APARTMENT GUIDE
Look at lifestyles to predict compatibility
Whether you choose a best friend or stranger, finding a roommate can be a difficult decision
BY ISADORA RANGEL irangel@kansan.com
Having a roommate is like marriage. You never know what you are getting into until you start living with someone.
Whether rooming with your best friend or a complete stranger, the best way to avoid having your worst enemy sleeping in the next room is to know if your habits are compatible.
Potential roommates should make clear what they are looking for and establish some guidelines, said John Wade, outreach coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services at Watkins Memorial Health Center. He said that housing stressed agreement between people, and they should be aware of their "rights with respect of others." Writing down a few guidelines is a good way to make rules clear and easier to follow.
These guidelines mainly involve daily habits. It is important to watch out for partying habits and noise because nobody likes to be woken up in the middle of the night by a drunk or a loud roommate. Also, knowing how often they bring friends over might avoid walking into your apartment and seeing strange faces
Cleaning habits are a special category that has to be looked at carefully. Both roommates should be compatible when it comes to cleaning before they move in together. People with different ideas of what a clean room is might have conflicts.
Rooming with friends has a good and a bad side, because seeing each other every day might strengthen ties or cause conflict. It is important to know if friends have compatible habits besides having compatible personalities.
On one hand, some people end up having a great experience. For Nick Frisby, Marion graduate student, living with his good friend worked out really well and even made them closer than before. Their laid-back style made it work. "Both of us don't mind the mess," Frisby said.
On the other hand, living with friends can be a bad idea for some students. Kellen Voss, Shawnee graduate student, decided not to have roommates anymore after living with his messy friends. "Don't room with your friends because you learn too much about them that you wouldn't know," Voss said.
Another option is to move in with people you don't know or with whom you are not
close. A lot of students find someone through acquaintances or friends' friends.
It is important to have some questions ready about potential roommates' habits and background. Also, get in touch with previous roommates to know how their experience was.
According to Lindsey Spedding, Marietta, Ga., graduate student, it is easier to live with someone you don't know because you end up being more respectful. She barely knew her roommate, but became best friends with her after they moved in together.
Whoever you end up living with, be aware of legal and financial issues first. Keeping in mind a few things might avoid a headache in the future.
Teresa Baker, tenant and landlord counselor at Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., advises people to know their rights and make sure their future roommate really has money to pay for rent.
Don't be afraid to ask for a copy of their paychecks. Get in touch with their previous landlords to know how responsible they were in the past. If you want to go further, check their criminal and civil records. Shawnee County provides this service online, but other counties might have different policies.
tips
Here are a few things you should do before moving in with somebody:
1. Know if he/she is a morning or night person.
2. Find out if you are going to live with a party animal or a homebody.
3. Ask how often they bring friends over.
4. Talk to their previous roommates and landlords.
5. Ask if he/she is a smoker in case you don't like cigarettes.
6. Know if they are tidy or messy.
7. Write down your guidelines and rules.
8. Remember that good friends are not necessarily good roommates.
9. Read the Tenant Handbook on the Kansas Housing and Credit Counseling Web site, www.hcci-ks.org/tenanthelp.htm.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MARCH 11,2008