You might be wondering how difficult it will be to find the right roommate to share your Corpus Christi rental home with. After all, a roommate has the potential to make or break your home life. However, there are steps you may take to aid in your search for a compatible roommate. 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. Giving yourself enough time is the most critical aspect of choosing a fantastic roommate. When you’re in a rush, you’re more likely to make poor judgments that will negatively affect your quality of life. If at all feasible, begin looking for a roommate far before you require one.
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 may be a roommate with whom you’ll get along nicely because you know and enjoy the same people.
Use social media. Use social media to publicize your search for a roommate. You can quickly create articles that describe your circumstance and the type of person you want to connect with. You can also use social media to better reach out to people outside of your immediate neighborhood. It’s possible that you’ll meet your new roommate when they relocate to your town from another city.
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 when you’ve completed your first round of interviews, follow up with the ones you like the best. Be sure to inquire about their employment and earnings. You should know these things, even if it feels awkward. This will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of each applicant and how well they could fulfill your requirements.
Know your deal-breakers. It’s also crucial to know what you won’t put up with in a roommate. These are the “deal-breakers” that would make living with this individual miserable. While everyone’s deal-breakers are different, recognizing yours will help you quickly eliminate those who aren’t 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 get multiple references from your possible roommate — and then follow up with 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. Ask questions that will help you grasp who the applicant is and how they behave at home when you chat with each reference. When applying for a rental through RPM Shoreline, we check landlord references to see if there have been any previous tenant issues. This is part of our standard screening process.
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 arrangement must be documented. A written, signed document will serve as a useful reference for both of you in the future, as well as in the event of any disagreements. Make your written agreement as explicit and detailed as possible to your particular situation. All potential roommates should apply via our website if they are in a landlord-tenant arrangement. Otherwise, you may have an unauthorized tenant, which could result in your contracts being terminated.
Are you in the market for a new rental home? Real Property Management Shoreline 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.
