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How to choose the right roommate

On Behalf of | Dec 30, 2019 | Real Estate Disputes |

Choosing someone to live with is a huge decision. It’s a person that lives in your personal space, and you’ll have to interact with daily. It makes sense that you want to make the right decision and find a good roommate for your living style.

However, how do you choose the right person? There are three steps that you can take to make sure you find a co-tenant that will make your apartment an escape from reality – instead of a living nightmare.

Decide what your deal-breakers are

Before you start interviewing or searching for another tenant, consider what your deal-breakers for a potential roommate are. For example, do you want:

  • Pet owners?
  • Smokers?
  • Party hosts?
  • Musicians?
  • Messy livers?

All these aspects could affect your daily routine, so make sure you aren’t bringing a roommate into your space that doesn’t share your values.

Know what to ask during the interviews

Sometimes, it’s challenging to know exactly what to ask when you are interviewing a potential roommate. There are a few basic questions that you can ask to get a good picture of the person.

For example, make sure to ask what they do for a living. If they have a consistent job, it shows they should be dependable for monthly rent and other bills. Also, make sure to ask about their recent living history and why they are looking for another apartment. Hopefully, they will give you an insight into how they are with roommates.

Conduct a background check

At the end of the interview, ask for some references from past roommates or landlords. You can contact them for information on their previous rental history. While you go through references, make sure to conduct a background check on their credit. You don’t want to regret not putting in the work before letting them move in.

Once you go through the basics, you should be able to find the right person for your space. However, there is a risk of a dispute, even with the perfect co-tenant. O’Brien Legal helps tenants when disputes get to the point of legal intervention.