13 Questions to Ask Potential Roommates Before Moving in Together

Choosing the right roommate can make or break your living experience, especially when you are in a new country, away from home. With the right roommate, sharing your space can be a joy while living arrangements become more affordable, too. However, living with an incompatible roommate can seriously hamper your mental health and leave you feeling exhausted. To make sure this doesn't happen, you need to gather questions to ask potential roommates a set of questions to make sure they are compatible with you so the living arrangements are harmonious and stress-free. Here are the top 13 questions to ask potential roommates to understand their habits better: 

1. “What is Your Daily Schedule Like?”

Among things to ask potential roommates, you should ask them about their daily schedule. It is important to understand a person's daily routine if you are considering living with them. If their daily routine isn't very compatible with yours, the friction might lead to bigger conflicts. For example, if you sleep early and wake up early, living with a night owl who plays loud music late into the night can be very difficult since it will affect your quiet nighttime routine. Thus discussing your schedules beforehand can help you both determine if your lifestyles are compatible and if you can actually live with the differences.

2. “How Do You Feel About Guests And Overnight Visitors?”

While some people enjoy having their friends over frequently, others may prefer a more private living space. This question, out of all questions for a potential roommate, can help you discuss your expectations about guests and visitors. Make sure to discuss how often guests can visit, how long they can stay, and if overnight guests are allowed at all. Setting clear boundaries before you have moved in together can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure all roommates in question feel comfortable in their shared home.

3. “What Are Your Cleaning Habits Like?”

One of the biggest sources of conflict that most people experience while living with roommates is cleaning. Thus, out of all the questions for a potential roommate, this is an important one. Since different people have different cleaning habits, make sure to discuss your cleaning habits and preferences, so you’re on the same page from the start. For example, you may be someone who cleans as you go, or you may prefer to set aside a specific time for chores. Consider creating a cleaning schedule to divide responsibilities fairly.

4. “How Do You Handle Shared Expenses?”

Financial matters are tricky business and can give rise to conflicts if not handled well. So, make sure you add this question to your list of things to ask potential roommates.  So, it’s very important to have your finances planned out clearly when it comes to shared expenses. Discuss the budget for rent, utilities, and household items beforehand. Decide if these expenses are going to be split evenly or if certain costs will be allocated differently. Paired with a reliable student bank account and apps or tools to track the shared expenses in the household, financial transparency can get easier.

5. “What Are Your Food Preferences And Habits?”

Believe it or not, food can be a big deal and a potential source of conflict in shared living spaces. So, make sure to discuss your eating habits, your dietary restrictions, and preferences beforehand. Based on this information, you can decide if you will be sharing groceries and cooking meals together or if each person will be handling their food on their own. Establishing clear boundaries beforehand can prevent any misunderstandings and ensure the happiness of all parties involved.

6. “Do You Have Any Pets?”

Pets are cute, but only if you are a pet person. So, make sure you don't assume your potential roommate's preferences about pets. If either of you has pets or plans to get one, it’s very important and unavoidable to discuss this upfront. Make sure to consider allergies, pet-related responsibilities, and the impact on your living situation. Make sure all parties involved are comfortable with the arrangement and agree on how to share pet-related duties, if there's any sharing at all.

7. “How Do You Handle Conflict?”

One of the most significant questions to ask potential roommates includes asking about their conflict resolution style. Conflict is inevitable in any human situation, especially in shared living spaces. So, conflict resolution is unavoidable and necessary. However, if your roommate's style of conflict resolution is compatible with yours, life can be easily harmonious. Understanding how your potential roommate handles disputes and conflict situations can help you gauge this compatibility. Discuss your approaches to conflict resolution, how you address issues and have a proper resolution plan. Open communication, transparency and a willingness to compromise are key to having a harmonious living environment. 

 8. “What Do You Usually Do On A Weekend?” 

Since weekends are when roommates interact the most during the week, these days are also prone to conflicts. Questions to ask potential roommates should include their hobbies and interests and if they spend time doing these activities on weekends. While shared hobbies can be fun, hobbies like music practice or game night hosting can affect you directly. So, make sure to discuss such weekend activities and understand if you are both comfortable with the arrangements. 

9.  “How Do You Feel About Sharing Personal Items?”

Everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to sharing personal items. For some, sharing personal items may come naturally, while others may have a stronger sense of personal boundaries. Discuss what you’re comfortable sharing with your roommate, such as student essentials, kitchen appliances, toiletries, and household items and decide what is out of bounds to share. Setting boundaries early on can reduce the chances of misunderstandings and ensure that both roommates respect each other’s personal belongings. The importance of boundaries and personal space is why this particular question makes it to our list of questions to ask potential roommates. 

10. “What Are Your Expectations For Bathroom Usage?”

Here’s to another one of the questions to ask potential roommates! If you have a shared bathroom, it’s fairly important to discuss your expectations and usage habits. Mutually discussing how you’ll divide storage space, cleaning responsibilities, and shower schedules can help elevate conflicts and keep things comfortable for all parties involved. Clear communication about bathroom usage and maintenance ensures both roommates have access when needed.

11. “How Do You Feel About Decorating Shared Spaces?”

This is one of the most crucial questions to ask potential roommates since it decides the aesthetic choices of the parties involved. Decorating your living space is a great way to create a cosy sanctuary for yourself. However, when you are living with one or more roommates, it’s essential to consider each other’s tastes and preferences. Discuss beforehand how you’ll decorate the shared areas and if you can collaborate on the overall aesthetic of the place. Respecting each other’s creative input can help you create a space where both roommates feel fulfilled. 

12. “How Do You Feel About Smoking And Substance Use?”

Smoking and recreational substance use can be a huge deal-breaker for some people when it comes to sharing their space. So, this is one of the most important questions to ask potential roommates. Discuss your habits about smoking, alcohol, and other substances, if there are any. Ask your potential roommate if they have any of these habits, and understand if you are comfortable with it. If yes, establish clear rules regrading the time and assigned space for these activities, ensuring a comfortable and safe living environment for all parties involved.

13. “Do You Have A Rent Guarantor?”

A rent guarantor is someone who agrees to cover your rent if you're unable to pay, which can be a great safety net. Asking your potential roommate if they have a guarantor is crucial, especially if your landlord requires one. It can signify financial stability and ensure you can meet the financial obligations of the rent lease. If your potential roommate lacks a guarantor, you can suggest a reliable rent guarantor service to them if they seem to be a compatible roommate for you. 

Choosing the right roommate is a crucial decision that can completely change your experience during your academic years. So, it is natural that you should make this decision carefully and with much consideration. This list of questions to ask potential roommates will help you understand their habits, preferences, and expectations and can help you understand the situation better and make a more informed decision. Just remeber to be respectful and clear with your communication! Good luck!