19 crucial questions to ask before moving in with a new roommate

Whether you’re the one moving in, or you’re having a new roommate move in with you, it’s essential to lay the groundwork right so that you won’t have to deal with any bad situations further down the road.

What this means is – communicate! Make sure you understand your potential roommate’s lifestyle and preferences, and that you’re aligned on certain key expectations. Here are some of the crucial questions that you should be asking before moving in, or before you have someone move in with you.

Alternatively, you can read about some problems that can arise from co-existing with others.

Lifestyle

• What time do you wake up? What time do you go to bed? Are you a heavy or light sleeper?

Your schedules are likely to vary, so make sure you talk about what time the music needs to go off and the headphones need to go in, or what time is lights-out.

• How often do you cook at home?

If both parties do so on a regular basis, set a timetable that you can follow so that there are no clashes over who gets to use the kitchen.

• Do you smoke?

If needed, establish some rules as to where smoking is permitted.

• How do you spend your weekends?

It’ll be a problem if both parties have the habit of vegging out on the couch and having the television to themselves all day – so if that’s the case, figure out a way to compromise.

• Are you looking to share common supplies like toilet paper and detergent, or do you want everything labelled and split?

Whilst some people don’t mind sharing, others are sticklers for keeping everything separate.

Cleanliness

• How neat are you? Do you do the dishes immediately after cooking, or do you leave them until you need them again? How often should the toilet be cleaned?

Communicate what needs to be done and when, and think about hiring a housekeeper if needed. If one of you particularly hates a certain chore (such as doing the laundry), talk about whether you can allocate it such that you’re ‘swapping’ it out in return for doing something else.

Guests

• Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend who’s going to be around a lot? Do you have friends who sleep over, and at what frequency? Do you throw parties?

These are some issues that are particularly important to address, especially if one party is an introvert and the other is an extrovert.

• Do you have pets or are you likely to acquire pets at any time in the near future? Is anyone allergic to animals?

If anyone adopts a stray out of the blue, you wouldn’t want it to come as a nasty surprise!

Compatibility

• What are your dealbreakers?

Everyone has certain pet peeves that irritate them – so understanding what these are will go a long way in helping you and your potential roommate co-exist peacefully.

• How do you deal with conflict?

Some people like to hash things out there and then, but others might need some time to cool off before they revisit an issue.

• What’s your worst habit?

Good to know as a heads-up – and be upfront, because when you’re making a decision as big as to whether to move in, full disclosure is always the best policy!

• How long are you looking to stay?

You might be looking for something short term or something more stable and permanent, and vice versa for your potential roommate – so ask this to find out if you’re on the same page!

Also ask your potential roommate for any references that they may have, and ask about their previous living situations. If they complain about all their past roommates and don’t seem to have gotten along with a single person, that’s a red flag right there – they might just be the one causing all the trouble and drama.

Sharing a space with someone is a big deal, and depending on how prepared you are for it, and how much homework you’ve done, it can either be a breeze or a downright nightmare. To avoid the latter situation, make sure you take your time in getting to know your potential roommate, and avoid making any hasty decisions!

Check out other rental related articles here: 5 renters in Singapore share their tips on screening roommates and Living with roommates of different nationalities: what to expect

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