If you are thinking about sharing a Leonardtown rental home with a roommate, it’s pertinent to know what to look for. Since outrightly dreadful roommates are happily rare, there are numerous horror stories to make anyone think twice before ever sharing their home with a stranger. The opposite is also true: Often, roommates grow to certainly become some of the most faithful friends you’ll ever have.
Notwithstanding there are no guarantees, there are red flags you can look out for to help know what type of roommate any person might be. Here are particular things you need to certainly know that can be advantageous to you in spotting a bad roommate.
1. Badly Written Ad
Not all of us are very good at writing ads, despite that though, a poorly written or incomplete ad may clearly say that the person who posted it is hiding something or isn’t able to offer much effort in even the smallest of tasks. Either way, an ad replete with misspellings or one that is missing basic information about the rental situation may surely point to clues of real trouble ahead. Keep in mind that Real Property Management does not advertise on Craigslist. Always apply directly from our website.
2. Answers to Questions are Vague or Inconsistent
Another red flag to look carefully for is while asking questions about the roommate or rental arrangements. It’s particularly pertinent to ask why the last roommate left (if there was one) or why they are moving in with you and why they need a new place to live. If their answers to these concerns are vague or they seem unwilling to talk about it, it’s viable they were somehow at fault.
3. Messy House
If you are responding to an ad for a roommate, certainly check the living conditions before ever deciding to commit to anything. Throughout the time of your visit, observe carefully the cleanliness of the space – and not just on the surface. If that is possible, ascertain obvious clues that things are not being cleaned consistently, for a case in point, dusty ceiling fans or dirty dishes piled in the sink. If the rental house is in disarray and messy, that’s a weighty reason to walk away. Nobody wants to lose out on a security deposit because of a bad roommate.
4. No Job or References
Along with asking the roommate about themselves, ask in terms of the potential roommate’s job and for at least two references. If they don’t seem to have a job or are not inclined to provide references, both are red flags that something isn’t appropriately right. While it is true that asking questions about a person’s finances may feel awkward, it’s the perfect method to eliminate getting trapped with a roommate that won’t be able to regularly pay and chip in their portion of the rent each month. If you are requesting an application for a rental through RPM Gold, our screening process certainly has landlord references to look out for prior tenant behaviors.
5. Significant Other
Another crucial thing you should realize is whether your potential roommate has a significant other and how much time that person spends in the house. Most often, a roommate’s significant other will spend ample time in the place where they practically live rent-free. This may not be an arrangement that you are favorable to agree to, certainly if they are noisy or disruptive.
In the case of a landlord-tenant relationship, a significant other should ALWAYS submit an application. Otherwise, this may be a case of an unauthorized tenant which may be grounds to terminate your leases.
6. Listen to Your Intuition
Once in a while, you’ll find a person that may sound like an ideal roommate on paper, but when you meet them, something feels off. That feeling could understandably be your intuition telling you something is wrong, even if you can’t immediately see what it is. The best way you can do this is to listen to your gut and go on and check elsewhere if you don’t feel comfortable.
Living with roommates can truly be a real challenge, but finding the right one could happily make your life even better! Are you in search of a rental home that you could share with a roommate or two? RPM Real Property Management Gold has a huge inventory of quality rental properties near you. But aside from that, our thorough tenant screening process helps eliminate red flags. Browse our rentals and apply online today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
