1. The Perfect Match:
Finding a Roommate in Six Easy Steps
Clare Enas
(http://www.fastweb.com/nfs/fastweb/attachment_images/0000/2487/iStock_000008642609XSmall-female-roommates_crop380w.JPG?1245879400)

2. From Start to Finish
1. Find a place to live
2. Construct an Ad
3. Place the Ad
4. Screen responses
5. Schedule interviews
6. Select roommate

3. Step 1: Find a Place to Live
Do you know where you want to live?
(http://media.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/real_estate/s_monopoly-house.jpg)

4. Step 2: Construct an Ad
List the particulars of the apartment or house.
Express your personality.
Use proper phrasing: neither wholly accurate
nor misleading.
Design for internet and paper.
Most important of all…

5. Be Specific
Be as specific as possible about the kind of
roommate you’re searching for.
Do you want a roommate who
• Is a smoker or non-smoker?
• Is Gay or straight?
• Has dogs or cats or neither?
• Parties often or a homebody?
• Religious or non-religious?
Put it all out there.
Don’t be afraid to be honest.
Don’t be afraid of offending anyone.

6. Step 3: Place the Ad
Place everywhere and anywhere with heavy foot traffic
• College campuses
• Coffee shops
Paper is good, internet is better
• www.roommates.com
• www.easyroommate.com/roommatesearch
• www.roomster.com
• www.roommatelocator.com
• www.roommatenation.com
• www.getaroomie.com
• the list goes on
However, if you want the best results…

7. Craigslist.com
Ignore the crazy people.
Craigslist gets “more than 9 billion page views
per month.”
From personal experience…
(http://www.craigslist.org/about/pr/factsheet)

8. My Craigslist Ad
To find my current roommate, I posted this in January 2010:
Well hey there,
My former roommate decided to up and leave for a better life in Seattle and
I need a calm, reasonable adult to take over his end of the lease. It runs out
at the end of April but I am more than willing to sign another as I'm
currently in graduate school. I'm 22, a girl, and enjoy my fair share of life. I
don't mind living with either gender, as long as you can take care of business
and maintain a relatively clean space. The apartment is located a couple
blocks west of UNT campus, near I35E: literally a five minute walk to campus
and a bus stop half a block away. Rent is 325$, all bills paid. Apartment is
furnished, as is the room for rent.
If you're interested, please e-mail me back
Thanks

9. Step 4: Screen Responses
Look and listen for what people say and how
they say it.
Listen to your gut.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Kn0F9QnU6Rg/SYv3_UJMUNI/AAAAAAAAALw/iSj3FtNbCNg/s400/stomach+acid.bmp)

10. Three Responses I Received

11. Three Responses I Received

12. Before the Interviews
Send an e-mail with all the details of:
• Total rent cost (including bills)
• Apartment square footage, location, and
description of neighborhood
• Condition of the room for rent
When the interested party responds, scheduled
a time and place to meet.

13. Step 5: Schedule Interviews
Meet at the apartment/house to show the room or
meet in a public place.
Go over anything you want to make clearer.
Ask if he or she has questions and answer them the
best you can.
Feel out the vibe: if it doesn’t feel comfortable now,
it won’t in a few months.
Be upfront and honest about how you live.
• Example: I may come home late from a party and
possibly not alone. Are you comfortable with that?

14. Step 6: Select Roommate
Have several people in mind, listed from want
most to least.
Be aware your number one choice may not
want to live with you.
Have future roommate put in application for
residence.

15. Ta-da!: All Done
Follow these steps and you are likely to find a
roommate within a month.
Good if previous roommate up and leaves, or
you need to move out of your current place.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisamorgan/2249434340/)