Living with a roommate is easily one of the best ways to cut monthly expenses. Move-in with the right person, and they may even end up becoming your best friend. Sounds great, right? The only problem is, first, you need to find a roommate — and that process can be tricky. Below, The Station State College shares the best places to begin roommate hunting as well as a few questions to ensure potential roomies are a good fit.
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Friends
Many advise against the prospect of moving in with close friends, warning that the qualities you appreciate in a friend may not be the same as you expect of a roommate. Nonetheless, the right friend could make an awesome roommate. Not to mention, moving in with a pal allows new roommates to circumvent the initial awkwardness of the “getting to know you” phase.
Don’t have any friends who are looking to move anytime soon? That’s okay — ask them if they know somebody who is. You’d be surprised how many people know someone who’s looking to move. A little bit of networking can go a long way in the hunt for a roommate. Plus, having a mutual connection will help new roomies break the ice.
Social Media
Nowadays, most people have a wide variety of social media accounts. These accounts are excellent networking tools for finding new roommates. Either join an online roommate search group or post on your personal account that you’re searching for a roommate. Include in the post where you’re moving, how much you’re willing to pay, whether pets are okay, and any other preferences you may have. However, be sure to complete appropriate background checks and screening processes before moving in with anyone met online.
Questions To Ask Potential Roommates
Once you’ve discovered a few potential roommates, consider asking them some questions to ensure you’re compatible before signing a lease together. Some good questions to ask potential roommates are:
- Are you employed?
- Do you have transportation?
- Do you have any pets?
- How often do you clean?
- Do you smoke?
Questions such as these can help you weed out unfavorable roommates in the search for that perfect match. Also, when considering moving in with a complete stranger, ask them for references. An old landlord or an ex-roommate may give more honest, unbiased answers to questions than the candidate themself.
Roommate Matching
Here at The Station State College, we offer roommate matching services. This service lets soon-to-be residents of our Penn State apartments forego the lengthy, arduous hunting process for a suitable roommate. Instead, all one needs to do is fill out a comprehensive questionnaire about their lifestyle. From there, we match applicants who share similar interests, hobbies, and personalities. Contact us today to join our Penn State off campus housing community and skip the hassle of searching for a roommate!