My apartment lease is up at the beginning of September, but due to various reasons and personal affairs that I won't bore you with, I have to sign a lease on a new apartment by next weekend. Unfortunately, 1-bedroom apartments in the neighborhood that I'm looking at are entirely too expensive for me, and places that would be affordable would add at least 1 hour to my total daily commute (which is already over 2 hours).
Therefore, I've begun looking at rooms for rent with complete strangers. I'm a little apprehensive about it, but I don't see how I have much choice. Have any of you knuckleheads ever lived with strangers (outside of college)? Any advice on things I should look out for?
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Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
Demea wrote:
My apartment lease is up at the beginning of September, but due to various reasons and personal affairs that I won't bore you with, I have to sign a lease on a new apartment by next weekend. Unfortunately, 1-bedroom apartments in the neighborhood that I'm looking at are entirely too expensive for me, and places that would be affordable would add at least 1 hour to my total daily commute (which is already over 2 hours).
Therefore, I've begun looking at rooms for rent with complete strangers. I'm a little apprehensive about it, but I don't see how I have much choice. Have any of you knuckleheads ever lived with strangers (outside of college)? Any advice on things I should look out for?
Therefore, I've begun looking at rooms for rent with complete strangers. I'm a little apprehensive about it, but I don't see how I have much choice. Have any of you knuckleheads ever lived with strangers (outside of college)? Any advice on things I should look out for?
I've never done it personally, but I have a friend who pretty much exclusively rooms with strangers to cut down on rent. He's been through a bunch of places, as he keeps having issues with roommates who simply do not clean up after themselves. At one place, they left a half-eaten rotisserie chicken sitting out on the kitchen counter for two weeks.
Cleanliness is a big issue, and something that you might want to ask about before settling somewhere. It's not usually mentioned in advertisements, but it can be a major problem. I'd be sure to have a polite way to bring it up while you're shopping around.
Sorry I can't be more of a help.
Edited, Jul 24th 2011 11:10pm by Eske
There is no polite way to bring it up.
Yeah, frankly, just ask them how clean they are, and be specific. Ask about dish-washing habits, trash-day, etc. You don't need to go overboard, but if they pass you up for it, you probably didn't want to live with them anyway.
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.
Eske Esquire wrote:
Cleanliness is a big issue, and something that you might want to ask about before settling somewhere. It's not usually mentioned in advertisements, but it can be a major problem. I'd be sure to have a polite way to bring it up while you're shopping around.
Other questions I would likely ask include: what hours your roommate keeps, how often they party, their feelings on home security, if they've ever watched a movie twice a day every day for two months straight, and I'm sure I could add others if I thought about it longer.
The One and Only Poldaran wrote:
if they've ever watched a movie twice a day every day for two months straight,
That's what living with a toddler is like.Nadenu wrote:
The One and Only Poldaran wrote:
if they've ever watched a movie twice a day every day for two months straight,
That's what living with a toddler is like.I've had lots of roommates. Most have been great, actually, but the initial screening is important.
Make a list of things you absolutely require, and things you absolutely can't tolerate. These lists will likely change over time.
If you don't want to clean up after other people, though, you're going to have a tough hill to climb. In my experience, everyone has their blind spots - dishes, floors, cleaning the bathroom, something.
See how much a weekly house cleaning service would cost, and bring it up as a shared expense if you find a great place and you're still not sure about the person/people there. If you make some effort, and your roommate(s) make(s) some effort, AND you have a cleaner come in to fill the gaps, you can have a reasonably clean place in spite of yourselves.
Make a list of things you absolutely require, and things you absolutely can't tolerate. These lists will likely change over time.
If you don't want to clean up after other people, though, you're going to have a tough hill to climb. In my experience, everyone has their blind spots - dishes, floors, cleaning the bathroom, something.
See how much a weekly house cleaning service would cost, and bring it up as a shared expense if you find a great place and you're still not sure about the person/people there. If you make some effort, and your roommate(s) make(s) some effort, AND you have a cleaner come in to fill the gaps, you can have a reasonably clean place in spite of yourselves.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
I only once lived with just 1 room-mate. It had been my childhood friend - the one that I'd schemed and dreamed and pretended to live in our own apt with since third grade. It went ok, but really only because I spent 90% of my time at my boyfriends apt. We had issues even so. The friendship which had been fading anyways was pretty much toast after the stint as roomies.
Twice however, I shared large houses with 3 other room-mates. Both times things went swimmingly. I'm thinking the checks and balances provided with multiple roomies is beneficial.
Twice however, I shared large houses with 3 other room-mates. Both times things went swimmingly. I'm thinking the checks and balances provided with multiple roomies is beneficial.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
How much would it cost to live in one of the transient/monthly rate (as opposed to hourly rate) hotels? If you're going to live cheap for only a couple of months, look into this. One of my friends did this when she was between leases and it worked out for her.
In my experience, The Stranger isn't going to make really good roommate material. For one, numbing your hand that often can have adverse effects, and for two, unless you plan on a significant time investment, your off-hand will have a tough time coming up with its share of the rent.
I find it's best to find someone you'd be willing to sleep with, then go from there.
"I have lost my way
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"
Iamadam the Malefic wrote:
I find it's best to find someone you'd be willing to sleep with, then go from there.
Well, sh:t. That excludes some 50% of the eligible pool.
MoebiusLord wrote:
Iamadam the Malefic wrote:
I find it's best to find someone you'd be willing to sleep with, then go from there.
Well, sh:t. That excludes some 50% of the eligible pool.
That's how you know the screening plan will work.
"I have lost my way
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"
The reality is that no matter the person you'll find something they do that will drive you absolutely crazy. Call it premarriage practice, I've heard it's legal now for you in NY.
/wave Neph
Nice to see the resident nice guy is back.
Nice to see the resident nice guy is back.
Iamadam the Malefic wrote:
I find it's best to find someone you'd be willing to sleep with, then go from there.
So...what Moe said.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Elinda wrote:
Iamadam the Malefic wrote:
I find it's best to find someone you'd be willing to sleep with, then go from there.
So...what Moe said.
Hurts, doesn't it?
#19REDACTED,
Posted: Jul 25 2011 at 10:30 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Remind me again why you're not buying?
I'm averaging a post every month or so unfortunately, just lost that Zam feeling.
Always a pleasure Thumb.
Always a pleasure Thumb.
NephthysWanderer wrote:
I'm averaging a post every month or so unfortunately, just lost that Zam feeling.
Always a pleasure Thumb.
Always a pleasure Thumb.
Not posting as much myself due to busier life back in San Diego. Hope life in the Central Valley isn't too hot this summer. (You're still there, right?)
NephthysWanderer wrote:
I'm averaging a post every month or so unfortunately, just lost that Zam feeling.
Always a pleasure Thumb.
Always a pleasure Thumb.
So you're saying there's room for a cut-back?
NephthysWanderer wrote:
just lost that Zam feeling.
Angst? No, no, wait.
...An inflated sense of self-importance. That's the one.
post moar.
Edited, Jul 25th 2011 12:47pm by Eske
Gumbo Galahad wrote:
Remind me again why you're not buying?
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Flakiest room mate I had that I didn't know was actually quite clean. Her thing? Boyfriend lived in England. $750 phone bill. Nothing like YOUR phone getting cut off because some chick liked British accents. (Much less of an issue today thanks to Skype.)
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