Melissa Howard
Published: April 12, 2006
Have you ever awakened to a younger brother or sister screaming at the top of their lungs? Living with a bad roommate can be just as bothersome. When choosing a roommate, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.
At PJC, regular students don’t have the option of living in a dorm, so the person’s financial status should be the first priority on your list. Without the help of a parent, making rent can be troublesome for some full-time students.
Finding cheap housing helps with this a lot, but most two bedroom houses or apartments in this area range from $600 to $900 a month. If you sign a lease, your signature on that piece of paper means you are responsible for the full amount of rent each month, whether your roommate coughs up half or not, and that could put your bank account into a touchy situation.
Another characteristic to look at in a potential roommate is cleanliness. No one wants to open the door to a mess in the living room, especially if it’s not theirs. Community space in the house is something to be respected, not taken advantage of.
Stephanie Early, 19, said, “I hate coming home to a messy kitchen. When I get off work, all I want is something to eat and sometimes I can’t have that because there’s a mess in the kitchen.”
If you have a pet, it is imperative to find a roommate and a landlord that is okay with that. Many landlords will make you put down a pet deposit to have the animal, and then pay for all the damages the pet does to the house. Roommates who don’t get along with your pet typically won’t get along well with you, and being considerate of that means making sure your pet doesn’t go in their room or bother them.
It is also very important to move in with someone you get along with. People with lifestyles that don’t mesh make for a chaotic house.
“Make sure you and your roommate are on the same page with overnight guests, quiet hours, and borrowing from each other,” says Rentnet.com’s list for choosing a roommate.
For a last tip, don’t pick a roommate without interviewing them first. On paper, the person could be tidy and willing to work with others, but in real life could be unemployed, extremely messy, and have a dog that likes to wet the carpet.
Some sources to find a roommate are the bulletin board in the Student Center, the classified section of the newspaper, and the many websites devoted to finding the ideal roommate.