How to Find a Good Roommate Online
Moving to a new city or even a new apartment can come with all sorts of challenges. Besides figuring out where you want to live, you should also think about the type of people with whom you want to live. These days, most people can’t afford to live without a roommate unless they have a high income or they already have a partner or another person to help them split the cost of living. If you don’t know anyone in your social circle who needs or wants a roommate at this time, you can try looking for a roommate online.
While it can be scary to try to find a roommate on the internet, there are some ways to lower the risks associated with living with a total stranger you met online. Gone are the days when you would find a roommate by posting an ad in the paper or at your local coffee shop. Today, everything runs on the internet, including finding a new person to share your home with you. If you want to find a decent roommate, you’ll need to take extra caution by following our tips below for getting a good roommate out of your online search.
Do Background Checks
Even if it seems like an invasion of privacy, you should run a background check on any potential roommate you interview for your home if you meet them online or in person. If you think about it, you wouldn’t get hired for most jobs if you had a criminal background. When you’re looking for a roommate, you’re hiring them for the job of living with you full-time. Although you can decide whether there are certain charges that you would be okay with your future roommate having, it’s at least good to have that information before you live together.
A common charge that a potential roommate may have is a DUI. For drivers, the BAC, also known as the legal blood alcohol content, is .08%. Even if someone didn’t think that they were drinking enough to impair their driving, it would be alarming if they were caught driving with a blood alcohol content at or above the legal limit.
Format Your Ad Well
According To Finances Online, 94 out of 100 people tend to exit a webpage with terrible graphic design. For roommate ads, the stakes might not be as high, but the design of your advertisement is the first impression a roommate will have of you. You can use your ad to reflect your personality and attract the person you want as a roommate. A fun and quirky ad may show roommates that you’re the life of the party while a sleek one might show that you’re elegant and modern.
Beyond the looks, your ad should be clear and concise. The more you let future roommates know what you expect, the easier it’ll be to find a good fit. If you know you need a clean roommate, have a certain kind of job, or want to travel together, you should list all of those things so applicants know if you’re right for them.
When you’re looking for a roommate, it’s easy to judge people by their first incteractionss. According to Zippia, about 14% of florists who were surveyed identify with the LGBTQIA+ community. If you are queer, you might want to specify that you’re looking for a roommate who is also queer.
Looking for a roommate online can be daunting, but it can also be fun. The possibilities of who you’ll live with are endless. Once you’ve found a good roommate, you can kiss the internet roommate search goodbye.