Having apartment roommates can help meet financial needs and enhance the quality of your apartment living experience. Before committing to an apartment roommate, consider what you are looking for in a roommate and be realistic about the kind of roommate you will be.

Pros

One of the biggest advantages to having a roommate is sharing the costs and responsibilities of an apartment. It’s important to approach your relationship with your roommate with honesty, respect and consideration. If you and your roommates agree to be upfront and honest with each other, resentment and bad feelings can be kept to a minimum. Having respect for each other’s property and space will help maintain the peace in your shared living space.

Cons

Finding common ground with your roommates in the common areas of the apartment can be challenging. Decide from the beginning how you will share--or not share—food and space in the kitchen. Sharing a television and living room can be even tougher than the kitchen. The same goes for the challenges of sharing bathrooms. These may sound like trivial details now, but the little things can loom large in roommate relationships.

Finding Roommates

Start by making a realistic list of things you are looking for in a roommate, being as specific as possible. For example, do you want a non-smoker? An animal lover? A college graduate? A man? A woman? Decide what you are willing to be flexible on and what is non-negotiable. Perhaps there are people you already know who fit what you are looking for, but sometimes a good friend doesn’t make for a good roommate. Friendships can end very quickly when you discover you are incompatible roommates.

If you look at want ads for a roommate, proceed with both caution and common sense. Using an online roommate finder can be a good source, as they do a good part of the screening for you. Before moving in with roommates, be clear on how the deposits, utility bills and rent will be split. All roommates should be approved by the landlord and sign the lease to share the responsibility equally.