How to Choose a Roommate
The college experience is what you make of it. Part of this experience is your living situation. Roughly 2,654 individuals are in the rental market every day and in need of housing, according to the Rental Protection Agency. For many students, choosing off campus student housing is a huge step in their college experience. This is why it is imperative to make sure you are not only choosing a reliable landlord and place to live, but also a good roommate. After all, you will be spending a lot of time with them!
Living With Close Friends
Living in off campus student housing with your close friends can be a great way to grow even closer. You probably already have similar interests with this person, and you are familiar with their level of cleanliness and responsibility. However, living with people, especially in a small space, can also take a hindrance to a friendship.
The dynamic of your friendship may be a lot different when you are living together. There are responsibilities to spit up, bills to pay, and levels of cleanliness that each person prefers. Be sure to evaluate your friendship with this person on a deeper level before deciding to live with a close friend in a student rental.
Living With a Stranger
The word “stranger” often has a negative connotation. However, many people find that living with someone you are not friends with ahead of time alleviates a lot of stress and diminishes expectations.
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself during the roommate searching process:
- Do they have pets?
- Are your lifestyles similar?
- Do they have a reliable source of income?
- Will they sign a lease and abide by it?
Many students may choose to live with more than one roommate, these concerns might compound. It is important to have a strong sense of how comfortable, respectful, and cooperative potential roommates might be.
Conclusion
Whether you are choosing to live in off campus student housing with an existing friend or a stranger, taking the time to evaluate your potential living dynamic is important and can seriously impact your off campus student rentals experience.
