Questions to Ask When Searching for a Roommate

Searching for a roommate can be a long and frustrating process, especially if it's your first time doing so. When searching for a roommate, consider asking each other the following questions to determine whether you will be compatible.

1. What’s your sleeping schedule like? Do you like to stay up late or go to bed early? Are you a light or heavy sleeper?

2. Are you messy or clean?

3. How often do you like to clean?

4. How will cleaning be shared?

5. At what temperature do you like to keep the room and/or apartment?

6. Are you okay with sharing/borrowing clothes, food, etc.? What is off limits?

7. How important is studying to you, and how often do you plan to study?

8. Where, when, and how do you prefer to study?

9. Do you drink, smoke, and/or use drugs? How often?

10. What’s your work/class schedule like?

11. Do you shower at night or in the morning? How often do you shower?

12. What are your pet peeves?

13. Do you have any allergies (particularly food) that I should be aware of?

14. How often can guests come over? Can they spend the night? Does a heads-up need to be given to have friends over and/or have a party? How far in advance should roommates be informed?

15. What about significant others? Can they spend the night? Can they hang out all day, every day? Can we give them duplicates of keys?

16. What are your hobbies and interests?

17. When you get angry and/or stressed, how do you express that? What are your coping mechanisms?

18. What are your religious and political beliefs?

19. Can we carpool to class? (if you plan to live somewhere other than the Hawkeye Towers or Hawkeye Village)

20. What is your communication style? How do you envision working through conflict when/if we have it?

21. Do you consider yourself to be on the quieter side or the more social side?

22. Are pets allowed? (if applicable)