Picking a roommate can be tricky

Over the past 10 year I have probably lived with over a dozen roommates. So I think it is only fair if I call myself a roommate guru.

Some of those people were friends, some I have found via Craigslist. My latest roommate is probably the best I ever had and we’ve been living together for about a year and a half now.

Looking back at all the disastrous and successful roommates I definitely can see a clear picture of what is important to know and what red flags should not be ignored.

1. Diet. While I may sometimes wonder how my current roommate manages to survive on an American college kid diet consisting of fried chicken and vodka I do enjoy the benefits of it. This was not the case when I live with this older Korean lady who loved to cook what appeared to be some sort of decomposed fish dish. The smell was so bad I sometimes had to leave the house.

2. Pets. The rule is if you have pets and your potential roommate as much as looks weird at your beloved creature let them go. You will save your money (from having to buy pet gates) and sanity. Some people just don’t like animals and might not even know it. Figure this one out for them by not allowing them to live with you.

3. Parents. I find this one usually a good sign (when they live miles away). When parents are involved the rent gets paid on time, the shelves get hung on the walls and life just looks a little brighter.

4. Boyfriends/Girlfriends. This one can be a hit or a miss. Obviously it is important to discuss limits and rules but until you start living with each other it is difficult to tell what’s going to cause more problems – the fact that your roommate has a steady boyfriend or random people over.

I hope this helps someone to figure out who is the right candidate and who is not!