3 Tips for Finding the Ideal Roommate in Des Moines

Finding the right apartment home in the right location can be a challenge, but finding compatible apartment-mates can be downright difficult. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to help you find the ideal roommate in the Des Moines area.

1. Think Compatibility

A certain degree of compatibility is essential for a successful apartment-mate situation. While you're not looking for your soul mate, you do want to look for compatibility in the following areas:

• Sleep Schedules. If you have to get up at 4:30 a.m., you won't want a roommate who watches action movies on Netflix all night.
• Cleanliness Standards. Picking up after your roommate gets bothersome, quickly.
• Tolerance for Socializing. Bookworms may not do well with roommates who constantly have friends over.
• Financial Stability. Can you both consistently pay your share of the rent?

When it comes down to it, you know lots of people. And all those people know a lot of people, too. Take advantage of these networks when you're looking for roommate. Tell family and friends you're looking for a new roommate, and they just might know someone who would be a great fit. Otherwise, consider using one of the following three apps:

Roomi

This free app lets you browse through the profiles of potential apartment-mates in your area and narrow down candidates based on hobbies, lifestyle and values. You can even use the built-in chat features to start up conversations with potential roommates.

EasyRoommate

This site claims to be the largest roommate-finding site, so you can reach a large pool of candidates. Post a free ad, and start browsing through the profiles of other roommate-seekers in Des Moines.

RoomieMatch

This roommate-matching service is focused on avoiding scams. They claim that human reviewers "use their actual eyeballs" to review every submission before it's posted. It offers both a free roommate search and also a paid roommate search that includes features like "first crack at the best people."

It's tempting to make a decision about apartment-mates quickly so you can check that job off your list and start packing your moving boxes, but it’s important to take your time and get to know a potential roommate.

Try to meet up a few times before you make a decision. You could get a cup of coffee together or go out for lunch, as seeing a person in several different situations on different days will give you a better idea of what they're really like.

What have been your most successful strategies for finding apartment mates in Des Moines? Leave your comments below!