Offline Roommate Search

If you don't have unlimited access to a computer, your roommate search needn't be relegated solely to the Internet. Do it the old fashioned way: print ads in local newspapers, put flyers up on community bulletin boards, or even stick flyers to telephone poles around the neighborhood. You may be surprised at all the responses you receive!

Free or Paid Roommate Search

A roommate search doesn't have to cost you money. There is a plethora of free search material on the Internet. Some sites may let you search for free, but require you to sign up to view contact information. Other sites don't require sign up at all. Take a look at both free and pay sites to discover which type is most beneficial for your roommate search needs.

Roommate and Friend

A roommate search can feel like a major chore. However, you can make it more fun and productive by thinking of it as finding a friend. Look at your potential housemates as potential buddies. Try seeking someone with whom you have something in common or might want to hang out with outside the home. Be careful not to look for a romantic connection. Romance and roommates can be a volatile combination! However, a roommate with whom you truly enjoy living can vastly improve your quality of life.

Timely Decisions

Be polite when conducting your roommate search. Avoid being rude when turning a prospective roommate down. Once you've chosen a roommate, it's polite to notify all other applicants as quickly as possible so they continue to search for their roommate match. Try to make your decision in a timely manner. If you wait too long, your candidates may move on in search of other possibilities.

Find the Right Roommate

When searching for a roommate, one important thing to do is know whom you want to find. Think about your personality, schedule, and habits. Also consider pets and whether or not you can live with them. Be sure that the person who may be living with you will compliment your way of life, rather than disrupt it.

Know Your Preferences

Looking for a roommate isn't always fun, but in the end, it's worth your time and effort. To help your roommate search along, try to narrow down what you're looking for as much as possible. Make a list of specific characteristics and wants vs/ needs. Knowing what type of person, what type of housing, and the best area for you can be key to an efficient search.

Money Talks

When it comes to selecting a roommate, be careful to find a dependable contributor. Financial issues aren't fun to talk about, but are important when the rent is due. Don't be afraid to ask serious roommate candidates for references and proof of employment.
If you're uncomfortable asking about financial issues, here are some tips to help you open the lines of communication:
1). Clearly state when rent is due and set guidelines. For example, "Rent is due on the first of every month and I like to mail checks one week before. Will that be a problem for your pay schedule?"
2). "I would like to call references, if that's ok with you. Would you mind if I call you current employer?"
3). Before the interview, make a list of the monthly bills and what each person would pay. Be upfront with your candidate about the bills and show him/her the budget. Then ask, "This is a breakdown of the monthly bills and payment due dates. Does it seem reasonable to you?"

Talk About It

Everyone has different ideas about what's appropriate, and we don't always remember to share them. For instance, you may find the perfect roommate, and a few months later, she's moved her boyfriend in without asking! Three's a crowd in a tiny apartment, so be very specific about what sort of living arrangements you are comfortable with. Discuss these things openly, from the very beginning, to avoid sticky roommate situations later on.
Here are some talking point suggestions:
1). Be very clear on your schedule. If you're an early-riser and are required to be at work at an early hour, make sure your candidate knows your schedule.
2). Talk about their personal lives. Living together is a personal thing and can create a very close relationship, so be honest. If your boyfriend or best friend is over all time, tell your candidate and get their reaction. Then have an open dialogue conversation about their friends.
3). If you're a homebody, entertaining the idea of a party animal as a roommate might not suit your personality. Find out up front what your candidate likes to do in their spare time.

Internet Roommate Search

If you don't know how to begin your roommate search, start on the Internet. Finding a roommate via the World Wide Web can be the best way to go. There are many websites that allow you to post ads, read listings, and even access discussion forums about roommates. You can find real estate, rooms for rent, and potential roommates, without even leaving your room. You can make your criteria known and connect with people in virtually any location.
Word of caution: Like all Internet chat rooms and message boards, be careful about posting personal information.

Tidy Up

We all have different standards of living. Some people are clean, but disorganized; some are neat and tidy; and some will leave piles of dishes in the sink and candy wrappers on the floor. Even if you are living in a large space, be sure to consider and discuss these things with each potential roommate. If you are messy, let them know. If you want a meticulous cleaner, be sure to mention it. This short discussion will lead to a much more harmonious roommate relationship!

Timing is Everything

Finding a roommate is easier when you know exactly what you want. One aspect to consider is your timeframe. Are you looking for a long term or short-term arrangement? Do you want a month-to-month lease or a two-year lease? You may be in the position to offer any timeframe, or you may find it necessary to work with the time constraints of another. Either way, knowing what you want is the key to finding the perfect rooommate match. If you're advertising for a roommate, make sure to state in the ad the duration of time you're seeking from a roommate.

Roommate Conflict Resolution

Inevitably, moments are going to arise that are a bit awkward or tense, especially during the process of getting used to a new roommate. The trick is how you handle situations as they arise. Do you want your roommate to stick around a while, or do you want to drive them away? The following are two examples of situations that could arise and how you might handle them:

 

1) Roommate not doing his/her share of the housework.

 

If this starts to happen, rather than attacking the other person with complaints and demands, ask him or her how things are going. It could be that he or she has been working overtime, bringing work home, or are having other personal issues that have been keeping them preoccupied.  There’s no need to jump right into anger mode. Try to keep the topic light. By mentioning the fact that he or she has been too busy to pitch in with the housekeeping, your roommate might get the hint.

 

2) Loud Music

 

It’s not that you don’t like music, it’s that you don’t like your roommate blasting it at midnight when you have to get up to go to work or school the next day. Keep in mind that at night, when the television is off, none of the appliances are going, and the general hum of the day has quieted down, that music may seem a lot louder than it actually is. If it’s a one-time occurrence, you might choose to stick in some ear plugs and ignore it. However, if it becomes a habit, you’ll have to ask your roommate to keep the music down in the evenings. Suggest headphones for your roommate, or better yet, by him or her a pair!

 

 

When The Friend Of A Roommate Overstays His Or Her Welcome

Now that you’ve got a new roommate, you’ve got to expect that he or she will have visitors every once in a while. The problem between roommates doesn’t usually occur with the occasional visitation from a family member or friend, it usually escalates into a problem when it’s a boyfriend or girlfriend who begins to stay overnight more and more frequently until, all of a sudden, they’re just not going home.

 

You may not have a problem with that, and that’s great! However, your landlord could have a serious issue with having a third party living in the apartment.  With an extra roommate living on the premises, the landlord may have issues with insurance coverage, not to mention the fact that if you’re housing a third person who isn’t on the lease, you could find yourself facing eviction.

 

Defining when a visit becomes something more permanent is a bit difficult, but if your roommate's friend is leaving personal belongings and is staying overnight for up to a week at a time, on a regular basis, it might be time to have a conversation about it with your roommate. If you’re on a month-to-month lease, there could be the possibility of having a new lease drawn up at the end of the month, taking into account the third roommate. On the other hand, the landlord may not be agreeable at all in which case your roommate is going to have to put a stop to the overnight visits.

Tenant And Landlord Responsibilities

Sometimes people move into an apartment under the impression that the landlord is at their beck and call for every little thing that goes wrong. It’s true that the landlord has specific responsibilities, mostly related to your health and safety (smoke detectors, for example), however, the landlord isn’t necessarily responsible for repairing damages to furniture, household appliances that belong to you, or damages to the apartment caused by tenant neglect. In the state of Michigan, tenants (you and your roommate) are required to pay the rent on time, keep the rental property safe and sanitary, notify the landlord right away if any maintenance problems occur (heating unit fails, leaking, plumbing problems, etc.), exterminate insects if they appear after you and your roommate have moved in, and leave the apartment in good condition when you and your roommate move out.

 

Keep in mind that responsibilities can be modified within rental agreements, but tenants do carry a fair amount of responsibility for their behavior and actions as they impact on their rental environment. 

 

Just because you and your roommate have made a security deposit, doesn’t mean you won’t be charged for additional damages caused by neglect. Ultimately, an apartment is considered home to you and your roommate, but the property belongs to someone else, so treat it with care.

 

 

 

 

Apartment Insurance For You And Your Roommate

In the United States and Canada, most landlords require tenants to carry apartment insurance. Apartment insurance will cover your possessions in the event of a fire or water damages originating within the apartment, explosion, damage caused by vehicles, theft, vandalism, and a variety of other things depending on the insurance company, the type of apartment or condo, and the extent of the chosen insurance policy.

 

The landlord probably has insurance, but that only covers the building structure, not the personal belongings of you and your roommate. You and your roommate should take an inventory of all of your personal belongings (television, any electronic equipment including stereos, dvd players, etc.), your furniture, clothes, etc. Take a video camera and go through the apartment to get a snapshot of all that you and your roommate own. Keep the videotape in a safe place, preferably not in the apartment, so that you can access it to show the insurance company should a disaster happen. 

 

If you and your roommate are considering getting apartment insurance, you should know that there are a variety of things that will impact the cost of your premiums including where you live, your deductible, your insurance company, and whether you need any additional coverage. If you don’t already have apartment insurance, talk to your roommate about getting some. 

College Roommate Qualms

If you’re off to college or university for the first time, you might be a little concerned about your roommate match. Chances are, you were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about your study, sleep, eating, and personal habits that affect how you interact with another person. A good match will bring fewer conflicts, enhance your study space, and add to the quality of your life on campus. A bad match will leave you stressed and unable to enjoy the college experience. But don’t worry! There are things you can do to protect your interests without resorting to anything drastic. 

 

A lot of colleges require you and your roommate to draw up a signed contract that defines what you expect from each other in terms of guests, personal property, cleanliness, study habits, sleep habits, smoking, drinking, personal space, shared costs, etc. Students are then required to make a copy for each other (to be posted where it’s visible within the dorm room) and a copy submitted to the person in char