Choosing a Roommate
Decide what person you would like to have as a roommate - male or female, smoker or nonsmoker, someone younger, older, or same age.
Use your network to find suitable person.
Make sure your potential roommate is legit.
Get a sense of a potential roommate's finances.
Invite potential roommates for an interview.
Expectations
Communicate openly and honestly.
Decide how you handle rent and utility payments.
Agree on how you will handle cleaning responsibilities.
Decide on how you will handle messages and mail.
Decide if household supplies will be shared.
When Expectations Are Not Met
Stay calm.
Schedule a house meeting.
List what you want to talk about prior to the meeting.
Talk to one another and come to an agreement.
Look at what you can all do differently.
Communicate face-to-face or over the phone.
Confront issues that are bothering you.
Once You Move In
Decide how will be responsible for calling the landlord in case of any problems.
Decide if you have to give notice if you will be having visitors.
Decide if the guests can stay overnight.
Decide on cleaning responsibilities.
Agree on smoking / drinking / drug use.
Decide which rooms are considered "common areas".
Set guidelines regarding private spaces.
Decide who will be given a key to your apartment.
Decide if you're willing to share clothing, music, dishes and other items.
Communicate with each other.

Roommate Checklist

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