Neatness Counts

Be honest with potential roommates about your level of housekeeping skill. Are you a Martha Stewart type or more carefree? If you're a neatnik, you may drive a messy roommate crazy and vice versa. Talk this out with your roomate before you move in. Though it's not necessary to choose a roommate who shares a love for your level of tidiness, doing so may make matters more comfortable. However, if you and your roommate are polar opposites when it comes to neatness, laying some simple ground rules may help to keep things tolerable. For example, you and your roommate may agree to keep one or two rooms neat and leave the rest of the rental looking lived-in.