. You can create a profile, add photos of you or the apartment, and list the qualities you’re looking for in a roommate. Then, possible tenants can email you if they fit your qualifications.

Roommates.com (http://www.roommates.com) – Known as the most popular online roommate search, Roommates.com will match your interests and needs with a roommate that will fit you – similar to an online dating site.

This article was provided on behalf of an Iowa apartment community that strives to help individuals find Pleasant Hill Iowa apartments and Grimes Iowa apartments to best suit their needs.