5. ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

You'll want to ask the candidate a ton of questions, and he/she will probably want to ask you questions too. So what you gotta do is set down a list of questions that you'll discuss during the meeting. Below is a general (yet fairly comprehensive) list. If you've seen any of the apartment-finding SYWs, some of this may look a little familiar.

  • Have you ever had a roommate before? What, if anything, bothered you about your past roommates?

  • Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend or other friend who will be staying here frequently? Are you promiscuous? (Do not be afraid to ask this one. If you don't want strange people sleeping over a lot, and explain that this is the reason you're asking, it will establish what you consider unacceptable ahead of time.)

  • What is your occupation? What are your work hours?

  • What time do you generally go to sleep and wake up on weekdays and weekends?

  • Did/do you have any credit problems? Are you willing to co-sign the lease and any other shared fee contracts? If the person you're talking to refuses to sign these documents, ask why. This is VERY important: trying to hide past credit problems, or reluctance to co-sign the lease, could be a strong indicator of a deadbeat. (Remember, one of the only reasons your roommate has to not co-sign the lease is because he/she wants to get out of paying.)

  • Discuss whether you will be paying equal rents for equal rooms or if one of you will have a significantly better room (and therefore pay more).

  • Do you consider yourself messy or neat? Are you willing to help clean common areas, e.g. wash dishes, mop floor, clean fridge, bathroom, etc.? (If you're freakishly neat and you pick a messy roommate, you'll either end up cleaning twice as much or breaking kneecaps.)

  • Are you a heavy or light sleeper? If we wake up at different times, will you be able to sleep through an alarm clock? (If you're sharing a bedroom, this is ESPECIALLY important, as well as, "Can you sleep with the light on?")

  • Do you smoke? Drink? Do drugs? If yes to any, how often?

  • Do you have any pets? (Remember to find out if pets are allowed in your building.)

  • Do you have any major medical conditions?

  • What do you like to watch on television? What music do you listen to? Do you listen to music loudly or softly?

  • Do you play any musical instruments? When do you usually practice?

  • Will you check my closet every night for the boogeyman?

  • How often do you have guests over? Are they liable to destroy our domicile?

  • Will you want to share costs for food? Are you the type that likes to share clothes, CDs, computer, etc.?

We know this is a pretty long list and will probably span more than a few cups of coffee, but remember that the slightest annoyance may fester into a murderous rage when forced to deal with it every day. Clearing these things up in advance is the best way to have a good roommate relationship. Also be prepared to answer these questions; your potential roommate may have read this SYW too!

After the interview, assess how you feel about this person. If you think you'd rather live with a rabid ewok, politely tell the candidate that you don't think it will work out, and thank them for their time. (Remember to wait until they are out of sight before laughing hysterically.)

If you've found your perfect roommate, then proceed along to the next step. And don't forget to take down any fliers you've hung up, as well as your name/room off of any websites you've used.