How to Find a Housemate

A good rapport with a housemate is crucial.

Soaring housing costs and a shaky economy have made house sharing increasingly attractive to those looking to save money. According to a 2009 article in the Economist, the online classifieds site Craigslist reported that "Roommate wanted" postings rose 60 percent in the San Francisco Bay Area over the past year. While economically practical, the wrong housemate may also add unwanted stress to your personal life. Finding an ideal housemate takes a bit of planning and consideration.

Instructions

1. Make a list of the qualities and personal habits you desire in a housemate. Be sure to distinguish between qualities you would merely like the housemate to have---enjoys the same television shows, likes to travel---and essential requirements regarding personal habits and cleanliness. Remember that no one is perfect, but if you are a vegetarian non-smoker, a chain-smoking carnivore will not be a good fit.

2. Ask friends, coworkers, relatives and college alumni whether they know of someone searching for a house share. Personal recommendations can function as built-in references and can lessen the discomfort some may feel about living with a complete stranger.

3. Draft an advertisement for a housemate. Be specific about your requirements, your personal habits, the room for rent and your neighborhood. Include the expected monetary contributions for Internet, utilities, cable or other additional expenses.

4. Take clear and accurate photos of the house, neighborhood and room for rent. If you offer additional perks such as a pool or an attractive deck, make sure to include pictures of these as well.

5. Post your ad on a reliable online classifieds site like Craigslist (see Resources below). Due to its popularity, Craigslist will likely yield a large pool of applicants. To narrow down the number of applicants, you may consider a roommate matching service such as roommates.com or roommateexpress.com (see Resources below), which will match you with potential housemates based on common interests.

6. Schedule an initial phone interview with potential housemates to discuss the house, their interests, and any additional questions you may have. Be direct and honest. If there are red flags during the conversation, move on.

7. Invite potential housemates for an in-person visit to your home. Ask a lot of questions and request employment references, as well as references from past housemates.

8. Draw up a written housemate contract that includes the monthly rent and other expenses, shared chores, a policy regarding guests and any other requirements you may have to ensure a smooth house share. A written agreement will protect you in the event the housemate does not work out.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not let a need to cut costs pressure you into accepting the first seemingly decent housemate that comes around. Interview several prospective housemates and do not be afraid to move on if someone rubs you the wrong way. A happy and comfortable living situation is essential for your well-being.

• Consider running a credit check or a background check on a prospective housemate. Log onto govpublicaccess.com for instructions on how to run a basic background check to verify legal and housing records of potential roommates. A complete search costs $34.95 as of 2010.

References

• The Economist: "Recession Roommates"
• MSN: "How to find a (reliable, sane) roommate"

Resources

• Roommates.com
• Roommate Express
• The Independent: "How to Find Your Perfect Flatmate"
• Craigslist