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7.  Feel free to follow your gut
This is hugely important when you start meeting potential roomies.  There are some people you just know you'll get along with, and others who are, well, creepy.  Now, I’ve been on both sides of the roommate search.  Last year I was looking for a place to live; this year I had to find someone to live in my place.  Both times I went with the very first person I met.  Not because I was lazy or didn't care, but because it just seemed right to me.  You'll have a good suspicion when a situation will work out, and you'll for sure know when it won't.  The girl I just found to move in to my place had been having a horrible time finding a roommate.  She’d met guys whose decor of choice were Star Wars action figures, girls who wouldn't talk, and one psycho who oh-so-casually mentioned his excitement about sleeping with her.  Seriously.  There are some real wackos out there, so be careful. Trust your instincts-- it's far better to keep searching than to end up living somewhere you won't be comfortable.

8.  Be prepared
Interviewing a roommate is pretty much like conducting any other kind of interview.  You have to be prepared to answer some strange questions, and ask a few of your own.  It's good to know beforehand what the deal breakers will be.  Get them out right away so you save yourself the pain of finding out later that your roommate is nocturnal or drinks out of the milk carton.  Also, be prepared to spill your guts about your own personal quirks.  If you’re showing your place to someone, be sure to know the basics of the apartment.  What do utilities cost?  What kind of amenities does the building have?  What's the landlord like?  Is there parking?  You should know these things already, but have some telephone numbers on hand (the landlord's especially), in case you discover someone has some special questions you simply can't answer.

9. Put your best face forward
I know this sounds like something Mom would say, but it's very important.  Be polite, friendly, and open and people will respond positively to you.  If you're hunting for a place, you'll most likely be competing with lots of other people.  So dress nicely, don't be too shy, and sell yourself!  You want him or her to decide that you – and not that guy who they interviewed yesterday -- are the right person for the place.

10.  Have fun!
Searching for a roommate can be stressful, but it can also be a lot of fun.  You get to meet a lot of new, interesting people, and hopefully, connect with someone you'll be friends with for a long time.  So just go with the flow, and you'll find yourself with the (almost) perfect roomie in no time!

o

Stephanie Blydenburgh is a full time student at the University of Minnesota and a part time writer. She hopes to be a world famous journalist some day, like maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, however, she's enjoying living on her own in St. Paul, although she still brings her laundry home every Sunday. 

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