In these hard times, you're probably thinking of ways to lower your expenses.
One of the ways by which you can accomplish this is if you share an apartment with a friend or find a roommate you can split the rent with.
If you don't have a friend to share an apartment with, then finding a roommate to split the rent with is your only option.
Remember however that a prospective roommate might turn out to be your future best friend so get a roommate you're sure to get along with.
If you are a neat freak, then you might as well get a roommate who shares the same habit as you.
Make a list of all the things you look for in a roommate and set minimum requirements.
Of course, it goes without saying that your prospective roommate should be someone who can actually pay for his share in the rent.
After all, that's the whole point of getting a roommate.
During the interview, ask your prospective roommate about his job.
Ask also about other sources of income.
A roommate who lives on allowance from his parents might have a hard time making the payments so be thorough in your interview.
Ask also for references.
You never really know if you're roommate is telling the truth so it's better to have a third person to corroborate his or her story.
Also, find someone who will not turn your house or room into a pig sty.
It's better to lay ground rules at the onset of your relationship to avoid disagreements that might lead to hard feelings later on.
If your roommate has pets, find out about them.
His pet snake might just turn out to be your phobia.
And last but not least, make sure your roommate does not have any bad habits like excessive drinking or doing drugs.
The last thing you need is the police coming over to your apartment to search for your roommate.