If you’re thinking about sharing a Lakewood rental home with a roommate, you should be informed of what to look for. Thankfully, truly terrible roommates are rare, but there are enough horror stories to make anyone think twice about sharing their home with a stranger. The opposite is also true: your roommates could end up being some of your closest friends. While there are no absolutes, there are a few warning signs you can look for to help you figure out the kind of roommate someone might be. You can spot a poor roommate by keeping an eye out for the following signs.
Poorly Written Advertisement
A poorly written or incomplete advertisement may indicate that the person who placed it is hiding something or is loath to put forth much effort in even the smallest of tasks, even though not everyone has advertising skills. An advertisement that is misspelled or omits key details about the rental situation could, in any case, be a sign that trouble is on the way.
Vague or Inconsistent Answers
When you ask questions about your roommate or lease arrangements, you should also be suspicious. It’s imperative to find out why your prospective roommate—if there was one—moved out, why they are moving in with you, and why they need a new place to live. It’s feasible that they were at fault if their responses to these inquiries are evasive or if they come off as unwilling to talk about it.
Overly Messy House
If you are responding to a roommate ad, make sure to look into the living situation before making any commitments. During your stay, examine the overall sanitation of the area, and don’t just look at the surfaces. Look for signs that things aren’t being cleaned regularly, such as dirty dishes stacking up in the sink or dusty ceiling fans. If the rental home is filthy, that is sufficient reason to leave in haste.
Lack of Job or References
You should also inquire about the prospective roommate’s job and at least two references in addition to asking them about themselves. A red flag that something isn’t quite right is when someone doesn’t appear to have a job or won’t give you references. It may be uncomfortable to inquire about a potential roommate’s financial stability, but doing so is the only surefire method to prevent ending up in a situation where one person is unable to pay their monthly rent.
Significant Other
Whether your potential roommate has a significant other and how much time that person spends in the house are key considerations as well. A roommate’s significant other may spend so much time in the apartment that they essentially pay no rent for it. If they tend to be disruptive, you might feel less inclined to accept this agreement.
Listen to Your Intuition
On paper, a person may appear to be the perfect roommate, but upon meeting them, something just feels wrong. Even if you cannot see what is wrong, that bad feeling may be your intuition warning you something is awry. Trusting your senses and moving on if you don’t feel comfortable is the best course of action.
Living with roommates can be difficult, but finding the correct one can enhance your life! Are you searching for a home to rent that you and one or two roommates could share? Real Property Management Imagine has a selection of top-notch rental homes in your area. Contact our office or check out our listings online.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
