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Thread: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

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    Veteran Member Collegegirl's Avatar
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    Default How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    I am going to be moving to a 3 bedroom with my son, the rent is a couple hundred more then I wanted to spend but the landlord is my friends dad and its dog friendly (I been wanting a dog forever) and as much as a playroom would be nice I really would like to have a roommate for the 3rd bedroom to save on rent and invest more into the dog (training etc..)

    Craigslist...No right?

    I posted something on my FB... but at the same time what sane person would wanna move in with a stripper, a 5 year old and a puppy... LOL

    My rent will be $1,100 +utilities. I paid the same amount for a shitty 2 bedroom before so its not a bad deal for the area though I would prefer say $900 for a 2BR I really feel safer and at ease with a landlord I know (last landlord screwed me out of security amongst other things)

    How would I go about splitting the rent if I found a roommate? I want the tenant to pay 1/3 of the utilities because I feel like my son and his TV and and that it would only be fare... But do I have the tenant pay 1/3 rent because they would have 1 of 3 bedrooms? But they would be a boarder in MY apartment so I should charge more right? Do I have them pay me first an last?
    ..Also what if I find a couple or a mom and child? Do I charge even more then a single person? How much more?

    I was thinking about charging $450/month plus utilities OR $110/Week (save $10 for paying me weekly)

    My landlord is going to be very lenient. I wont even have a lease. I've known the family for a while and they seem to be looking forward to having me rent because I am reliable.

    So, any advise?

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    God/dess threlayer's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    First, the arithmetic $450 X 12 = $5400 and $110 X 52 = $5720. Someone knowing math will think you are trying to slip one over on them.

    Second, the roommates will have to like your kid and your dog. Those are both limitations.

    You will not know the potential roomy very well, so you must be very careful with the money thing. You won't even know if that person is a thief. You are bottom-line oriented when maybe you have to consider even more basic things. Like how are you going to find out if you can trust them? At least they should also be full-time college students, seems to me.
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

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    God/dess rickdugan's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    Splitting utilities each month will get complicated. It would be simpler if you charged them a flat per month amount to include utilities, say 500 for the room and utilities.

    You probably want a single woman (with or without kid) as the guy thing really changes the dynamic. In my college years I lived in a 4 bedroom with 3 couples (me in one of the couples) and one other guy and the dynamics of the interactions were fucked up. Better to keep strange guys on the outside, espcecially when you have a kid and with what you do for work.

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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    I strongly suggest doing a background check on the person before having him or her share your place. You should especially make sure the person isn't on the sex offenders list.

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    Moderator Miss_McKenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    ^^ Yep that would be my number one thing!!

    Presumably when you advertise for a roommate, you would mention that the other people living there are a single woman and a child, and that's the kind of thing a creepy person would look for. I intern at a women's shelter and that kind of thing is very common for sex offenders etc to do.

    Also, maybe look at other rooms for rent in the area. See what they are charging, how they split the utilities, etc. for what it's worth, I've always had to split utilities among roommates and it's never been complicated. Simple divide by 3, in your case. I would also get a reference for the last place they lived, and maybe a credit check too?


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    Veteran Member Collegegirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    Quote Originally Posted by threlayer View Post
    First, the arithmetic $450 X 12 = $5400 and $110 X 52 = $5720. Someone knowing math will think you are trying to slip one over on them.
    OMG I totally didnt think of that! Thank you for pointing that out!

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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    Make sure you get more references than just their current landlord. Often, if someone is a problem tenant, the current landlord will give a glowing reference just to get rid of the person. You should try for 2-3 former landlord references and their current employer (and possibly a former employer if they are new to their current job).

    I would also recommend not calling the phone numbers you are given. Look up the companies in the phone book, call them directly, and ask for the person whose name you were given. That should weed out any "references" who are actually just buddies of the potential tenant.

    In the case of mom-and-pop type landlord references (instead of big management companies), try to get the address of the property they lived at and go ask one of the other tenants for the landlord's contact info.

    It's also a good idea to run a credit check and criminal records check, particularly since you'll be inviting this person into YOUR home and you have safety issues to consider. You should be able to run the credit check yourself, you just need their written consent. Depending where you are, the potential tenant may have to run the criminal records check for you. You would have to look into the details for that.

    I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it's important to properly screen tenants to reduce the chances of the situation turning into a nightmare.

    As for where to look, Craigslist and Kijiji are both great free resources. If you have any colleges or universities nearby, you can also check into whether they have some sort of student housing list (online or off). If you live near businesses that typically have interns (ie. hospitals, government agencies), those are also good places to check for housing lists you can get added to.

    Good luck!

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    Veteran Member Lexi_Girl's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I find a safe and reliable roommate and what do I charge?

    I have never had a good experience with roommates, and I've lived with three friends who I'm no longer friends with because they tried to screw me over so bad.

    Make the following clear:

    It's your house, they're renting a room. They'd be a boarder IF you're making meals, but otherwise, they'd just be renting a room, in my understanding.

    You expect rent, on time, every month. This is non-negotiable. Apparently everyone in the world (that has stayed with me) thought this to be negotiable.

    You require one months notice if they're moving out.

    Also make sure to lay down your own ground rules, such as use of common areas, how you'll handle household chores, etc.

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