Making Sure you Put up a Great Roommate Profile

Posted on August 21, 2011 by admin

What is a Roommate Profile all About?

A roommate profile is the profile that you will put up on a roommate search website to help you find a new roommate. These profiles are very important because if you don’t put up the right information you may end up with the wrong roommate. This is not a good thing and this is why you need to understand how the profile works.

The profile will be basically your homepage for finding a roommate. This is free on many of the sites and will allow you to put the word out that you are looking for a roommate. You can state whether you have a place to live or whether you are looking for a room in someone’s house or apartment, which will help to match you up with the right person.

You can also write a little bit about yourself, what you are looking for in a roommate, and include a few pictures. This is a great tool to use when you are trying to find the right roommate for you. Using a roommate profile is much safer than many other ways that you can go about finding the right person to live with you.

What to Include in your Roommate Profile

There are many things you need to include in your roommate profile so that you can find the right person for you. It is necessary to put the right things in your profile so that the right person will match up with you properly without any trouble. Here are the most important things to include in your profile.

1. Background Information

You have to include background information about yourself because this is usually something that the other potential roommate can relate to. If you include where you originally came from and a little bit about your family background this will help to show others what you are like and how you grew up.

2. Employment Information

You may not want to state exactly where you work, but you do want to state what your profession is and how long you have been doing it for. This will certainly help other potential roommates to know that you can afford to pay the rent. Financial security is one of the things that most potential roommates will find to be very important.

3. Why You are Looking

Maybe you recently had a roommate move out for one reason or another and you need to find a new roommate now. This needs to be included in your roommate profile so that others understand the situation you are in. If you are moving from one place to another you should include this or any other reason you may have for finding a new roommate.

4. The Home

Another thing to put in your roommate profile is the type of home you are looking for. If you want an apartment or you have an apartment you want to state this in your profile. You want the potential roommates to understand what it is you are looking for or what you have so that there are no questions about it.

5. Likes/Dislikes

To help narrow down the field of potential roommates you also want to include some of the things you like and some of the things you don’t like. This will help others to figure out if they are going to fit well with you or not. If they like many of the same things you like this can help make for a better living situation.

6. Medical Issues

Another thing that is very important is whether you have any medical issues or not. Some roommates may have a problem with this and this is a way to keep them from contacting you. If you have allergies to animals, food, or anything else you have to state this so that they know. Maybe they have a cat and this will keep them from wasting your time.

7. Relationships

If you have a boyfriend, girlfriend, or you plan to get married in the future you need to state this in your profile too. Some people cannot handle it if you have a significant other that is going to be staying over quite a bit and it is fair that they know this ahead of time. They also need to know if you plan to get married in the future because this will change the living situation completely.

8. Rental History

Rental history can be a very important thing to include in your roommate profile as well. This will help to show others that you are capable of paying the rent and that you have been for quite some time. When you include some of your rental history many potential roommates will feel more comfortable contacting you.

9. References

Another thing you can include in your roommate profile are a few character references and other types of references as well. When you put the references in your profile this will give the potential roommate someone to contact to find out if you are a good roommate or not. This can be what seals the deal for you and gets you the new roommate you want.

Searching the Roommate Profile of Others

The good thing about the roommate search sites is that they will not only let you put up a roommate profile, but you can search the profiles of others as well. This means you can find out what they have included so that you can see what they are all about. When you are searching you can narrow your search by age, gender, hobbies, and more.

You can find the right roommate for you with one of the many roommate search sites and it is safe. This is a great way to start and finish your roommate search right online. Just make sure that you put up a profile full of good and honest information. When you do this and you include all of the above in your roommate profile you will have a better chance to find the right person to live with you.


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Why Roommate Privacy is so Important

Posted on August 21, 2011 by admin

Understanding what Roommate Privacy Really is

Roommate privacy is the privacy of all the roommates in the house. This is a very important thing because if you do not have privacy, then you may get very irritable. This is not a good thing because it can cause more conflicts than if each of your roommates is able to enjoy the privacy they so rightfully deserve.

Adults have to have privacy in order to live a normal life and actually clear their mind. Those that don’t spend any time alone are typically very stressed out and are not as happy as those that have the time to be alone for a little bit here and there. Many times the lack of privacy can cause a big issue in a house.

There are many things you can do in order to ensure that your house is set up properly for roommate privacy. You need to know what these things are and how you can implement the right guidelines to ensure that everybody gets some private time. Below you will find the things that you can do in order to get the privacy you need and everybody else needs.

The Top 5 Things You can Do to Ensure Roommate Privacy

1. Cordless and Cell Phones Only

If you decide to have a home phone you can get a cordless phone so that conversations can be carried on in another room. Most likely you will all have cell phones and this is best because you can take the cell phone outside, in your room, or anywhere else that will allow you some privacy from the rest of the people around you.

2. Use the Schedules to Help

The schedules of those in the house can be used in order to help you get the right amount of privacy. If you know when your roommates are going to be gone, then you can plan to have the place to yourself while they are at work or at school. This can allow for the necessary time to catch up on a TV show, read a book, or do anything you want with the privacy are enjoying.

3. Schedule Dates

If you plan to have your significant other over for a movie or dinner you will want to let your roommates know this ahead of time. This allows for your roommates to make plans and become scarce while you are trying to enjoy your date. Make sure you return the favor when they want to do the same things so that everybody can enjoy some privacy.

4. Common Courtesy

With common courtesy and respect in the house roommate privacy should not be an issue. If you show your roommate respect and can learn when they need a little alone time, then they can do the same for you. This is important and sometimes it is good just to get away and go somewhere while they enjoy some alone time.

5. Bedroom Boundaries

Make sure everybody in the house understands that when you are in your bedroom you expect privacy. There are some areas in the house, like the bedroom and the bathroom, that you should expect privacy. Make sure you talk about whether or not it is okay to freely enter the bedroom without knocking and you can even have a “do not disturb” sign when you don’t even want them to knock.

This is very important because you have to share the common areas, but your bedroom is your space. You want to make sure that you have an understanding so that if you are napping, meditating, studying, or doing anything else you don’t get interrupted by even a knock. This is one of the most important parts of providing proper roommate privacy.

What May Happen if You Don’t Get Proper Roommate Privacy

If there is not respect in the house and the roommate privacy is not there, then you may end up feeling like you are not welcome or that you don’t want to live there. You really need to make sure you have some rules and guidelines in place so that privacy doesn’t become an issue at all. This is a vitally important part of having the right environment at home.

You don’t want to have to feel like you actually have to leave the house to get some privacy. However, if you leave from time to time to give your roommates some privacy they will probably do the same thing for you. This is a great way to get roommate privacy and you need to make sure this is present in your house.


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How to Find the Best Roommate for You

Posted on August 21, 2011 by admin

Find the Best Roommate for you and Live in Harmony

When you are looking to find the best roommate for you and your situation you need to understand what the benefits of having the right roommate are. There are many benefits and many advantages to having the right roommate for you. The best way is to start by understanding what the benefits are so that you will know what you are after.

1. Rent Paid on Time

The first and probably the most important of the benefits for finding the best roommate for you is that you will not have to worry about whether rent is paid or not. When you have the right roommate they will pay the rent and the bills on time or at least let you know that they can’t if they are going to be a little late.

2. Less Conflict

Roommates get in fights all the time and this happens much more when you have a roommate that is not right for you. Those that end up living with a roommate that fits well for them will have less conflict and will have a much more peaceful home to live in. Conflict is never fun and when you end up with the wrong roommate it could be a daily part of life.

3. Less Stress

When you have a roommate that fits well into your life you will be able to have a less stressful living situation at home. This can lead to less stress in the workplace and in the rest of your life. Having the right roommate can make a huge difference because having no stress at home can help to keep your stress level down in all other parts of your life.

4. More Fun

The best part about having the best roommate for you is that you can have more fun as well. This is because you will have things in common and you will not have to worry as much about things at home. When you have things in common you can go do things together and enjoy each other’s company.

A Few Things to Consider When Trying to Find the Best Roommate for You

1. Temperament

This can go two different ways and you want to consider whether the potential roommate is easy going or wound tight. If you find someone that is the opposite of you in temperament it can work very well, but it can also work well if they are somewhat similar to you. It is proven that opposites live well together so you may want to consider finding someone that is the opposite of you.

2. Social Life

If you love to have guests over at your house, then you may want to consider a roommate that also loves to have people over. This is a very important thing when you are trying to find the best roommate for you because you want someone that is going to allow you to be yourself. If they love to have people over, then you will get along well if you also love having people over.

3. Energy Level

If you are a high energy level type of person, then you may not get along well with someone that likes to sit around all the time. However, if you are looking for a roommate that you are not going to spend a large amount of time with this can work well. Sometimes it is good to be opposites, but others times it is good to have the same energy level.

4. Schedule

Again, opposite schedules can work well because you will not always be home at the same time they are, but if you want a roommate that is also going to be a good friend of yours, then a similar schedule can be good. Consider the type of job the person has and whether or not you can live with a night owl or an early riser.

5. Open Minded or Not

Another thing to consider is whether someone is open minded or not. If you love to go out to bars and live the nightlife you may not want to live with someone that is going to judge you for your lifestyle. Having a roommate that is open to the life you live is a good idea and will keep you from fighting with them.

Actual Ways to Find the Best Roommate for you

There are many ways to find the right roommate for you, but you have to know the best ways to find the best roommate for you. This will help you to have the living situation you deserve. You want to have a new roommate that fits well, pays the bills on time, and maybe even someone you can make into a new friend. Here are a few ways to find this person.

1. Roommate Finders

The roommate finder sites are the type of sites that will allow you to put up a profile that says exactly what you are looking for and search through the profiles of the others. This is a very important type of site to use and it is not free. However, it is not expensive and it is one of the safest ways to find the best roommate for you.

2. Craigslist

Craigslist is free and a good way to find a new roommate. Roommates are not always easy to find when you want the best one for you, but if you use Craigslist you can post an ad that will help to attract the right person for you. This is a free site so you can also browse the ads that are up in your area.

3. Friends and Family

Sometimes the right roommate for you is right under your nose. You can use Facebook and other social sites to announce that you are looking for a new roommate, which will give you a network of people helping you. This is a great way to find the right person to live with and you never know who might be looking.

If you use these tips and these ways to help you find your roommate, then you will have a better chance to find the right person for your living situation. Make sure you take your time so that you can make a wise decision about your next roommate. When you find the best roommate you will be much happier and you may just have a new friend.


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10 Top College Roommate Rules to Consider

Posted on August 21, 2011 by admin

Why Having College Roommate Rules is Important

If you are in college, then you may need to know about the college roommate rules you can use. This is simply because you may have not lived on your own with roommate yet in your life and having some rules can make the situation a bit easier on everybody. Rules are not always a good thing, but in this case they can be.

You may be sharing a house or apartment with a few roommates, which can be hard to do without some guidelines for everybody to follow. There are many things to consider and when you have roommates you want to give everybody the best chance to live together in a stress free environment, especially during college.

When you are in college you have enough to worry about without having to deal with the stresses of living with someone that doesn’t follow the rules or isn’t easy to live with. You want to have a peaceful home with people that will have fun with you and will become your friends. College is supposed to be fun, but there still have to be some rules.

Below you are going to find a list of the top 10 college roommate rules and why they are so important. You can use all these rules or you can just use some of the, and it is up to you. After you read through the rules you will find the best way to put them in place as well. Here are the rules to consider.

Top 10 College Roommate Rules

1. Chores

Probably the one thing that is the hardest to deal with is when one roommate ends up doing nearly all the chores and the others do not pitch in. Make sure you state in your college roommate rules what everybody is responsible for and when these chores should be done. This will keep you from having to fight over the chores.

2. Guests

There are many things to consider with guests because you are in college and you do want to have people over to your place. However, it is necessary to be considerate of the other people you live with as well. Make sure you address the different things that are expected when it comes to guests.

3. Study Time

During finals week, mid-terms, and even regular weeks you need to have some time set aside when the house is to be quiet so that roommates can study. This is another important part of college and if you state that a few hours every week is study time, then everybody will know that it is to be quiet in the house during those hours.

4. Food and Beverage

When you live with other people you may find that someone eats and drinks your things. This is not a good thing and you want to make sure there are rules in place as to where everybody is to keep their food and beverage. You want to make sure you have this in the rules so that nobody finds that their food is getting stolen by someone else in the house.

5. TV Schedule

You can set rules about the television in the house to keep the conflict to a minimum. This is an important thing because you do not want to deal with fights over the television and what is going to be watched. This is a rule that can lay it all out for everybody in the house.

6. Pets

If you have pets there need to be rules about where they are to be kept, when they are to be fed, and more. However, if you don’t have pets you may need to have rules about whether they are to be allowed in the home or not. This is something you have to state in the rules just to be sure that everybody understands.

7. Air Conditioning and Heat

In order to keep the bills at a reasonable amount and to keep everybody comfortable there need to be rules about what temperature the house is to be kept at. When you have rules about the temperature of the apartment or house you will be in will help to keep the bills lower and everybody happy with the temperature.

8. Parking

Parking can be a very important part of the rules because you don’t want people getting parked in when they need to get to work or class. Also, you may have a garage or covered parking that someone may get and another roommate may not get. This needs to be stated in the rules to help everybody understand how parking works.

9. Restroom usage

This rule especially applies to female roommates that have to share a restroom. If you have to you can schedule time for doing make up and for showers, but you want to make sure there is an understanding specifically when someone has to get ready for work or for class.

10. Privacy Rules

You need to have some privacy rules as well so that everybody can live as an adult and have the privacy they deserve. This is one of the more important of the college roommate rules because privacy is very important. With the right rules in place and the right respect this should not be an issue at all.

How to Implement the College Roommate Rules

The best way to implement the college roommate rules is to go ahead and put together a roommate agreement. This is not your lease and it is completely separate from your lease. You can also state things like the rent and bills and when they are due in this agreement. Everybody in the house needs to agree to sign the roommate contract and read it through completely.

If you put this contract together it can be the referee that helps solve conflicts and it can help to keep the conflicts to a minimum. You can put anything you find to be necessary and important in this agreement and it will help to keep everybody on the same page in the house. College roommate rules will help keep peace in the house and you can use any of the rules you want.


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The Top 5 Benefits of a Roommate Agreement

Posted on August 20, 2011 by admin

Why you Need the Benefits of a Roommate Agreement

If you do not have the benefits of a roommate agreement, then you are going to have more problems than you really want to have. There are many things you can include in the roommate agreement and many things that you can do to make sure you get the right atmosphere before you actually move in with someone. Here are a few things to include in the agreement.

1. Rent and Bills

Probably the most important part of the roommate agreement is the rent and the bills. This should be the first part of the agreement and it should state how the rent is going to be split and how the bills will be split. When you do this you will have no confusion to how the money will be split up and it will be handled pretty easily.

2. Rules

The rules are very important as well because you can address anything that could become an issue. You may need to schedule quiet time or address the different rules on guests in the home. These rules can be anything you really want them to be and this will help to keep the house peaceful and everybody on the same page.

3. Chores

Another thing to put in your actual roommate agreement is the chores of the house. The chores have to be split fair and if someone hates to wash dishes, then you can take this into consideration. There are many chores that need to be done on a weekly or monthly basis and these need to all be addressed so that there is no confusion as to what needs to be done.

You can include many other things in the roommate agreement that can help keep the peace in the house. There are many benefits you will get form having an agreement between you and your roommates. Make sure you address everything that is necessary in the agreement before you move in with all your roommates.

The 5 Top Benefits of a Roommate Agreement

1. Peace

When you address things that are very important in an agreement between you and your roommates you will be able to live in a much more peaceful house. This is something that everybody needs and you when you live in a peaceful house you will be much happier and more stress free.

2. Less Conflict

There is going to be less conflict in the house if you use a roommate agreement to solve many of the potential conflicts ahead of time. You have to make sure you do everything you can to keep the conflict to a minimum and this is a huge benefit of having an agreement in place for you and your roommates.

3. No Confusion

If you have the roommate agreement put together and everybody agrees to the rules, chores, and everything else in the roommate agreement, then you will have very little confusion between the roommates. The less confusion there is the more likely chores will get done and rules will be followed. Make sure everybody understands the agreement before you sign it.

4. Creates Discussion

When you mention the idea of putting together a roommate agreement, then you will be able to create a discussion forum for everybody to talk about what they would like and not like in the agreement. This discussion will give you a great idea of what you may be facing with the living situation you are considering.

5. Ground Rules

The last of the benefits you get from the roommate agreement are the ground rules. This will give you the perfect form of reference for everybody involved. When you have the agreement set and written in black on white paper there will be no confusion as to what is expected from everybody involved.

How to Make Sure you Get all the Benefits of a Roommate Agreement

Before you sign the agreement and you have everybody else you are living with sign the agreement make sure that there is a real agreement to what is stated in the contract. If one or more of the roommates feels like they have to sign something they don’t agree with you are going to have problems whether you like it or not.

There are many things you can include in your roommate contract and you need to make sure you put everything you can think of into the agreement before you move forward. Let everybody talk and discuss what is best for the house. You don’t have to get every idea of yours into the agreement, but you do need to make sure you get as many of the benefits of a roommate agreement as you can get.


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5 Ways to Find Rooms for Rent in Boston

Posted on August 20, 2011 by admin

Where to Start if you Need One of the Rooms for Rent in Boston

When you need one of the rooms for rent in Boston you have to start by deciding what type of room and what type of environment you want to live in. There are a few places to start before you actually start looking for the room you are after. Here are a few of the first things to start thinking about before you look for a room.

1. Choose an Area

If you know for sure you want one of the rooms that is for rent in Boston, then you need to narrow it down even further. Boston is a larger city with smaller sections that you can choose to search in. Figure out where you are willing to live before you start your search and this will help to eliminate some of the areas and narrow your search.

2. Decide on Apartment or Home

Some of the rooms for rent might be in an apartment and some of them might be in an actual house. You have to decide whether you are willing to live in a smaller place like an apartment or if you want to live in a home instead. This is an important decision because it will help to narrow your search down even more.

3. Figure out the Type of Roommates

Inevitably if you rent a room in Boston you are going to have one or more roommates. You need to decide on what type of people you want to live with and what type are going to be best for you. Having a good home environment will help you in many ways and it will keep the stress to a minimum. Figure out what you want in a roommate or in roommates and you will be one step closer to finding the next place to call home.

These are three things you can use to help you narrow down your search and make it easier. If you know what you are looking for, then you will be better equipped to start your search. Below are five ways to help you find rooms for rent in Boston and these will all help you find the right place for you to live.

Top 5 Ways to Find Rooms for Rent in Boston

1. Newspapers

In Boston there are many area papers that you can use to help you find the right room for you. When you have narrowed your search to specific areas you can use the newspapers in that specific area including any college newspapers that might be around that area. Also, look for the different entertainment papers that are found in coffee shops, restaurants, and bars.

2. Free Online Classified Websites

One of the most popular ways to find a room that you can rent in area is the online free classified websites like BackPage, Kijiji, and, of course, Craigslist. Craigslist is a very popular way to find the different rooms that are out there for you to rent in the smaller areas of Boston.

You can use any of these free sites by browsing and by posting because it is free. Just make sure you put enough information in your post so that you will get the responses you are looking for. Also, make sure you read the section on Craigslist that is about the different scams and what to look for.

3. Flyers

If you already live in Boston you can put up flyers that state what you are looking for a place to live. This is something that you can do in the area that you want to live in and that will keep your responses narrowed down to just that area. Make sure you put enough information on the flyer so that you get what you are looking for in a room.

4. Facebook

You may have friends and family that can help. When you post to your Facebook profile that you are looking for a roommate and where you are looking, then you may find that a friend of yours or a family member knows someone that is also looking. This can be a great way to find the right roommate in a hurry.

5. Roommate Finder Sites

Another way to find the right room to rent is to find people that are looking for roommates. When you find someone that has a room free on a roommate finder site you can look at it and get to know them a bit. This can help you to screen the potential roommate and find one of the many rooms for rent in Boston.

A Few Final Thoughts About Rooms for Rent in Boston

When you are searching for new housing it can be stressful no matter what you are looking for. Many people just want to find the next place to live and they really don’t take the necessary time to find the right place to live. If you pick a place out of desperation you could end up in a horrible situation that you just want out of.

Make sure that you look at more than one place so that you can get the right room for you with the right roommates and the right environment. This will help you to avoid the stressful home situation that can make your life miserable and you can make sure you do this by taking your time with finding rooms for rent in Boston.


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Can you Use Roommate Searching Services to Help You

Posted on August 20, 2011 by admin

What are the Different Types of Roommate Searching Services?

There are a few choices when it comes to roommate searching services and you need to know which one is the right one for you. You should also know what it will cost you and whether it is really worth it or not. Finding a roommate can be stressful and you need to know the best ways to go about finding the right person for you.

If you use the different services that can help you with your roommate search you can expect to spend between $25 and $250 depending on the service and how long you use it for. Some of the services will just provide you with a place to become a member and potentially find the right roommate, whereas others will actually pair you up with someone.

The roommate agencies will charge you more than any other type of roommate searching service. They also are the best for matching you with a good roommate fast and easy. Agencies do full background checks and they also will check references for you as well. When you get matched with someone you will have full confidence that they are a good choice for you.

Another type of roommate searching service is the roommate finder sites. These are more like a dating site than anything else and they will allow you to post a profile and browse the profiles of others. When you find someone you may want to room with you can pay the membership fee and contact them. This is also a very safe way to find a roommate.

These are the two main types of roommate searching services and they are very successful in helping you find a roommate. However, the agencies are mostly found in larger cities and that does not help you if you are not in a large city. Also, the roommate search sites will cater to larger areas as well.

A Few Free Alternatives to Roommate Searching Services

If you don’t want to pay any money to find the right roommate for you, then you can use a few of the online choices that are free and one offline option that is really cheap. You can put together an ad to place in the newspaper or in the free ad papers in your area, which is not free, but it is not all that expensive either.

Another choice is to use a free classified ad website like Craigslist instead of one of the roommate searching services. This type of site will allow you to browse and post for free. The one thing to know about a site like Craigslist is you will get some spam and there are some scams out there to be careful of as well.

Craigslist is a very popular choice for a site that will allow you to find a roommate on your own for free. This type of site is split up into different local areas inside of larger cities and it is also split up into smaller cities in different states as well. This helps you to search the area that you want to live in.

You can place an ad and include as much information as you want. It is also a good idea to include a picture or two if you are renting a room to the roommate you are trying to find. If not you can always include a picture of yourself so they can put a face with the information you are putting up.

If you want to find someone in a very localized area you can make up a few roommate flyers to help you find the right person. Post these on any bulletin board you can find in the grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and other places. This will help you to spend very little money and find the right roommate for you.

Why People Use Roommate Searching Services

Those that simply don’t have the time to search for an interview potential roommates will use the roommate searching services because they want to save time. Sure it will cost a few dollars, but you don’t have to do much except let them do their job. Then, you just have to meet the potential people they match you with.

If you can’t afford the agencies you can still save a large amount of time by using the roommate finder sites. These will allow you to search with different criteria like age, gender, hobbies, and more. This can help you to narrow down the potential roommates and it will help you match yourself up with the right person faster.

Regardless of how you go about finding the right roommate you need to think about what you are looking for and what type of person is going to fit best in a home with you. Also, consider whether you want an apartment or a house. These are important things and the roommate searching services will ask you these questions anyway.


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5 of the Most Common Roommate Problems to be Aware of

Posted on August 19, 2011 by admin

You are Not Immune to Roommate Problems

Many young and old people think they will not have to deal with any roommate problems, but they do arise. Whether they are small issues or larger issues these problems can occur and they can cause a peaceful house to become stressful. The last thing you want to do is deal with the potential roommate problems you could encounter.

There are ways to avoid some of the most common problems and there are also ways to prevent them before they happen. We will address this a bit later, but right now you need to know the top ways to deal with any problems that you may have with your roommate. Roommate issues have to be dealt with carefully and here are a few ways to do exactly that.

1. Communication

When you have a strong amount of communication there are many issues that you will not have to worry about. You will know more about what is going on and you will know what to expect when you are living with someone else. This makes the stress level much lower because you know what is going to happen sooner rather than later.

2. Eviction

If the roommate problems escalate to a point where it is not a safe environment, then you can ask your roommate to leave. This has to be done in a way that gives them ample time to find a new place and you time to find a new roommate. You may not want to do this, but if it gets too bad you have to do what is right for you.

3. House Meeting

If the roommate issues are a bit minor you can have a meeting with everybody in the house to see what you can work out. This can help everybody get on the same page and understand what it is going to take to keep everybody living together in harmony. You want to make sure this is handled delicately, but firmly as well.

The 5 Most Common Roommate Problems you May Face

1. Not Paying Bills/Rent

When one of the roommates cannot pay the bills or rent on time it causes an issue. This is probably the most common and the biggest problem you could ever face. You want to make sure that it is handled properly and the hope is that you can find out when they can afford to pay and how they can get the money that is necessary.

2. Stealing

Another one of the roommate problems that you can run into is stealing. This could be as simple as a little bit of food or as serious as money. When you have a larger problem like stealing money it is necessary to look into eviction because this is actually a crime. It is not as big of a deal with food, but you still have to address this issue.

3. Guests

Sometimes one of the roommates has an overnight guest on a regular basis and this can cause an issue. You have to address this early on because it could make it unfair on how the bills are split. If you don’t address this you may end up feeling stressed on a regular basis and that is no way to live with roommates.

4. Bathroom Hogging

One of the more common roommate issues you will face, especially with female roommates, is the bathroom being hogged by one roommate. This can cause issues and you will have to make up a schedule for the shower and the use of the mirrors and sink if it becomes an issue. You want to have a house meeting to deal with this issue.

5. Parking

Parking can become an issue when one roommate decides that they deserve a better parking area than they originally took. If this happens you have to know that you can usually work this out with a meeting for the house. It is just something that has to be discussed and handled in the proper way with communication.

One Great way to Avoid Roommate Problems Before they Happen

If you want to avoid any of the problems you could have with your roommates you can use a roommate agreement to address things ahead of time. This can be used to solve many issues like parking, a bathroom schedule, chores, rent, bills, and so much more before you even move in together. If you have an agreement everybody knows what to expect.

This is not your lease, but an agreement between everybody that is living in the house. When you live with other people there has to be an understanding that everybody agrees with. If you can’t come to an agreement, then you simply should not be living together, however, by coming to an agreement you will solve many of the potential roommate problems before they happen.


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Where to Post Roommate Wanted Ads

Posted on August 19, 2011 by admin

What to Do Before You Post Roommate Wanted Ads

When you are looking to post roommate wanted ads you have to start by understanding some of the things you can use to help you write the best ads for your roommate search. Your roommate search is very important and you need to make sure you put the right information in your ad so that you can avoid the roommates that will not fit with you very well.

Start by mentioning what exactly you are looking for. Do you want a male or female roommate? What area of town are you looking in? Do you have a room to rent or are you looking for a room or place to live? Is it an apartment or a house you are looking for? How many roommates are you looking for total?

After you have answered those questions you want to include how much you can pay in rent or how much you are charging for rent. This will help you to find exactly what you are after in a roommate and they will have all the information they need. Also, put your phone number and email address in the ad so they can contact you.

If you use the questions above and you write an ad that includes as much information as you can think of, then you can eliminate many of the people that just won’t fit with what you want. Below you are going to find a few places you can post roommate wanted ads after you have the right one written. Some of these are free and some are paid place and they can all help you with your search.

A Few Places to Post Roommate Wanted Ads

1. Craigslist

Craigslist will allow you to post roommate wanted ads for free and this can help you to find the right person for your room or to live with very fast. When you post with Craigslist you can put as much information as you want in the ad. Include as much information as you can think of so that you can attract the right roommates that are serious about living with you.

Be careful of responses that include links to other sites or ask you to do a free credit check. These are typically scam responses that are not from real people searching for roommates. Also, be careful if you are actually looking for a room if they ask for money up front to hold the place, especially if they want you to Western Union the money.

2. Newspapers

Newspapers typically have a roommates wanted section and a rooms for rent section as well. However, when you use a newspaper it will not be free and you will pay per line. This means you have to shorten your ad considerably so that you can get an ad for a decent price. You will want to include the most important things in your newspaper ad.

Also, keep in mind that there are more newspapers in your area than the main local paper. You can place your ad in the college or university papers in the area, the entertainment papers, and even the free ad papers that might be in your area. These may be better and could be cheaper than the main newspaper.

3. Roommate Finders

Roommate finders are sites that will allow you to put up a full profile and use the site to help you find the right roommate for you. These sites will allow you to do this for free, but when you are ready to contact someone else on the site you have to pay a membership fee. This keeps out the scams and the people that are not serious.

You can post many things in your profile on the roommate finder site and this will help you to put out the necessary amount of information to attract the right people. You want to include all the same information you would put in your Craigslist ad and maybe a little bit more on these sites.

4. Flyers

You can also turn your ad into a flyer and post it in the grocery stores, on college campuses, and anywhere that will allow you to put it up. This is a great way to find someone in a specific area that goes to the same places you go to. If you do this you want to include the most important information and tear off tabs across the bottom with your contact information.

What to Do After you Post Roommate Wanted Ads

When you post roommate wanted ads the goal is to get plenty of people to interview to be your roommate. You need to start with an online or on the phone interview and if you like what they say in this interview you can move onto a face to face interview. This is where you will really start to get a feel for the person.

If you want to have the best results and find the right roommate you need to take your time and interview at least a few people. Don’t get desperate and just choose someone that is able to move in right now. This is not a good way to find the right roommate and instead you want to have at least a few people to compare.

There are many ways to find a roommate or a few roommates to live with and posting roommate ads is a good way to do exactly that. Make sure you write an ad that is informative and is very specific about what you want. You will get plenty of good responses when you post roommate wanted ads and you need to interview a good amount of them before you make your decision.


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5 Things to Be Aware of When Using Free Roommate Sites and Ads

Posted on August 19, 2011 by admin

Why are Free Roommate Ads and Sites so Great?

When you use free roommate sites and ads you are going to be able to find the right roommate for you without spending a dime. The best part is that you can browse the ads and place your own ad to help you find exactly what you are after. Here are a few of the sites you can consider using online that are free.

1. Craigslist

The most popular of all the free roommate sites is Craigslist. This site will allow you to put your ad up very easily and it is free to do so. When you use Craigslist you will want to read their section on scams ahead of time to know what to look out for. This will help you with using the site and staying safe while doing so.

2. BackPage

BackPage is almost a copy of Craigslist, but it is used by many people that have been scammed by Craigslist or just don’t like Craigslist. It is a bit of a different group of people that use this site. You can still post in a very localized area and it can still help you find the right roommate for you.

3. Kijiji

Kijiji is actually owned and operated by eBay, which means it is a very reputable site. It is a free classified ad site that you can use to help you find a roommate online for free. This is not split up as well as the other two sites and it is not as popular either, but it is another resource to use for what you need.

Using any of these three resources could help you find the right roommate for you online and they are all free resources. With free roommate ads and sites you can certainly find the right roommate for you, but you do have to be careful because there are many scams on these site. Here are five things to look out for with sites for a free roommate search.

The Top 5 Things to Look out for With Free Roommate Sites and Ads

1. Credit Check Scam

One of the things you need to watch out for is the credit report scam. What will happen is when you place an ad and you get a response from someone that seems to be a real person looking for a roommate also, but they will also you to run a credit check for free on yourself. They will claim that it will go to them automatically, but this is not true.

When you sign up to get the free credit report you will have to enter your credit card information and the person that sent you the email will get paid for sending a lead to the credit report site. If you forget to cancel your subscription you will get charged for the service that you have to get a free trial of to get your credit report for free. This is all about the person making money and they are not really looking for a roommate.

2. The Foreign Country Scam

Another scam you will find on the free roommate sites and ads is the scam from the person that claims they are in another country. This scam is one that they will use more when you are looking for a room than a roommate. They will claim that you need to Western Union them money or send them a Money Order, but you will never get a place or hear from them again.

3. Unsafe People

Also, you need to be aware of unsafe people that will try to take advantage of you in other ways. These people are out there as predators and they may try to hurt you. If you meet them in public and do a background check yourself you will be able to avoid anybody that could potentially harm you when you go to see the room they have for rent.

4. Roommate Hoppers

Those that go from one roommate to another will use the free roommate sites to help themselves find a place to stay. They will pay for one month of rent and stay as long as they can without paying for anything else. These are real people and you have to be aware of. They are out there waiting to take advantage of their next victim.

5. Anything else Shady

Make sure you are also looking for anything else that seems suspicious. There are many scams and shady people out there that will use free sites to help them with their scam. You need to be careful and make sure you are comfortable with the person before you commit to being a roommate with them.

A Few Safety Tips for Using Free Roommate Sites

When you are looking for a roommate and you are using free sites to help you it is necessary to use a few safety tips to help keep you from getting into a situation that is just not right for you. There are many people that will take advantage of you and with the following few tips you can keep this to a complete minimum.

First, you want to make sure you never hand over cash or send money Western Union. Always write a check or get a money order so that you have solid proof that you paid the money to the person. Make a copy of the money order or check anytime you are giving a deposit ahead of time. This is more to protect you when renting a room in someone else’s house.

Second, always talk to the potential roommate online or on the phone first. This is a good time to ask the questions, prescreen them, and find out what you need to know about them. If they will not have a good conversation with you it could keep you from wanting to meet them in person and if all they want to talk about is money they may not be safe.

Last, make sure your first meeting is always in public so that you are in a safe place. You never want to meet at their place or yours the first time because this is just not always safe. Once you meet in person you will have a better chance of knowing you are going to be safe and able to move forward.

Finding a roommate is not always easy and if you want to make sure you are finding the right person in the safest way, then you need to be careful while searching. Make sure you are following the above guidelines and watching out for scams. If you are careful you can use the free roommate resources to help you find the right roommate for you.


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