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Finding a Roommate

The best way to save money while in college or university is to find a roommate when renting a place. Sharing your living space with somebody, however, is a major decision you have to make. Otherwise, yours could be a decision disaster.

Consider that a roommate is not just a partner in paying the bills. It’s living and sharing common spaces with the person, bearing each other’s differences for a long period of time. It will take a lot of adjustments and could sometimes mean misunderstandings and compromises. It has its rewards though.

A college roommate could become your lifetime best friend and a buddy in times of crises. Your school life will surely be affected and influenced by each other’s presence.

Finding the Right Place

Before moving to a new renting place, estimate first how much you can afford to pay for the rent. This will help you decide how big your new place should be and the number of roommates you are going to have. As a student, you cannot afford to pay for what is not needed.

If you already know of someone (or some people) who agrees to share a rented place with you, it is practical that you search for a house together. You can also move together in one day.

To save more time and money when moving, browse MoveMeAway.com and check our database of moving companies that cater to students and get the best deal. These moving companies offer trucks for rent in case you want to self-move.

They also have student package deals in case you want to hire their professional services. Getting the best student rate deal with a trusted moving company will help you a lot in going to your new location.

Self-Check

Before searching for a college roommate, you have to look through yourself first and answer important questions. What do you want in a roommate? How many roommates do you need? What things can you compromise? What are your non-negotiable? How are you going to divide or pay the bills?

Open and friendly communication is an important in a successful room partnership. So, don’t be reticent to discuss how long are you going to let your roommate share space with you? For how long are you going to stay in college or university? What are your preferences in your living space? These are important questions that you must have ready answers before talking to a potential roommate.

Searching for the Roommate

In case you have no roommate yet, start your search in your own school. Check the school ad if there is a student looking for a place to stay. If none, make your own ad in your school paper. If you are staying off-campus, advertise in the local newspaper. Be precise in your advertisement. There are some schools that include roommate searching in their student services.

What to Look For in a Roommate(s)

You might be looking for an ideal roommate. You surely cannot meet one. It is good to base your roommate search on the realities that you are currently in.

Determine your financial status. Can you afford to pay a room of your own or you must share it with somebody else? Remember, your need for more privacy may be beyond what you can afford.

Know your potential roommate’s financial status. Your rental contract may specify joint accountabilities over the rent which means in case your roommate fails to pay his due, you will also be liable to pay for it. Inquire also how long the person intends to stay with you.

Discuss how your bills, supplies, foods and other household needs will be paid and shared. Confer how food preparation, buying of supplies and groceries will be done or scheduled. Talk about how and what appliances, furniture and other household items will be shared and provided by the occupants. How each room in the house must be used and maintained shall be discussed in details too.

Establish agreements regarding accepting visitors, holding of parties, and overnight guests as well as housekeeping routines and responsibilities. Feel free to talk about use of drugs, smoking, cleanliness, sleeping and studying hours, entertainment preferences (music, television, video games, etc.). It is good to discuss every detail of the household activities and amenities to avoid problems later.

Learn to compromise if necessary as long as it does not put you, your studies, your other roommates and the other residents around you at stake. Harmonious living shall also mean good relationships with your neighbors.

All agreements must be done in writing and signed by the occupants. Each roommate must be provided with a copy for easy review when needed.

Sharing a place with others is life-changing and fun. Open communication and learning to adjust with others are essential to a harmonious stay with your roommates for a period of time. The benefits could be lifetime.