Living alone in a condo or an apartment might eat up your income at today’s economic rates. University students and working professionals choose to live with their peers and share their rental expenses to avoid that. Searching for an excellent and like-minded roommate might be stressful and time-consuming but beneficial at the same time.
A recent survey reveals that Boston (a city in Massachusetts) is the 3rd most expensive city in the United States of America, after San Francisco and New York. It is also a very fun-filled city with numerous tourist attractions. Given below are some of them:
- Fenway Park
- Faneuil Hall
- Freedom Trail
- Boston Common and Public Garden
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Boston National Historical Park
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum etc.
So, if you are looking to share your rental expenses, this article talks about the different ways to find roommates in Boston.
1. Check with your contacts
We live in a modern technological world, and we can save time by using some innovations to our benefit. Before you post a room for rent on social media, you should consider re-visiting your contact list first. Chat with your friends, especially those who once told you they would be moving to Boston for their studies or work.
Ask for references or mutual friends who are going to Boston in the near future, or better, if they are already in Boston. Talk to them and discuss that you are looking for new roommates. Of course, it would be much better to live with someone you know or a mutual friend than with a stranger. Apart from that, finding a roommate quickly increases if you are a member of a gym, a book club, or a loyal customer at a specific place.
2. Rental websites
Rental websites are the most common and popular way to find roommates in Boston. However, before starting your roommate-hunting journey on websites, you should know your basic needs and requirements. Some rental websites are beneficial in finding a roommate and desired type of accommodation. It also helps you with the latest updates and property listings. Here are some of the favorite websites you can use to find roommates:
- Cirtru
- Facebook Groups
- BunkUp
- RoomieMatch
- Roomaters
3. Make optimum use of Social Media
Facebook is an excellent resource for finding roommates, and most cities have multiple groups dedicated to apartment and roommate searches. Post in several groups, including the rent amount and pictures of the apartment (if you already have one), a brief about yourself, and a few essential factors you want to consider while screening a roommate. You can also message people who say they’re looking for a new place directly or post a status on your own Facebook/Instagram/Twitter page to see if they’re interested. You can comment under various listings, check for other people to reply to your comments and messages, and connect to them to find an apartment.
Since Boston is a popular city in America, many people use Reddit to find apartments. There is a big community called ‘r/bostonhousing’ with over 20k followers. There are posts every day on this tag by Boston locals.
4. Interviewing and asking the right questions
You shouldn’t just sign a lease with someone who seems like a good fit to be your roommate once you’ve found them. There’s a little more work to be done after this step. Check if your potential roommate’s personality and preferences fit all of your criteria. Before committing to a new roommate, it’s also good to ask some more specific questions. these questions can include –
- What makes you want to shift to Boston?
- What did you like and dislike about your previous residence?
- What are the five most important characteristics you seek in a roommate?
- How long do you plan on staying here?
- What is your typical workday like?
- Could you tell me more about your cleaning routine?
- When do you usually get up, and when do you go to bed?
- What are some of your interests?
- How frequently do you entertain guests?
If your potential roommate’s responses align with your preferences and requirements, you can confidently move forward toward the next step.
5. Sign a roommate agreement
A legally binding roommate agreement is crucial to ensure that you have a binding document to refer to in case of conflicts. Even if it isn’t legally binding, having a document to refer to is beneficial to keep things on track. Who knows, maybe the act of writing the agreement will lead to a conversation you wouldn’t have had otherwise. Even if there are a few stumbling blocks along the way, you’ll know you’re on the right track and can work it out together. This agreement does not include your landlord but only your roommate, unlike your lease. The goal is to lay out various roommate rules and expectations so that you can avoid future conflicts. A good roommate agreement can include sharing the rent, using the amenities, taking responsibility, establishing rules for guests, etc.
Conclusion
If you cannot find any potential roommate through your friends or colleagues, you can search ‘find roommates in Boston’ on the web to look at different websites dedicated to helping you. Furthermore, you can also take advantage of online websites or apps such as Cirtru, Craigslist, Listing project, etc.
While it is easy to find a roommate, it is difficult to find one who will tick all the boxes on your checklist and align with your lifestyle preferences. Remember that inquiring about their earnings and employment history is essential. Before you finalize any person for being your roommate, choose who will be on the lease and how rent payments will be handled. An equal split is appropriate in many cases, but factors like square footage, direct access to a bathroom, a window with a view, or a walk-in closet may necessitate changes. Ensuring these points will eventually help you find and live with the ‘right’ roommate.
