{"id":75226,"date":"2022-03-14T06:51:58","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T13:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=75226"},"modified":"2022-03-29T09:17:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T16:17:22","slug":"how-to-find-a-roommate-in-a-new-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-find-a-roommate-in-a-new-city\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find a Good Roommate in a New City"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moving to a new city is exciting, however, finding roommates who are responsible, easy to live with, and share similar interests can be difficult. Finding someone that checks off most of your boxes is something to prioritize from the beginning of your search. Whether you\u2019re looking for a roommate in a big city like <\/span>New York, NY<\/span><\/a>, or a small town like <\/span>Sedona, AZ<\/span><\/a>, this article will provide useful tips, ideas, and tools to help you find a great roommate in a new city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Know what you want in a roommate<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s good to know what you\u2019re looking for before you begin your search for a roommate. That means spending time brainstorming and figuring out what you want for yourself. Beyond the purpose of having a roommate to help pay the bills, you\u2019ll want a clear vision of what your home life should be like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask yourself what you value most in your home space. You want a roommate who values the same things as well or at least has similar cleaning habits. Understanding the root cause of your search will help you say no to situations that don\u2019t serve you, but look like a good idea on the surface\u2014 such as living with a good friend when you know their home habits won\u2019t fit your lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to find a roommate in a new city using websites and apps\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Today, there are dozens of roommate finder apps and websites where you can get in touch with potential roommates outside of your personal network. Particularly, if you\u2019re moving to a new city, you\u2019ll likely need to use a third-party to find someone to live with, including online resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We recommend trying more than one option to get a wider range of potential roommates. Below is our list of sites you can use to find a roommate in a new city.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Name<\/th>Availability<\/th>Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Facebook<\/td>Website and App<\/td>Many cities have housing pages and groups you can join to find a roommate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Craigslist<\/td>Website and App<\/td>Post a listing and receive replies or reply to existing listings
\n
\nEasy, fast, and free. But, you may have to watch out for possible scams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RoomieMatch<\/td>Website only<\/td>Set filters to find a potential match. Premium accounts are about $20 a year.
\n
\nUses \u201cscam busters\u201d to review listings, and keep your information private<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diggz<\/td>Website only<\/td>You can like profiles of potential roommates to get a match (similar to dating apps).
\n
\nCan be used to find roommates in many situations, such as long or short-term
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roomster <\/td>App available on Google Play and the App Store<\/td>Matches are based on profile answers, interests and hobbies, personality traits, and testimonials
\n
\nPaid subscription
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roomi<\/td>App available on Google Play and the App Store<\/td>Fill out a profile to get matches based on a proprietary algorithm. $10 for 10 days
\n
\nUsers can connect social media profiles to screen potential roommates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PadMapper <\/td>App available on Google Play and the App Store<\/td>Post a listing using \u201cPost a Pad\u201d and receive replies or vice versa
\n
\nParticularly popular in Canada. You can also use PadMapper to find an apartment
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rainbow Roommates<\/td>Website only<\/td>Sign up for a 15- or 30-day (refundable) membership to find roommates in the LGBTQ+ (and allies) community
\n
\nNYC-only. Typically it takes two weeks to find a roommate. All applicants are pre-screened
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roommates.com<\/td>Website and app<\/td>Create a profile and receive matches for about $20 per month
\n
\nA large site with many users. The paywall reduces the chance of fraud
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cirtru<\/td>Website only<\/td>Set preferences to receive matches
\n
\nUseful in many housing situations
\n
\nParticularly great for pet owners
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RoomEasy<\/td>App available on Google Play and the App Store<\/td>Create a profile with tags to get potential matches
\n
\nYou review profiles and give out likes to receive a full match
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SpareRoom<\/td>App available on Google Play and the App Store<\/td>Post an ad or respond to one
\n
\nEvery post is reviewed by a real person before posting live
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BunkUp<\/td>App only available for Google Play<\/td>Fill out a profile and receive matches
\n
\nProvides agents for people looking for an apartment
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roomaters<\/td>App available on Google Play and the App Store
\n<\/td>		Uses a personality test to find potential roommates
\n
\nGreat for looking for people with similar interests and hobbies
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Circle (Circle for Roommates)<\/td>App only on Google Play <\/td>Create a profile and receive matches.
\nUsers are all verified and have passed a background check
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roomies<\/td>Website only<\/td>Create a profile and find roommates moving to the area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Once you get to know a few candidates, it\u2019s a good idea to meet over a video chat. If you\u2019re close to one another, try meeting at a local coffee shop or another public area to see if they are a great fit. Before meeting, tell someone you trust that you are meeting up with a potential roommate and be sure to keep in contact with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that there are fair housing laws you’ll need to follow when advertising for a roommate. You should speak with a lawyer or local housing authority to make sure you understand and know how to navigate those rules. You’ll also want to speak with local experts to make sure you’re familiar with any rules surrounding tenant’s rights, including any limitations on your ability to evict a roommate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

10 questions you should ask potential roommates<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many questions you could ask your potential roomies, but some are more important than others. Below are ten questions you should ask every roommate before moving in together.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Are you employed, how long have you been employed at your current job, and do you plan to stay there?<\/b><\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0Are you able to cover all the move-in fees (e.g. security deposit or brokers fees)? <\/b>Anyone with issues covering move-in costs should take some time saving up before you live together. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. What percentage of your income would your rent make up?<\/b> You\u2019re looking for someone who is spending 35 percent or less on rent. Less than 50 percent if you\u2019re in a very expensive area. This also could be a very personal question some may not want to answer. Another approach you can take is to talk about how you each like to approach paying bills. Do they always pay bills the moment they\u2019re due, or do they put it to the side and get to it on a specific day of the week? <\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Do you have pets?<\/b> Or, if you have a pet, you can ask them if they like living with animals?<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. What is your daily schedule like?<\/b> What times are you typically home and away? They don\u2019t have to give hour-by-hour accounts of their day. This is really to understand the flow of use in your home and when you\u2019ll be able to have alone time or hang out together if you choose.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. How often do you like to have guests over? What\u2019s your preference on overnight guests?<\/b> You might also want to ask about any significant other who might be over. If there will be a significant presence of another person, you should decide whether that\u2019s something you can work with or not. <\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Do you drink, smoke, or use recreational drugs at home? <\/b><\/li>\n
  8. What have your past roommate situations been like?<\/b> Are you still friends with old roommates? If your potential roommate only has bad things to say about their past roommates, this could be a red flag. Everyone has roommate trouble now and again, but someone constantly in conflict may have some unresolved issues of their own. <\/span><\/li>\n
  9. How clean do you like to keep the house?<\/b> This is a good time to discuss any cleaning rituals you both have or a pet peeve, like dishes left in the sink.<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. What do you want in a roommate?<\/b> This is a good time to discuss the sharing of household duties, items, and responsibilities. If anything of concern comes up, be sure to ask for clarification before ending the conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Other questions to ask your potential roommates<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Beyond the basics, you\u2019re going to want to ask questions more specific to your situation. Here are some ideas to get you started.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Do you work from home? <\/b>Someone working from home may use more utilities which should be addressed. But a positive tradeoff could be that they keep pets company and accept packages dropped off at your front door. <\/span><\/li>\n
    2. What do you like to do for fun? <\/b>This is a good opportunity to see if you have any similar interests.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. How cautious of COVID are you? <\/b>You can also ask about vaccinations and social distancing. If you have special requirements, be sure to discuss the protocols you need to follow. <\/span><\/li>\n
    4. What time do you usually get up and what time do you usually wind down?<\/b> This is to understand the general quiet hours you two could have.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Do you often cook at home?<\/b> This is especially important if your kitchen is small or if you do a lot of home cooking. If you\u2019re a vegetarian, vegan, or follow another special diet, you may want someone else who follows the same diet or doesn\u2019t consume foods you may have a severe allergic reaction to. <\/span><\/li>\n
    6. How long do you plan to live here?<\/b> If you want a long-term roommate, then stick to candidates looking for something similar.<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. What are your pet peeves?<\/b> Everyone has a few things that can irritate them, and it\u2019s a good idea to know what those are before you live together. <\/span><\/li>\n
    8. Have you dealt with any significant roommate or housing situations in the past?<\/b> How did you deal with them? Would you handle them in a similar way or take an entirely different approach?<\/span><\/li>\n
    9. Do you have a good <\/b>credit score<\/b><\/a>? <\/b>A better credit score can help get your application approved, and usually reflects how one manages their debt payments.<\/span><\/li>\n
    10. What else should I know about you? And what else do you want to know about me?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"A<\/p>\n

      How to find a roommate: interview tips<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Interviewing is a special skill all on its own. Below are our best tips for getting the most out of your interviews with potential roommates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n