Independence is a strategy that can guarantee success in this chapter of life, therefore, it is fundamental to live it in the best way possible. One thing is the idea you have about independence, but reality it’s something else. Many times getting away from your parents it’s just the first step, but to survive or run certain expenses, a roommate is the answer to your prayers.
On that note, having a clear concept about the person you will live with, must be a priority. Even though it’s not necessary to find your soulmate in order to move in with someone, you should begin your search based on certain requirements, such as:
- Compatibility
- Good communication
- Similar lifestyles
Having those three aspects under control, it is time to move forward to the next step, trying to know in depth the person you will share your home with. For this matter, it’s not necessary to start some sort of special research, just by asking the next ten questions, you’ll have an accurate profile of the aspirant.
What you need to know about your roommate:
This is a very important phase in the process of finding the right person, so asking the right questions is vital for success. However, it is important to clarify that:
Knowing someone takes a lot of time, this process only applies to get a general idea about what kind of person you’re dealing with; the rest of the story will write itself while you coexist with your roomie. The following questions are pretty basic, that’s why every person can adapt them to their own reality.
What are your immediate plans about the house?
The answer to this question will be useful to know for how long you will count with this person’s company (monetary help or rent complement)
What action would you take on a saturday at 6:00 am?
Believe it or not, this is a really important question, since it will help you get a more precise concept about your roommate’s personality.
Where do you work?
This is a not so direct way to verify where the money will come from, not to investigate the legal origin of the funds, but to acknowledge their financial capability and their possible behavior when it comes to pay their part of the bills.
How do they conceive the shared life?
A simple way to know what type of living they are up to and until what point they agree with the word “sharing”.
Where are they from?
Sharing a home is a really big deal, especially because you’ll be sharing your traditions and your ways of living with someone, and they’ll be sharing theirs in return. It can be even more drastic when it comes to someone with a different nationality, since it means a completely different culture and sometimes, a different language.
For instance, Latin American culture is very broad. If you share your home with a Latino renter, you should ask them where they’re from to understand a little more about their culture and traditions. Use this as a way to bond with your roommate and create harmony in your home.
How do they spend their free time?
This is not only a camouflaged way to discover possible toxic behavior, but it is also a strategy to find compatibility that can be exploited further.
Do they like smoking or drinking?
It will always be important to have this kind of information before closing a deal, considering that these are habits that can turn into annoying behaviors to someone who is not used to them.
Do they like cleaning?
This point is crucial, it will tell if the roommates will take care of the housecleaning or if they will have to hire someone to do it for them.
Do they have any allergies?
It is about preserving the life of the person you will share roof with, knowing allergies of any type can mark the difference between life and death.
Your roommate’s allergies can also determine certain aspects of your life such as not being allowed to have pets or using special cleaning techniques if they’re allergic to dust.
Who can I talk to in case of emergency?
It doesn’t have anything to do with attracting bad vibes, it is just in case. Knowing who to call if there’s an emergency it’s important in many ways. Better safe than sorry, right？