Roommate Basics
How do I know I'm ready to share my space with someone else?
You have to do a lot of self-analysing. If you're really nitpicky about a lot of things, you need to reconsider thinking about getting a room-mate. You have to approach it with a sense of humor, a lot of humor - and know yourself. Know that if you're going to go ballistic if they leave breadcrumbs on the breadboard, that this is just not for you. It's not for everybody.
Why do most people choose to have roommates?
You need to always think that this is a business arrangement, first. Don't pick anyone that just comes wandering in with money for a deposit. It's a business. You don't hire the first secretary that applies for the job for secretary. You do a lot of checking. You do the same thing with the roommate. Then, if you become friends, that's even better.
What should I consider before making the decision to share a living space?
You need to understand what's important for you. Do you like a lot of privacy? Are you outgoing? Friendly? Are you a real intovert? Are you neat freak? Dramatic? I'm seeing a lot of ads with no drama. You need to self analyze yourself before you decide to do this. That's the first step - you analyze what you are, and specifically what kind of person you are. Could you live with somebody? It's like being married without sex. You're in a close relationship when you have a roomate, so there's a lot to consider.
Is moving in with a friend a good idea?
I am not sure if moving in with a friend is a good idea at all. I'm not saying it doesn't work, but from what I've seen, at least 95% of the time it doesn't, and the friendship becomes toast. You don't want that. Start with a stranger - there's a method to do that. You can then have a new friend and keep the old one. I think friends take advantage of each other - definitely. I know they do.
How long can I expect my roommate search to last?
That is a hard question to answer. It depends on how many people are offering rooms at the time you're offering a room, the area, and the time of the year. I usually start about a month ahead of time if I know I'm going to have a roommate leaving. I try to post an advertisement at least two weeks before she leaves. it gives me a pretty good idea on how much feedback I'm getting from my ad.
Is it easier to find roommates at certain times of the year?
It depends on where you live. If you live by the beach, for instance, you're going to get a lot of applicants who want to live at your house just for the summer. Are you looking for a temporary roommate, or a long-term roommate? Also, you don't want to advertise for a room around the holidays, especially Christmas and New Year - people don't want to move during that time of the year. Generally, for the rest of the year they're pretty serious, and you get a lot of students during certain times of the year. For instance, just before the school semester starts, like in August, or in January before the spring semester starts, you get a lot more people answering your ads. I haven't noticed that big a difference during the whole year.
How far in advance should I start looking for a roommate?
Two to three weeks before your room becomes available. Again, it depends on what you are offering, and what time of the year it is. As I mentioned before, if it's between semesters, that's good; if it's during the middle of a semester, you probably won't get a lot of students wanting a room. Unless they've had a horrible fight with a previous roommate, and they need to move - that's always a possibility too. I would say 2 to 3 weeks.
