You put a lot of time and effort into finding the right place to live. If you choose to share your Springs at Corpus Christi luxury apartment home with a roommate, shouldn't you give that decision an equal amount of consideration?
To paraphrase an old saying: Choose a roommate in haste, repent in leisure. Here are suggestions from our experienced Springs leasing team to help you conduct a mutually successful roommate search.
Tips and Tricks
- You don't have to choose someone you already know. In fact, close friendships often wilt in a roommate situation. Drumming up suggestions from family and friends is a more effective idea. These candidates will have a healthy amount of distance from you, but they've been vetted by people you do know.
- Treat your roommate search like a hiring process. After the round of initial meetings, narrow your list and conduct multiple interviews with the ones you prefer. Prepare questions beforehand, including issues that are specific deal breakers, such as smoking, overnight guests and pets.
- Be honest about the division of expenses. It's unfair to spring unexpected costs on someone once they have already committed. You can certainly negotiate once all the cards are on the table.
Precautions
- Don't assume the other person is financially suitable. Ask about their job and how long they've been working at the same place. (Of course, you can make an exception if you are students.) If it makes you feel more secure, don't be afraid to ask for check stubs or a credit report.
- Don't choose someone with a lifestyle that's 180 degrees opposite of yours. The two of you don't have to be 100 percent compatible on everything, but if you are a homebody and your roommate is party-hearty, that's a disaster in the making.
- Don't operate on the honor system. If there’s a conflict about who does what chores or how long overnight guests can stay before they start paying rent, even normally reasonable people can dig in their heels. Be sure to put everything in writing, no matter how insignificant an issue may seem.
Apps and Websites
- Roomster is available in more than 190 countries and features more than four million verified users. You can connect with prospective roommates via email, phone or social media accounts.
- EasyRoommate bills itself as the world's largest classified site for shared accommodations. Basic memberships are free, or you can purchase a premium membership.
- Craigslist is still the granddaddy of roommate matching sites. There have been plenty of success stories, but the potential pitfalls are fairly obvious, so step up your screening process if you go this route.
Are you sharing your Springs at Corpus Christi apartment home with a roommate? If so, how did you connect? Tell us in the comments!
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