When should I start looking for a roommate? We get this question a lot, but unfortunately there is no one correct answer. it really depends. Every person is different and everyone’s situation is going to vary. However, there are few common factors to keep in mind when determining how soon you should start to look for a roommate.
While generally it’s not a bad idea to start looking for a roommate early, starting too early might not present you with all possible options. Most people realize they need to move or find new roommates a few months before. So if you start looking for a roommate for six months from now, you’ll probably not find too many options. Starting too late might force you to make a rushed decision or end up having to delay your move. If you need to move within a month, then we definitely recommend to start searching ASAP. Typically, most people are looking within a window of three months to one month before they need to move, or to replace a roommate who is leaving. You might be able to even pull it off in a couple of weeks.
As you’ll read below, there are several factors to consider which will help you decide if you should start 90 days, 60 days, or 30 days before the move date.
Where are you moving to?
The first thing to keep in mind is the city you are moving to, or moving within. In some markets, the roommate search can be very competitive, there are lot of people always moving around and everyone is entertaining a few options. In cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco finding a roommate is like that. In other cities, you might have less options, but the potential roommates you are chatting with to might more focused.
Aside from the overall city, the neighborhood where you are offering a room for rent or would like to move to, will impact your search timeline. If you are looking for a roommate within the center of the city or in a popular neighborhood it’s going to be easier to find people who are looking for the same. This can help you cut the time it will take to find a roommate. If you are looking to live or offering a room for rent outside the city, or outskirts of town, most likely there will be less folks that are interested in that location. Plan to allocate extra time to find the right person that is also looking to live in the same place as you.
Regardless of where you move, you’d like to give yourself ample time in case some of your options fall through, or have the time to get to know the potential roommate better.
How much is your rent price or budget?
The second thing to keep in mind that will have an impact on when you should start your search is the financials. i.e. your rent budget or asking rent price. If you are looking for a room for rent or to partner with another roommate and your budget is flexible and high, then you’ll have more options to choose from. And Typically, there is less competition for higher priced rooms for rent. If you are working with a tight budget, you might want to take a little extra time to look for the right deal, or find someone that is also within the same constraints and get a place together.
If you are the one renting a room in your house or apartment, then whether the price you are asking is high or low will determine how long you should plan to find someone to rent your room. An expensive room for rent, will most likely be less in demand. So take extra time to properly market your room to make sure it gets filled up on time. If you are offering to rent your room at a competitive rent price, then you will most likely have proper demand right away and won’t have trouble finding eager would be roommates. However, you still want to allow time for vetting roommates and making sure they are a good fit, rather than just be willing to sign a lease or sublease with you.
When is your move date?
Timing is everything. And this is also true when it comes to finding apartments and roommates in general. Every city has it’s own seasonality but more generally the summer months are usually busier when lots of people are moving around. Students that just graduated are moving closer to their new jobs, college students moving for school, or moving Off-Campus, or just more people are on the same annual lease cycle. So if you are moving around the ‘busy season’, you will have more options regardless if you are looking for a room or offering one.
If you are searching in the winter or late fall, allocate an extra month to find a roommate. You’ll have less options to choose from but eventually the right option will come along.
What else should you consider?
There are also many other small factors that might extend the time you’ll need to look for a new roommate. For example, do you have any pets? If so, is it a large pet? Are you a smoker? And if so, do you like to smoke inside? are you actually a couple who are looking for roommates or to rent a room? What is your lifestyle cycle? Are you a student, a young professional, or maybe retired? And finally how picky are you? Depending on the answers to your questions, it might take you a bit longer to find a compatible roommate or maybe it will be super quick.
Another factor to consider is whether you are looking to rent a room, or renting a room in your house. If you are renting a room, the last thing you want is to have it sit empty and have to pay the full rent by yourself. So make sure to give yourself extra time, especially if your rent is expensive, or live in a less central location. Also make sure to factor in the time it will take to meet up in person, to show the room for rent in your home, and finalize things officially. If you came across a few good roommate prospects you’ll need that extra time to see or meet them all.
The key thing to keep in mind though is, that you only need ONE good roommate (unless you are looking or more). The number of options you see, or the number of people you chat with or meet in person doesn’t matter. If you find the right fit, and with the same circumstances, that is all you need. So you might get lucky and find that roommate early on in the process and agree to be roommates when you move in six months, or you might only find your roommate a week before you need to move.
For other tips and considerations, check out the ‘Roommate Survival Guide’ from our friends at Roost.
And if you are ready to look for a roommate, list your room for rent, or just take the first step in the process, then simply start by creating your free roommate or room for rent profile on Diggz.