3 Essential Questions to Ask Potential Roommates for Compatibility
Finding the perfect roommate can be a challenging task, but asking the right questions can make all the difference. This article presents essential inquiries to help you assess compatibility with potential roommates, covering crucial areas such as daily habits, shared expenses, and planning for possible departures. Drawing on insights from experts in the field, these questions will guide you towards making an informed decision and fostering a harmonious living arrangement.
- Assess Daily Habits for Compatibility
- Discuss Shared Expenses Upfront
- Plan for Potential Roommate Departures
Assess Daily Habits for Compatibility
As someone who has had co-living arrangements for years through house hacking, I recommend asking potential roommates about their daily habits. For example, you could phrase it as, "What does a typical day look like for you?" This is a subtle way to get a feel for their lifestyle and whether sharing an apartment would be a good fit. For instance, if you go to bed early and they tell you that they love throwing parties late at night, living together might be complicated. It's better to get as much information as possible upfront to avoid unpleasant surprises later.
Discuss Shared Expenses Upfront
While I think there are many important questions to ask, one question in particular that can be very insightful is something along the lines of, "How do you think we should split the cost of shared items?" There will inevitably be numerous things that you and your roommate share - toilet paper, dish towels, cleaning supplies, soap, etc. Some people unknowingly find themselves in a roommate situation where their roommate manages to never pay for any of these items, so the responsibility entirely falls on them. This is certainly unfair from both a responsibility and, even more so, a financial perspective. Therefore, it is valuable to learn your potential roommate's habits and philosophy regarding shared expenses beforehand.
Plan for Potential Roommate Departures
Good afternoon,
My name is Mark Severino. I am a real estate investor and landlord in Dallas, TX. I have had plenty of tenant interactions and would love to assist with this question.
The number one question I ask before allowing a set/group of tenants to rent my property is: "What is the plan if one of you wants to leave?"
Tenants want to leave all the time. Sometimes it is a fight between themselves. Sometimes it is a job offer elsewhere. Sometimes they gain a significant other and want to move in with them.
At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that we have an agreement on how the rent will be paid on time and in full if one of them wants to break the lease.
The answer could be to find another roommate. It could be that the remaining tenant guarantees they will continue to pay. It could be a lease break fee.
An additional tip is to have a clause in the contract that all parties agree to in the event of a lease break.
I hope that helps!
If you use my quote, please link to my site: https://www.besttexashousebuyers.com/
Thanks!
v/r,
Mark
