If you live in a big city where the cost of rent is extremely high, then you understand the necessity of a roommate. Living with another person cuts the costs of living expenses and creates an opportunity to offload some of the responsibilities of domestic living and adulthood. Finding someone to live with can be hard and takes time.
While you’re in the selection process, there are a few essential questions to ask to gauge if someone is roommate material.
What is your communication style?
Communication is key when it comes to any successful relationship. When looking for a roommate, it’s important to understand how they communicate. You need to identify if they are assertive communicators or more passive. You should also ask them best way to communicate when there is a conflict.
What are your boundaries?
One area of conflict common with roommates is a lack of boundaries. It’s important to set expectations about the lines that cannot be crossed. Set clear boundaries of what is and isn’t acceptable.
Have you ever paid bills late?
It’s important to know whether your potential roommate is a timely and diligent person. When looking for someone, ask about bills. Attempt to better understand the character and integrity that person.
How would you prefer to divide your expenses?
When you have roommates, you’ll need to figure out how bills will be paid. Will one roommate pay all expenses and each roommate refund their portion? Will each roommate be in charge of an account? Create a plan that makes sense for everyone.
What are your cleaning habits?
Cleaning and hygiene habits can be a huge source of contention with roommates. Talk about this early and address it directly. Ask them whether they are clean freaks or normally pretty messy. These questions are essential to ask to know whether this potential situation will be livable.
Do you have any pets?
If your potential roommate has a pet, then it’s important to know early on. This could be a deal breaker if you’re allergic to pets or don’t prefer them. If you are a pet lover, ask your potential roommate about their schedule for cleaning, feeding and walking them. It’s good to know the routine in advance because it’d be awful to end up with a roommate who does not take care of their pet.
What are your preferences for having guests over?
Some people love to have guests over all the time, while other people prefer solitude at home. It’s important to communicate preferences for having people over with a potential roommate. If guests come over, how much advance notice should you or your roommate give? What common areas will guests use and where will they sleep? Are any spaces or things off limits?
Have you ever had a roommate situation end poorly? If so, why?
It’s important to ask about previous living situations. If a potential roommate has left a living situation poorly, then it’s good for you to know, so that you can better understand their communication style and any quirks that might create future problems.