Finding the perfect apartment to rent is just half the battle of apartment hunting. Just as important, is finding the right person to be your roommate. Choosing who to share a living space with is a big decision. Even couples who have been dating for years are still apprehensive to room together, because they want to make certain that they can share a place and still tolerate each other by the end of the lease, and it can be even more daunting if your new roommate is someone you just met.

Whether it is a close friend or just an acquaintance, rooming with someone you are familiar with is a good starting point in the roommate search. Maybe you met someone you really clicked with during the first semester in the dorms, or maybe you’ve been in a club with someone for years. Personal interactions or referrals from mutual friends validate the reputation of the person in question and decide if you should consider them as an option. Other people decide to live with a sibling, their best friend or their sorority sister or fraternity brother. Oftentimes asking one of these close friends or family members is easier and less stressful than finding someone who you don’t know.

If you plan on trying to move in with someone new, consider using a roommate matching site like roommates.com that let you look at different roommate listings in your area. There are also good apps like roomiematch that require you to fill out a questionnaire about what your expectations and needs are, and the app then has real people review the profiles and determine who is a good match for you.

Having to room with someone you don’t like or don’t know very well out of desperation of needing a second person to pay the rent is not an ideal situation. Be proactive and give yourself ample time to search for the right person and make a decision you can be confident in.

Are you a person who enjoys waking up early in the morning to drink some coffee and read a book before you get your day started? Or are you a person who stays up till the early morning hours binge watching The Office and sleeping in the next day? Maybe you’re the type of person who needs to keep their living space nice and tidy, or you’re a person who doesn’t mind their room being messy.

Just like you wouldn’t buy a car having never tested it before, or move into an apartment you’ve never walked through, set aside time to meet with a potential roommate in person to see if you connect well. They may sound good on paper, but spending time with them will allow you to see if this is a relationship you can get excited about, or if you feel like it won’t work out.

Now that you know how to find the right roommate for you, the next step will be to find a place to call home. Browse our listings to find your new apartment today!