Author Topic: Roommate Finder - Suggestions?  (Read 1933 times)

IWannaGo

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Roommate Finder - Suggestions?
« on: September 07, 2017, 08:30:10 AM »
I searched through the forums and could not find any previous thread...please share if I missed it.

Anyone know of a reputable way or website to find a roommate?  Something other than Craigslist and one YOU'VE had personal experience with?  Google comes up with a number of websites, but prefer to go with one someone has had direct experience with or knows someone who has.

Thanks!

mcneally

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Re: Roommate Finder - Suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2017, 10:38:23 AM »
If you're either young (mid 20s or under) or in a high cost city where roommates are relatively common even for single older people, you could post on social media to try to find a friend of a friend looking for a roommate.

From your other post it looks like you could be considering buying a house and renting a room. Before making such a big decision, remember to consider rules you'll have to make for each other about having friends and especially dates over to the place. Unless you can divide it up that they essentially have a basement apartment or something. That's why a stranger roommate isn't worth it to me in my low cost area. (I would probably room with an existing friend if I knew someone who wanted to though). 

IWannaGo

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Re: Roommate Finder - Suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2017, 11:55:19 AM »
If you're either young (mid 20s or under) or in a high cost city where roommates are relatively common even for single older people, you could post on social media to try to find a friend of a friend looking for a roommate.

From your other post it looks like you could be considering buying a house and renting a room. Before making such a big decision, remember to consider rules you'll have to make for each other about having friends and especially dates over to the place. Unless you can divide it up that they essentially have a basement apartment or something. That's why a stranger roommate isn't worth it to me in my low cost area. (I would probably room with an existing friend if I knew someone who wanted to though).

Thx Mcneally - you're right on the considerations.  And as much as I'm trying to figure out how to FIRE sooner by going after a much less expensive rent/housing situation, might be better to reduce into a cheaper location ('burbs), with a smaller apt by myself than to risk the other factors that come with having a roommate....as I'm in my 40's and prefer as little drama as possible. 

katscratch

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Re: Roommate Finder - Suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2017, 07:22:06 PM »
Depending on your social circles, word of mouth. I work in a professional field and it would be pretty simple to find roommates through coworkers that also are over 35 and professional.

This won't apply to your situation, but my current tactic is picking off my son's friends ;) I love these "kids" and they know me as "the mom" so are super respectful in ways that a roommate closer to my age might not be (re: the dating aspect especially). Things that are ridiculously amazing about renting a room or two to college students: They don't yet drink to excess (this is likely due to this particular group of kiddos than age); they have opposite hours to me so I get the bathroom and kitchen to myself in the mornings; they don't expect a Pinterest perfect yard; they have super interesting views on life and incredible enthusiasm for discussing everything under the sun; they bike everywhere so there aren't a million vehicles in front or behind my house; my dog gets more attention in one day than he has in the previous four years combined; and I actually see my son when he's home from college now :)