Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Investigating a Potential Roommate

By Hektor B. Saliddo

So you are on the hunt for that perfect roommate. After an exhaustive search on the internet you think you have found the perfect person. It will be nice to have someone share all of the living expenses, after all it is getting quite expensive to live these days. The work is not over after you have found him or her. It is important that you start the research phase on this person, after all they will be sharing your home.

If you are considering a potential roommate who you don?t even know, it would help you if you knew what their history of rent payment, car payments, criminal record, etc? has been like in the past. You definitely want to make the most informed decision possible. The best way to do this is through a thorough background check of any potential roommate.

Most companies will require that you pay a small fee to access their databases. Is it worth it to you to have peace of mind knowing you did everything you could do to avoid some disaster because you did not do your homework? It may be dramatic, but the data you discover in a background check could very well mean the difference between life and death.

There is no shortage of stories where someone let another move in with them after finding them on the internet. You may think that you have a good judgement of character but why chance it? This person is going to be part of your life now, and you need to be able to trust him or her. There is nothing worse than being a prisoner in your own home.

You will want to focus on credit and criminal background checks when you decide which roommate to choose. You want to ensure your safety and make sure the person pays their bills on time. It will be hard to get them out of your home if they decide not to pay you. It pays to do your homework, especially when it comes to having someone in your home.

About the Author:

No comments: