So you've found the perfect candidate on the Chillow app to potentially be your roommate. Now what? I mean, you could make plans to move right in with one another with no hesitation or questions asked. This might be the best person and option you'll come across. It seems like it was meant to be, right? You meet virtually or in person, plan where to live, sign the papers and you're officially roommates. YAY!
Now fast forward three months... Your home is a mess, there's some rando passed out on the couch, dishes in the sink are piling up and that so-called perfect roommate you found? Well they forgot to fill the Brita back up and put it in the fridge. Sound familiar?
While this could make for a great first novel idea or contribution to your next stand-up attempt at Open Mic Night, you'd rather not have to deal with this, ESPECIALLY when it all could have been avoided. How? We've come up with 10 questions you should be asking your potential new roommate, preferable before the lease is signed.
This is a great opportunity for the both of you to find out how often you'll be at home on a daily basis, if you'll be an early worm or a night owl, if they work full-time, or even at all. LOL
Asking what people like to do in their free time can help identify if the both of you have similar interests. You'll easily be able to identify if they'll be at home, socializing with friends at their place, or out of town. This can also lead to asking questions about whether or not they drink or smoke, if so how often, etc.
We've all dealt with someone who never learned how to do laundry, who leaves their dishes in the sink for days and who forgets to put the toilet seat down. Heck, it may even be you. Either way, it's important to understand each other's hygiene and cleaning habits to establish if you'll get along when it comes to the cleanliness expectations of your home.
Understanding someone's eating and dining habits can be important for several reasons. This could help you better understand if you'll need to be getting certain kitchen and cleaning supplies, and understanding this combined with their daily schedule can help the both of you determine if you'll be in the kitchen at the same time. If you both eat out you can split the UberEats delivery fee, and if you like to cook at home if can be together and you can even split the cost on certain groceries.
This is a helpful question to establish ground rules about guests. Some people love to host and others like their down time alone at home. If you're more of a social person and your potential new roommate would rather not have people over all the time, that's okay. You can discuss a healthy balance by compromising and working in both of your favors.
Not everyone gets along and negative roommate experiences are common *cough cough why we created this platform.* But it's very important to ask this question. Why? Understanding people's current relationships with previous roommates can determine how your relationship would work. If they're telling you they hate every one of their past friends they've lived with, there's a common factor that needs to be recognized. If they are still close with each other, they were able to have a positive and respectful relationship. Make sure you check them on the Chillow app for their roommate review score as well!
This question is important for a multitude of reasons. If someone doesn't tell you if they're in a romantic relationship and they happen to be in one, you may be agreeing to a third roommate without even knowing it.
Here's the thing: it's okay not to become besties with your roommate. You don't need to be attached at the hip and be together 24/7. What there needs to be is understanding and creating common ground. Some people want to have a roommate solely because they can't afford a place on their own, other's are new to the area and want to meet new people, and some want to develop a close relationship to the person they're living with. Telling someone what you're looking for and getting their answer will simplify the process and create an overall understanding of what outcome is desired.
Everyone has them. Leaving wads of hair in the shower (gross, we know), borrowing other people's things without asking or people who double dip into the guacamole. Some people's habits can be other's worst nightmare. Don't skip this question, and make sure you check what their past roommates had to say about their habits (or lack thereof) on the Chillow app!
This is a two-part question for a reason. Asking if someone has any pets is one thing, but asking if they are or would think about getting one in the near future is a whole other ball park. Imagine being allergic to cats which you never disclosed to your roommate because they said they didn't have any furry friends then you come home one day to a baby kitten named Mr. Paws on your bed.
And there you have it; the 10 questions you need answered before deciding to move in with someone. Obviously ask as many questions until you're comfortable in making a decision whether or not this person may be a good fit for you. We hope this helps you establish whether that "perfect match" will actually work out in the long run. Good luck!
-The Chillow Team