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  1. Your service has been invaluable, thank you for helping me find a wonderful roommate. - Daniel

     

  2. fourth time i've gotten roommates through YOU, great Site i love it. i've never needed more than 30 day membership, and have used it four times already. - Tim

     

  3. Thank you for the opportunity.....again!! I like your site very much. If I need to move again I will be back to reactivate! I recommend this site to everyone! Thanks again! - Jeffrey

     

  4. Your site was very helpful in finding a Roommate. It's easy to use and maintains your privacy. I would definitely recommend it to others if it's their first time looking for a roommate or 10th. - Jenni

     

  5. Great Service I wasn't in a rush to find a roommate because I joined 2 months prior to my lease terminating. I was trying to play it safe. It was nice to know I could find something right away though. I received email responses immediately after signing up. I had several options to choose from, which was nice. I found a place to live and signed the lease agreement within days of posting my info on your site. Now I know for the future in case I need to get a roommate right away how easy it is to get a roommate using your services. Thanks Again! - Paul

     

  6. I found a great match through your service. I am so thankful this service exists. - Cynthia

     

  7. I couldn't even imagine the good luck I had when choosing a user from this service. It is by FAR, the best roommate experience I've ever had! I'm very thankful I stumbled upon your site. Everyone I know who's looking for a place or a room to rent, I always refer them to roommates.com. Again, thank you! - Lisa

     

  8. Roommates.com made my search to fill my apartment easy and accessible. I was pleased with the information provided and the match capabilities the site had to offer. Thank you roommates.com for assisting me through the process of finding the perfect match for my room! - Erin

     

  9. This website was amazing. Without it,I would not have been able to find a decent roommate and place. Thanks a whole lot! - Dave

     

  10. Thanks Roommates.com I found a room mate here, or better he found my add and called. We hit it off over the phone and now he's moving to Seattle from L.A.!! His wife is starting medical school at the University of Washington. I wanted to say thank you Roommates!! This is one of the only times I have actually had a 1000% level of satisfaction from a website like this. I was let down by 2 other sites but before I even had time to put in my credit card information I had a room mate match!!! - Larry

     

  11. Thank you for your help in finding roomies - I found a great place and great people! I will recommend Roommates.com to everyone I know is looking. - Sterling

     

  12. It was an easy and effective way to minimize extra expenses, lots of great people out there looking to find the right roommate! Awesome website. - Jorge

     

  13. Roommates.com helped me find a roommate in less than a week! - Corey

     

  14. Thank you, thank you! I found the best roommate through using your service, and it only took me a couple days! I will definitely come back to roommates.com when I need a new place in the future. - Jennifer

     

  15. Thanks to Roommates.com, I found a great roommate who is pleasant & very professional. Your service was great, you response was always quick & you constantly update me with new match. I get the chance to check on applicants profile before I respond to them & from there I select which ones I invited to my home for a tour & interview. Your service was referre to me by a friend & now I will be referring you to others as well. - Teresa

     

  16. After some searching,meeting and interviewing I found a place.Roommates.com was useful in helping me find the right place and roommates.I would definitely use it again in the future if I need. - Tony

     

  17. Thank you for providing such a great service! Relocating to another state felt very overwhelming, but Roommates.com made it easy to find the perfect place and a wonderful new roommate. Thanks again! - Michelle

     

  18. I found the perfect roommate situation fitting exactly what I needed and was looking for! Thanks roommates.com! - TaMeicka

     

  19. This was a great place. I got two roommates because of this site. Thank you. - Jessica

     

  20. This site is awesome. I found a roommate in less than a week! Thank you so much! I will definitely use this site in the future if I need it and recommend it to others. Thank you! - Jennifer
     
    1. Great experience. Found someone very fast and he's working out wonderfully! Thanks roommates.com! - Kristen

       

    2. I was getting stressed out on finding a roommate. I didn't know where or how to look. My friend told me about this site. It was easy! The first to respond to my email ended up moving in with me. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! - Eunice

       

    3. Thanks again Roommates.com! I have had much success with this site - keep up the good work! - Tarah

       

    4. Thanks Roommates. I found just the right place in less than two weeks. - Edgar

       

    5. Great service- much better selection of potential roommates than Craigs list without all the spam. - Barb

       

    6. I found two roommates that I am very compatible with. In just the part of town I was looking for! - Charles
 
Finding The Right Roommate

by: Dan The Roommate Man

The Search


Finally ready to move out of your parents' basement? Tried living alone and didn't like it? Need to share so you can save a little bread? You're not alone: By some estimates, 30 million Americans are renting these days. That means a lot of interviewing is going on. How can you raise your chances of finding the perfect—or at least a perfectly good—roommate?

Ask and send e-mail messages to friends, classmates, and fellow workers about whether they know other people who are looking. Place or answer ads in the classified section of newspapers or trade publications. If you play electric guitar, chances are that music trade mags will get you closer to people who love midnight jams. Check the boards at favorite stores and local colleges and universities.

Finding a Good Match

Picture speed dating—a roomful of singles who get, say, 12 minutes each to talk to all other prospective partners in the room. At the end, each one tells the host who they'd like to see again. And being able to briefly "sample" prospective dates tends to evoke honest exchanges.

Roommate interviews shouldn't be as intense—or as condensed—but the more of them you set up, the better your chances of finding a good match. Try to talk openly about habits that might affect your ability to get along; it will make it easier for others to do the same.

Watch out for 'tude. Mutual respect is as important as good chemistry. Most roommate conflicts stem less from differences—we all have those—than from how they're handled. Would this hip guy go ballistic if you asked him to turn down the stereo because you're cramming for finals? Would this cool woman lose it if she came home to an impromptu beer party? Would you? Toss around some scenarios. It will break the ice, and you'll come away with a sense of your personality mix.

Best buds versus ships in the night. Are you looking for someone to share meals, friends, and gossip with, or just a decent roommate who gives you space? Make sure you're on the same track.

Communication. In one renters' Web log, a student reported that his roommate "painted the bathroom floor [unannounced] . . . and when we came home from a party (lots of beer) she told us we couldn't use the bathroom!" Spontaneity can be a good thing, but not at the cost of courtesy.

Safety, sanity, privacy. Talk about "locking etiquette," from bathrooms and bedrooms to front doors. If you'll be sharing a room, what if you or your roommate found yourself in the middle of a thing called love—can you count on always having access to your bedroom?

Food, glorious food. Compare eating habits—not only whether you eat "things that have eyes," but also expectations about shared meals, cooking and cleanup, and dinner guests. If you'd be keeping separate food caches, discuss whether it would sometimes be okay to borrow.

Early birds and night owls. Conflicting schedules can interfere with sleep patterns, homework, party time, and—let's face it—your style. It's natural to have conflicts now and then, but lifelong habits aren't likely to change.

When duty calls. Discuss sharing such unromantic chores as vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, shoveling snow, and taking out garbage, as well as shopping for food and other necessities. Who will shop for toilet paper, detergent, sponges—all that nice stuff—and when?

Scents and sensitivity. If you're scent-sensitive and your potential roommate goes heavy on the cologne or perfume, air freshener, patchouli incense, aromatherapy candles, Kool filters . . . well, you get the idea.

The sound and the fury. If your tolerance for noise levels isn't in sync, there'd better be something really good to make up for it (like communication and humor and a great place and . . .).

Hot and cold. If you're one of those hardy souls who wears shorts until the first snowfall, you might have trouble living with someone who believes home is where the hearth is always heated. If you go for it anyway, discuss how the heating bill should be divided.

It's an aesthetics thing. In established households, shared areas probably already have a "look." How will you compromise if you want to string spotted-cow lights around the china cabinet that holds your roommate's Limoges collection?

Close encounters of the fur kind. Allergies aside, even pet lovers can be frustrated to find their shredded shoes between the paws of a roommate's smiling collie. If your entire wardrobe is black and two white cats are eyeing you longingly during your interview, prepare to stock up on lint rollers.

Close encounters II: Attraction. If your interview turns into a flirt fest, exchange phone numbers rather than sharing a lease. Breaking up is hard to do, but it's even harder when it involves broken contracts. Really.

Close encounters III: Overnight guests. Discuss guest scenarios, from long-term visits to sweetheart overnights. If your home started to become a second residence for your roomie's boyfriend, would it be a deal breaker, or would he be asked to pay his share? (Note: Your lease probably has something to say about this.)

Nasty habits. If your idea of winding down is to light up, knock back a brew, and crank up the music, it may not be appreciated by a nonsmoking, nondrinking roommate who's working on his "Lutes in Shakespearean England" thesis. But hey, you never know: One Parisian party girl we know ended up rooming with a nun, and they became lifelong friends.


The Cost of Renting

Rent should be evenly divided among roommates, pure and simple, right? Not always. Consider these possible exceptions:

Bedroom size. Sunlight, water view, private deck—there are lots of reasons one room might seem better than others, and "who gets it" usually comes down to seniority. Size is another matter: If rooms are sized differently, figure out your home's square footage and pay equally for common areas, but pay for private areas based on square feet.

One room will be rented by a couple. A couple should count as two people in terms of utility costs, chores, shopping, and so on, but rent is a little trickier. Typically, couples pay more than individual renters but less than if they were renting two bedrooms, but it doesn't have to be about money. Be creative.

One of you is the primary leaseholder. The leaseholder holds responsibility if property is damaged or other renters leave without notice—and has to fill vacancies even under better circumstances. A rent break would be reasonable, but if that would cause household conflict, discuss other forms of tradeoff.

Someone needs extra space. If some common areas are off limits because they house a roommate's home office, sports gear, or stuffed-animal collection, it might be reasonable for them to pay a little more.

Other expenses

Food. Do you want to keep separate food stashes and accounts, or share and share alike? Consider a food "kitty" to which each roommate contributes the same monthly amount. Keep a ledger in the same secure location for signing cash in and out, and always attach receipts. If you take the communal approach, but one of you eats like a horse and the other like a bird, discuss a fair division of expenses.

Utilities. Utility bills should be divided equally if usage is similar. But if, say, one of you telecommutes with the lights turned up and the heat blazing, electric bills should be a discussion point. How will you divide bill paying? If the CPA among you offers to collect for and pay all the bills, maybe she should get a break on dish-washing duty.

The little details. All of those extra small expenses, from paper towels to window cleaner to air freshener, should be shared equally by those who use them.

Furniture. If you'll be moving into unfurnished digs together and you're starting from scratch, how will you work out expenses? If you're low on dough, is it more important to spring for that Ikea "Buddy" bookshelf, or buy extra chairs for guests?

Before you sign . . .

Let's say you've found a great place and it feels like you've known your prospective roommate forever. Before you finalize anything, follow up on references from previous landlords. Consider asking for—and be willing to provide—a recent credit report, along with a photo ID. It may sound goofy, but it will help protect both of you.

Where do you both stand financially in case of sudden layoffs? Some experts even advise that you do a criminal check. To show that your heart's in the right place, try sweetening the meeting with a gift of beer and phad thai. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
   
 
  1. Your service has been invaluable, thank you for helping me find a wonderful roommate. - Daniel

     

  2. fourth time i've gotten roommates through roommates.com, great Site i love it. i've never needed more than 30 day membership, and have used it four times already. - Tim

     

  3. Thank you for the opportunity.....again!! I like your site very much. If I need to move again I will be back to reactivate! I recommend this site to everyone! Thanks again! - Jeffrey

     

  4. Your site was very helpful in finding a Roommate. It's easy to use and maintains your privacy. I would definitely recommend it to others if it's their first time looking for a roommate or 10th. - Jenni

     

  5. Great Service RoomMates.com! I wasn't in a rush to find a roommate because I joined 2 months prior to my lease terminating. I was trying to play it safe. It was nice to know I could find something right away though. I received email responses immediately after signing up. I had several options to choose from, which was nice. I found a place to live and signed the lease agreement within days of posting my info on your site. Now I know for the future in case I need to get a roommate right away how easy it is to get a roommate using your services. Thanks Again! - Paul

     

  6. I found a great match through your service. I am so thankful this service exists. - Cynthia

     

  7. I couldn't even imagine the good luck I had when choosing a user from this service. It is by FAR, the best roommate experience I've ever had! I'm very thankful I stumbled upon your site. Everyone I know who's looking for a place or a room to rent, I always refer them to roommates.com. Again, thank you! - Lisa

     

  8. Roommates.com made my search to fill my apartment easy and accessible. I was pleased with the information provided and the match capabilities the site had to offer. Thank you roommates.com for assisting me through the process of finding the perfect match for my room! - Erin

     

  9. This website was amazing. Without it,I would not have been able to find a decent roommate and place. Thanks a whole lot! - Dave

     

  10. Thanks Roommates.com I found a room mate here, or better he found my add and called. We hit it off over the phone and now he's moving to Seattle from L.A.!! His wife is starting medical school at the University of Washington. I wanted to say thank you Roommates!! This is one of the only times I have actually had a 1000% level of satisfaction from a website like this. I was let down by 2 other sites but before I even had time to put in my credit card information I had a room mate match!!! - Larry

     

  11. Thank you for your help in finding roomies - I found a great place and great people! I will recommend Roommates.com to everyone I know is looking. - Sterling

     

  12. It was an easy and effective way to minimize extra expenses, lots of great people out there looking to find the right roommate! Awesome website. - Jorge

     

  13. Roommates.com helped me find a roommate in less than a week! - Corey

     

  14. Thank you, thank you! I found the best roommate through using your service, and it only took me a couple days! I will definitely come back to roommates.com when I need a new place in the future. - Jennifer

     

  15. Thanks to Roommates.com, I found a great roommate who is pleasant & very professional. Your service was great, you response was always quick & you constantly update me with new match. I get the chance to check on applicants profile before I respond to them & from there I select which ones I invited to my home for a tour & interview. Your service was referre to me by a friend & now I will be referring you to others as well. - Teresa

     

  16. After some searching,meeting and interviewing I found a place.Roommates.com was useful in helping me find the right place and roommates.I would definitely use it again in the future if I need. - Tony

     

  17. Thank you for providing such a great service! Relocating to another state felt very overwhelming, but Roommates.com made it easy to find the perfect place and a wonderful new roommate. Thanks again! - Michelle

     

  18. I found the perfect roommate situation fitting exactly what I needed and was looking for! Thanks roommates.com! - TaMeicka

     

  19. This was a great place. I got two roommates because of this site. Thank you. - Jessica

     

  20. This site is awesome. I found a roommate in less than a week! Thank you so much! I will definitely use this site in the future if I need it and recommend it to others. Thank you! - Jennifer
     
    1. Great experience. Found someone very fast and he's working out wonderfully! Thanks roommates.com! - Kristen

       

    2. I was getting stressed out on finding a roommate. I didn't know where or how to look. My friend told me about this site. It was easy! The first to respond to my email ended up moving in with me. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! - Eunice

       

    3. Thanks again Roommates.com! I have had much success with this site - keep up the good work! - Tarah

       

    4. Thanks Roommates. I found just the right place in less than two weeks. - Edgar

       

    5. Great service- much better selection of potential roommates than Craigs list without all the spam. - Barb

       

    6. I found two roommates that I am very compatible with. In just the part of town I was looking for! - Charles

       

    7. Second time I've use you guys. UR awesome! Thanks again. - John

       

    8. Thanks for all your help! I found both of my roommates on here in less than a month! Best roommate-finder ever! - Amanda

       

    9. He was absolutely amazing! He is exactly what he said in his profile, we get along great, my boyfriend likes him and he gets along with all my friends. this service was great! thank you so much - Tina

       

    10. This is the second time I have used your services and, again, I have found wonderful roommate, who has also become a friend. Have tried other services,and I will stick with roommates.com! - Will

       

    11. Thank you! Your service is amazing! - Tomas

       

    12. This site is awesome!!! I highly recommend it and would not hesitate to use it in the future, should the situation arise. - Kim

       

    13. This site is totally awesome. Not only did I find a roommate, but I also found a perfect match for companionship, thank you - Kevin

       

    14. This was a great service. I found a roommate within two weeks. This site made it so much easier...Thanks - Kim

       

    15. roommates.com is the way to go! i found a wonderful match through this website and we are very happy -- thank you roommates.com!!! i recommend this website to anybody looking for a roommate -- give it a try!! - Kris

       

    16. Thanks for your service. I found a place to live within hours of joining. It made my life so much easier. This site is terrific! - Ken

       

    17. I have found two roommates and just moved them both in this weekend everything is going great This site is wonderful - Amanda

       

    18. SO HELPFUL! I found exactly what I wanted...location, price, and a great roomate! thank you. - Ryan

       

    19. This is the second time I have used Roommates. I have found a place within a couple of hours both times. Keep up the great work. - Kevin

       

    20. Thank you so much for your service! Thanks to Roommates.com I not only found a roommate, but reconnected with a friend that I worked with in the ER for 10 years! In Mass! I move in on Dec 1st Thanks again. - Sheryl
       
      1. We were really worried about finding someone that would fit our very specific needs but within less than a month we found our perfect match! Thanks. - Jessica

         

      2. I have used this service twice now to find a roommate and I have done so both times within two weeks. Thank you roommates.com for all your help. - Adam

         

      3. Thank you, I found a roommate and had a variety of options very swiftly. This site was easy to use and I certainly would use it again. - Alex

         

      4. Thanks for your service. I was looking for a roommate across the country and found a perfect match. I never could have done this without your website!! - Fred

         

      5. Thank you so VERY much for this service ... It provided me a roommate ... and yes, I'm a real person! - Kayleen

         

      6. The service was wonderful and I found a GREAT roommate! I would definitely recommend this site to my friends!!! - Sleepy Phon

         

      7. Roommates.com was an excellent resource. I found great roommates, in the location and price range that I was looking for. I would recommend this web site to anyone looking for a place to live. - Lindsey

         

      8. This service helped me find a great place to live, I was kind of nervous because this was my first time looking for my own place and your service made everything very easy...Thank You - Chris

         

      9. I must say that I found a room mate in less than a week! I just put down a brief description of myself and roommates.com matched me perfectly with not only a roommate but a very good friend.... This is the second time I used them in 2 different states so it proves to be the number one place to find your next roommate! Thank you roommates.com! - Angie

         

      10. Once again, this website worked wonderfully. I found a great room mate in a very short time and am quite happy with the situation in general. - Darin

         

      11. I found a roommate through this site within 2-3 days of joining. Thank you so much, I truly couldn't ask for more! - Angela

         

      12. I found a roommate within a week using your website. It was so much easier than I ever thought it could be to find someone compatible to live with. I love my new roommate and our place is perfect for my needs. Thanks for a wonderful service! - Lauren

         

      13. Thank you for your information and help. This is a great service and I will recommend it to others who need this type of assistance. - Patrick

         

      14. This is my second time using this service, and it is most excellent. - Andrew

         

      15. Roommates.com worked out great, I got tons of responses and found a roommate in no time. - Christopher

         

      16. Great site. I have used Roommates.com three times now and have found a roommate each time due to this site. Good reliable roommates. The quick fill profile and search engine makes it easy to use and saves a lot of time compared to other sites. Keep up the good work. I'll be back if in need of a roommate or looking for a place to live. - Rick

         

      17. Thanks a lot. I found a wonderful place to stay and my roommate is a great guy! - Marcelo

         

      18. I have found a roommate and a great living environment that is within my price range. Thank you!!! - Ivan

         

      19. Dear Roommates.com: Thank you for your service. It has been very beneficial and I will recommend it to friends & family. - Linnea