The Roommate Selection Process

Choosing a roommate is an important part of renting an apartment.  Often you may begin living with someone and be great friends, but the stress of being incompatible can drive your relationship to dissolution.  The Austin Tenants' Council helps you make sure you and your roommate are compatible housemates.

First, it's important that the person you choose can be trusted to live up to their financial commitments, such as paying rent and bills, as well as their commitment to assume equal responsibility for taking care of the shared living space.  Being afraid to come home because you are in a fight with your roommate is a very unpleasant situation.  By discussing things such as expectations on the amount of noise in the apartment, acceptable hours for guests, and acceptable level of cleanliness for the apartment before you sign a lease with someone can prevent you from winding up in an untenable situation.  These sorts of things can be clarified in a roommate agreement.

As far as financial responsibilities, your landlord and utility companies only care that they are paid, they do not care where the money comes from.  If you do not come up with the complete rent or utility money, all inhabitants of the house are responsible and will have their credit dinged for any late or missing payments.  When it comes to utilities, one person will have to write the check and collect payment from the other roommates.  If one roommate wants cable and another doesn't, perhaps that bill can't be split down the middle.  That is another item to be discussed in advance.

The Austin Tenants' Council has a Renting Together Contract that provides a useful way for all roommates to agree to their responsibilities, as well as laying out the procedure if a roommate wants to move out.

Ready to find an apartment with a great roommate floorplan?  Or maybe you've decided to get a one bedroom rather than deal with the hassle of having a roommate.  No matter what your plan is, Apartment Experts North can help!  Give us a call today at 512-339-4411.

Finding a Roommate

When #ChoosingARoommate, it's important to find someone who is compatible with your habits and philosophy.  Otherwise you run the risk of turning your #apartment into a war zone.  Apartment Therapy has a lot of great discussion topics for meeting potential roommates.

Make sure you choose someone with a similar schedule.  If you like to stay up late, you don't want to live with someone who turns in at 9 and requires that the apartment be absolutely silent.

Another major bone of contention between roommates is housekeeping style.  Make sure you are both on the same page about what constitutes clean and that you can split the chores in a way that makes both parties happy. Or invest in a housecleaning service.  

Be sure that your potential roomie can pay their half of the rent.  If they don't have a steady source of income or bounce around between jobs, that's a red flag that you might be left holding the rent check bag repeatedly.

Other important areas to discuss with potential housemates are decorating style, how often they have guests, and pets.  Make sure you are on the same page about these things or can make mutually agreeable rules regarding them. 

 Finally, before you sign the lease, have a cup of coffee or a beer with your potential roommate and be sure they are someone you get along with.  If you find yourself watching the clock so you can leave, that's probably not the person you want to come home to at the end of the day.

Ready to find an apartment that's perfect for #roommates?  Give Apartment Experts South a call today at 512-416-8100.

Choosing a Roommate

When #ChoosingARoommate, it's important to find someone who is compatible with your habits and philosophy.  Otherwise you run the risk of turning your #apartment into a war zone.  Apartment Therapy has a lot of great discussion topics for meeting potential roommates.

Make sure you choose someone with a similar schedule.  If you like to stay up late, you don't want to live with someone who turns in at 9 and requires that the apartment be absolutely silent.

Another major bone of contention between roommates is housekeeping style.  Make sure you are both on the same page about what constitutes clean and that you can split the chores in a way that makes both parties happy. Or invest in a housecleaning service.  

Be sure that your potential roomie can pay their half of the rent.  If they don't have a steady source of income or bounce around between jobs, that's a red flag that you might be left holding the rent check bag repeatedly.

Other important areas to discuss with potential housemates are decorating style, how often they have guests, and pets.  Make sure you are on the same page about these things or can make mutually agreeable rules regarding them.  Finally, before you sign the lease, have a cup of coffee or a beer with your potential roommate and be sure they are someone you get along with.  If you find yourself watching the clock so you can leave, that's probably not the person you want to come home to at the end of the day.

Ready to find an apartment that's perfect for #roommates?  Give Apartment Experts North a call today at 512-339-4411.