How to find a roommate

The cost of living can sometimes be a burden, especially as rent continues to increase. To offset the cost, one option is to find a good roommate - a roommate that will share the rent, provide companionship, and if you are a student, it will have an impact on your friendship, grades and experience.

There are plenty of websites available today that offer roommate finder services and depending on your requirements, you can easily find someone who would be a good fit - instead of an obstacle to your lifestyle. 

Here are some tips to help you find a roommate: 

Advertise your roommate preference - list down all want in a roommate.  Start by determining the gender. Some people are quite comfortable with sharing their accommodation with either gender, but you shouldn't be too quick to accept anyone. To avoid gender related issues, think about how someone from the opposite gender could affect your current household, in terms of existing roommates, varied lifestyles, personalities, certain gender-oriented characteristics.  The age of your roommate will be another point of consideration. People of different ages hold different viewpoints, interests and living patterns. 

Take pet keeping consideration. You might have a pet dog, but certain people have allergies to dogs.  Same goes to smoking and drinking habits.  You don't want any arguments after all the living arrangements are made.

Discuss sleeping habits, study habits, work schedules and payment of rent and bills. You will be living with that person for a period of time. For instance, if you love to sleep until late morning, a roommate with a penchant for waking up at the crack of dawn is not a person you will like to live with.  Be clear about the roommate's expected length of stay. Some rentals are provided on an annual basis, while others are just monthly or weekly. Clarifying such issues and binding the agreement on paper are essential if you are to have a good relationship with your roommates. Make sure he or she is trustworthy; you don’t want to argue later due to lost or missing belongings. You can also perform credit checks and request references from friends, employers or family, and previous landlords.

The visiting hours and number of guests should also be discussed.  Decide if you prefer roommates which have a lot of friends visiting or living with people who meet their friends elsewhere? It's a matter of deciding whether you prefer a busy home where people are continuously walking in and out or a quieter living environment.

Do your roommate search by using all of this as practical guidelines. Visit the web and utilize a free roommate search facility or roommate finder service to ensure you find just the right roommate.

Use the following sites to find a roommate for Grimes Iowa Apartments and Johnston Iowa Apartments:  

Roommate Click is a good site if you're looking for a room to rent, or already have an apartment and need someone to live with. You can search by zipcode and pull up classified ads that give details about the roommate and apartment community.

Craigslist is another popular spot. Many young professionals and recent graduates use the service to let people know they're looking for a roommate, or to rent out their space. Craigslist masks your email address so you can chat with the person a few times before meeting them in person.

The above factors can be great to consider before choosing your roommate - hopefully, you'll find someone who you can live with for years to come.