BY NEELAM CHAUDHARY

At some point in our lives, we all leave home. The one place we could truly be ourselves. Roam around half naked, throw our clothes around, have our laundry done or even sulk with unwashed hair. But the perks of being home bodies outweigh the curiosity of independence. If it isn’t this, then we probably think any roommate is better than that annoying sister or brother at home. But nevertheless, we venture out of the nest with caution.

Staying out of our homes means we may have to share the financial burden of renting a place. Sometimes, it’s part of our college life as well. Either ways, we are faced with the daunting task of choosing the right companion.

If we choose wrong, sign a lease or move into the college dorm and find out our roommate is far from normal. It spells disaster! So we decided to share our top tricks to ensure life is fun and you nail the right partner in crime.

That being said, let’s dive right in , unless you want to play russian roulette with your peace?

Background Checks :

Yeah ! Dexter is definitely a fun choice, but do you really want a serial killer as your next roommate ? Maybe not right?

If so, the first thing you need to do is dig deeper. Make sure to check your roommate. You can ask friends of friends or even start with an identity card. Keep the rules simple: No criminal record!

If you can not find anything about your roommate – use the internet. Social media is almost like a CIA database. It can tell you so much about anyone. Check their social media handles. You can pick up hints from their tweets, comments and affiliations. Use that to make a decision.

Communication Is Key :

Before your move in, try to get to know each other. This could be anywhere between a week or a month. Spend time talking about each other and getting to know each other very well. You could start by asking your roommate if he/ she prefers the air conditioner running at a certain temp. It could be as small as that to, ” Hey do you own a weapon” ! By communicating you get to know if your interest align with your roommate and if this will be a hit or a miss. Also , remember their first impression is the last impression. You can guess their second nature by the way they
speak.

Pet Peeves :

I cannot stress enough on this. Some people are clean, some find method in madness. If are someone who is borderline OCD, you will not want to live with someone who does laundry once a month. Asking your roommate what ticks them off is a great way to know if this will work out. They may be heavy drinkers and you are a teetotaler. This can cause unnecessary clashes between you too. So only agree to the manageable.

Safety :

Your roommate could be someone who is an extrovert. Which is not always a bad thing, hell you may be one too. But the problem arises when your roommate brings home a stranger for the night. You need to ask yourself if you are comfortable with that. If not, you should communicate this upfront. There will be times when your roommate will bring someone over to hang out. Their new friend may belong to a cult or have affiliations with a group whose propaganda you do not agree with. Once you are all moved in, dealing with awkward situations like this will become stressful. So always make sure you put safety first while choosing someone.

While these three tricks will get you some insight, I suggest also hanging out with your roommate before moving in as well. If you are lucky and ticked off all the right boxes having a roommate can be the best experience ever. Truth be told, your roommate will become an integral part of your journey of life. Together, you will both make some amazing memories and who knows even become best friends for life. So choose wisely my friend !