Find a Roommate Match in College
Compatibility, Dependability and Safety Part of the Housemate Search
Jun 19, 2008
Learn more about finding a roommate match in college. Moving away from home can be traumatic enough without worrying about how to find a roommate. If one person is uncomfortable with other roommates having overnight guests, this needs to be discussed upfront. Finding a college roommate who thinks doing dishes means washing them, drying them and putting them away right after meals is priceless. Getting stuck with a roommate match who thinks its OK to let dishes fill the sink to overflowing could be a problem. Some helpful tips to use in a roommate search include looking at things in common and gauging dependability, and personal safety tips and college roommate finder services information.
What to Look for in a Roommate Match: Compatibility
Compatibility is an important part of a good roommate match. Meat lovers and vegans don’t always get along in the kitchen. Finding a college roommate who loves to curl up by the fire and read while the other roommates like to entertain frequently will not make for a good living situation. Thoughts on cats, dogs, snakes and other pets, smoking and non-smoking rules should be clear in any advertisement placed with a college roommate finder or roommate match service.
Find a Roommate Match Based on Dependability
Running a credit report can offer a lot of useful information about a potential roommate match. Find a roommate that has a good credit history to avoid potential problems with receiving their share of the rent on time each month. In addition, look online for information on websites like MySpace and Facebook to learn a little more about a prospective roommate match’s background.
The local Clerk of Courts office can also provide information about arrest history (if applicable). A current resume can also offer detail about work history and insights into the dependability of any potential roommate match.
Personal Safety Tips to Use in Roommate Searches
In addition to fleshing out compatibility and reviewing financial histories, it’s important to stay safe when conducting a roommate search. Ask to meet in a public place for the first meeting and request that potential roommates bring ID. Contact applicants’ current and past landlords for more information about rental history during the roommate search. Request a receipt for the deposit and the first month’s rent. All parties who will live together should sign the rental lease agreement.
Roommate Match Services and College Roommate Finders
Roommate match services, college roommate finders and roommate search services offer people the opportunity to browse profiles of hopeful roommate candidates online. Users can find prospective roommates and determine if they’re compatible before contacting them about setting up house. Roommate match services and college roommate finders let users keep their personal information private until they find a roommate match.
The roommate search services let users search on variables including location, rent, age, sex, move-in date, pets, smoking preference and more personal criterion, like sexual preference and compatibility. College roommate finder services also allow users to search for people who already have an apartment and need someone to move in.
Roommate Search Tips
In addition to using compatibility, background checks, safety tips or utilizing roommate search services, it's important to use common sense when conducting a roommate search. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't; and no one should feel like they were "stuck" with living with someone else. Planning ahead and starting the roommate search early can help avoid problems down the road.
Get more helpful hints to use in college including finding internship opportunities and cheap students’ car insurance.
