If you’re looking for a roommate to share your rental home in Burlington, you may be thinking about how difficult it will be to get the appropriate person. After all, a roommate can significantly affect your home life. However, there are some things you can do to assist you in finding a roommate with whom you get along. You can find someone with the habits, values, and personality to be the best possible roommate for you if you follow these guidelines.
Start early. The most critical aspect of selecting an excellent roommate is to provide adequate time. If you’re in a rush, you’re more likely to make poor choices that will negatively affect your quality of life. If at all doable, begin looking for a roommate long before you need to move in.
Ask your friends. While living with a friend may not be the best option, you should ask people you know if they know anyone looking for a roommate. Someone you’ve been recommended by a friend, coworker, or family member could be a roommate with whom you’ll get along smoothly because you both know and enjoy the same people.
Use social media. Use social media to publicize your search for a roommate. You can quickly create posts describing your circumstance and the type of person you seek. Additionally, social media allows you to broaden your reach beyond your immediate location. You might meet your new roommate when they relocate to your town from another place.
Do multiple interviews. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of candidates, make sure to interview them multiple times. Prepare a list of questions to ask them, and then follow up with the ones you liked most after your first round of interviews. Be sure to inquire about their employment and earnings. It may be unpleasant, but you must be aware of these facts. This enables you to gain a deeper understanding of each applicant and their ability to meet your criteria.
Know your deal-breakers. It’s also crucial to know what you won’t put up with in a roommate. These “deal-breakers” are things that would make living with them intolerable. While everyone’s deal-breakers are unique, recognizing yours makes it easier to screen out those who are not a good fit (and communicate them to your potential roommate). You shouldn’t lose your security deposit just because you got a bad roommate.
Ask for references. It’s always a good idea to request many references from your prospective roommate – and to contact them. If the applicant is unable to provide any names, or if all of their references are family members, these are red flags to be aware of. As you speak with each reference, ask questions that will help you gain a better understanding of the applicant’s character and how they behave at home. When applying for a rental through RPM Sterling, they will have to go through our screening procedure. This involves contacting previous landlords to ask about prior tenant conduct.
Be upfront about costs and expectations. It’s important to be open and honest about your expectations and arrangements when interviewing potential roommates. This includes things like how much rent the roommate is expected to pay, how and when payments are due, whether utilities are included and how much they cost, and so on.
Put everything in writing. Finally, any roommate agreement must be written down. A written, signed document will serve as a useful reference for both of you and will also come in handy if any future problems develop. Make your written agreement as explicit and detailed as possible to your particular arrangement. All potential roommates should apply via our website if they are in a landlord-tenant arrangement. Otherwise, this might be a case of an unauthorized tenant, which could lead to your leases being terminated.
Are you in the market for a new rental home? Real Property Management Sterling has an inventory of great listings that update regularly. Contact us or browse available properties online.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
