Inquiring a roommate

Now-a-days having a roommate is something thats very common, with the economic impacts we have been faced with it’s obvious why. We can save money from splitting rent/mortgage, save our energy by giving each individual responsibilities within the home,etc. While this is awesome and great thinking you NEED to take precautions. Why? You can easily google different horror stories from those who bailed on their end of the bills to those who’s cats were murdered by their roomie. I’m sorry if that was too deep too quick but it’s true, the world we live in now is absolutely horrendous. Here is my advice when determining how/who you want to start this commitment with.

Tip #1: Contracts

If you are moving into a home with someone one of the main problems are caused by the home contract. Put both your names on the deed! Even if you’re moving in with someone you ‘trust’. Dont read over this thinking “it’s okay I’ll put just my or their name to save us on our application fees”. Regardless if you trust this person you need to protect yourself! And if you can speak to your landlord as a group I would, just let them know your deal as roommates and see if you can get those specifics on your contract as well.

Tip#2 Do not Roommate with your close friends

An average person can go up to 3 months (of being with someone consecutively) without showing their true colors. This including personality traits and bad habits. A lot of the time living with someone can become really aggravating. Whether it’s endless strands of hair on the shower wall, never doing their dishes, maybe even using towels to wipe their butts and not cleaning them.You DONT know someone’s bad habits until you live with them. This is just my opinion based on personal experience, related experiences I’ve read and heard from acquaintances.

Tip #3 Do Some Digging on who you plan on moving with especially if it’s someone you just met

There are websites you can go on that have 1$ fee/free trials that will allow you access to personal information including arrest records, previous homes, etc. Another thing you can do to get a good concept on who this person is, is to make posts. Ask your Facebook, Insta , any social media you have if anyone knows this person to try to get some information. Unfortunately you cant google a yelp review for individuals so this is the closest thing to it. If you have any other ideas on how to get to know this person I’d fulfill it.

Tip #4 SET BOUNDARIES

Though there is never certainty that it will be performed you need to set boundaries and rules before moving in.

If you move in and don’t have these distinguished you can run into some real problems. For example what if you have different definitions of a clean home or different opinions on anything really. Any concerns you may have you need to bring up before moving in even if it’s not something you think you would have to worry about.

Tip #5 Ensure your Privacy and Safety

To ensure your privacy and safety you should get curtains, a new lock on your bedroom door with a personal key, and a weapon you can keep in your room at all times. Even if you aren’t at all anxious your roommate might have the capability to hurt you you should always keep yourself safe. Your roommate can easily invite some crazy Tinder date to spend the night, who wants to kill you both in your sleep. You never know someone’s true intentions which is something you should always keep in mind.

Going off of this I would like to share my personal roommate horror story.

My boyfriend found a room for rent from a man we will call Joe. We invited this girl I’m no longer friend with to rent the second room he had available. Our relationship with Joe was dandy for a couple of months until he invited his exwife June to move in. June had massive bipolar disorder and made things horrible. Starting arguments with everyone , throwing my exfriends flat iron in the toilet, holding a knife to us,stealing Joes checks , Stealing Joes car, etc. I swear if you looked up a definition of crazy on Google, Junes picture would be posted. Anyways my ex friend got an injunction on her but June ended up getting arrested right after for stalking her ex outside his working telling everyone who exit the building she was going to kill them so we didn’t have to worry about her for a while. Joe paid 2000$ to get June out of jail and brought her back though she wasn’t suppose to be in the same building let alone living in the same home with this injunction in place. The cops were called June was arrested again and this started a huge riot out of Joe and his kids. They started making threats one day when I was home alone screaming to them selves “I can get violent if I need to, she messed with the wrong motherf*cker, etc” and I didn’t feel comfortable being there alone. I called my mom and I asked her to come get me for the day. When my family arrived I heard a knock on the front door and then screaming from Joes son in law Bob. I ran in screaming at Bob why are you acting crazy (though Bob has bipolar disorder too) and apparently when my parents walked up to get me my mom mentioned to Joe that the eviction notice he gave us was fake (dated 2016 in 2021 with a lot of misspelled words and stuff giving away that these papers were obviously fake) and he got mad and came inside. Yet because this happened his son in law wouldn’t let me outside or unlock the door. He kept me hostage as I went to unlock the door he shoved me into the dresser near the door. I got up and unlocked the door and as my parents and my 11 year old brother walked inside (because they heard the screaming, them not allowing me to leave, and the glass crashing on the ground off the dresser). Bob had the nerve to pull a gun on my family and I. I started to cry is I was afraid that it might have been our last day. He never pulled the trigger and I’m thankful he didn’t but in that moment I just knew I was going to die if a bullet was shot I would have to make sure it hit me and I was going to die. It’s very damaging feeling that way and it could have ended up in so many different ways.

This is why I wanted to make this post for you today because of the trams I’ve experienced. I wasn’t careful enough, I didn’t do the research or make an effort to see who this jacked up family is. And that back fired on me. I hope you don’t make the same mistakes I have. So If you’re considering getting a roommate or renting out a room please keep these tips on mind