Due to rising rent and housing prices, more and more Millennials find themselves living with a roommate. Although rooming with a great person can be so much fun, the wrong person can make life a nightmare. Hence, here are 12 questions you should ask your potential roommate before deciding if they will be a good fit.
1. How will you pay for rent?
Before making your decision, make sure they can prove that they will have some sort of income or payment and can be timely with rent. Another way of asking this is “Have you ever had any difficulty paying rent in the past?” It is important to address this before signing a lease and verify that they are financially reliable.
2. How long do you plan to stay?
Always check to make sure that their housing needs line up with yours. If you need a long-term roommate and they only want a place to crash for a couple of months, they may not make the best potential roomie.
3. Do you have any pets?
This question really matters if you are allergic to certain animals or if your housing complex’s rules do not allow pets. Also, meet the animal before you move in together.
4. Do you smoke?
Whether it’s marijuana or cigarettes, it’s always good to know about their smoking habits ahead of time. You should also share your smoking habits with this person, too. Just like the pet issue, this could end up being a deal-breaker if one person smokes and the other cannot stand it for health reasons.
5. How do you feel about sharing household duties?
Everyone’s definition of cleanliness differs. Share your habits and make sure you are on the same page of what needs to get done around the house. If their level of cleanliness does not match up with yours, see if they are willing to create a chores list and alternate who’s turn it is to do the dishes, take out the garbage, etc. The biggest fight between roommates more often than not is about cleaning.
7. What is your normal bedtime?
If you wake up every morning around 6:00 am for work, living with a bartender who comes in at 2:00 am may not work well. Or it could be the exact opposite and something you’re looking for if you want as much time as possible.
8. What do you do for fun?
This question will help you determine if you share any similar interests. Although you don’t need to love all of the same things, it does make it easier when there are some shared hobbies.
9. What do you like to do on the weekends?
More than likely, weekends will be the time that you both cohabitate the most, so it’s important to know about their habits in advance. For example, if they party and that isn’t your normal lifestyle, then it probably isn’t a match made in heaven.
10. Do you have any references?
Taking their word can only go so far. Therefore, it’s always good to get a second opinion and back up their stories.
11. What do you look for in a roommate?
This question helps you know what the other person is looking for in a roommate as well. It allows them a space to share their desires and cover any ground that you may not have with your other questions.
12. Is there anything else I should know?
I like to end on this question because it allows them time to address anything you didn’t cover yet.
It is important to meet with a potential roommate and sit down beforehand to avoid any future conflicts. Once you find someone you match well with, don’t forget to write out a roommate agreement entailing what you discussed in your conversation and leave space for you both to sign it.
Feature Image by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
