by Francis Jock

Created on: April 24, 2009

After weeks of searching hundreds of classified ads for rooms to rent, you have realized that you are going to need the help of a roommate or roommates to pay the rent and still be able to eat. Who knew apartment living was going to be so expensive? Nevertheless, you are now entering the next phase of apartment renting: finding a roommate to share expenses. And, you should have questions about renting and roommates that need answering.

Finding a roommate can be a challenge if dealing with people makes you feel uncomfortable. Discussing personal matters with another person might not be the most pleasant way to begin a relationship, but remember this: your new roommate needs you to share expenses as much as you need him or her. Also, your potential roommate, who is undoubtedly an honorable person, shouldn't have anything to hide from you, and if they do, they will likely shy away from answering any question that might reveal a flaw in their character or background.

Screening a potential roommate can be quite a bit easier for you if you think about the tenant screening process that landlords use and how they rely on character reference checks and background checks to qualify or disqualify a potential tenant. By putting on a landlord's thinking cap you can easily screen potential roommates and come away feeling confident that you have made the best possible choice.

Here a five important questions to answer about renting and roommates:

1. Is the person financially independent and reliable? You need your roommate to be able to share expenses during the entire time he or she will be living with you. Ask questions like: Do they have a steady, reliable job? How long have they been employed there? What is the name and telephone number of their current supervisor? Don't be shy about calling the company and supervisor and asking the same questions and getting their answers.

2. Can you live with their personal habits? You can learn a lot about a person from their appearance. You can learn a lot more by taking a look inside their car and their current abode. If the inside of their car is trashed and filled with stale cigarette butts and empty beer cans, you might want to think about the wisdom sharing a room with a drinker and a smoker. Although it's not necessarily the most reliable way to screen a candidate, be sure to check call their current landlord and inquire about their reliability and how well they get along with the landlord and neighbors. Better yet, drop by their

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