Online Roommates
Ask for References
There are things you can only learn about someone's personality from people who know them. "Absolutely ask for references," says Cohen. "If your kid is afraid to do that, they shouldn't be looking on Craigslist." Talk to the references (preferably a past roommate) about the potential roommate's living habits and general personality.
Establish a Roomie Relationship
Make sure your kid goes into any interview or meeting with the expectation that they're just looking for a roommate. "This person doesn't need to be their friend," Cohen says. The only personal agreement should be that the two get along, and give each other permission to air any problems in a timely manner.
RELATED: Packing Your Kid's Stuff for College
Ask Good Questions
Look at a standard residence hall questionnaire, and pull questions from there. "Asking if a candidate has similar music taste will not help determine if they'll be a good roommate, but asking how loud and at what times they listen to music does," Hardin says. Universities have spent years studying the best questions to ask in matching roommates, so take their lead.
Consider Your Priorities
Everyone has different habits and preferences for living with someone else. "If your kid is an early riser, she probably doesn't want to live with someone who goes to bed at 3 a.m.," Hardin says. If your kid buys expensive toiletries, he should be frank about whether he's willing to share shampoo and conditioner. Food storage and cooking should also be discussed—roommate relationships have failed more than once over the smell of someone's dinners.
Meet in Person
Your kid should never move in with someone he's only met online. Both Cohen and Hardin are firm on this point. The first meeting should be in public, preferably with a friend coming along. Once your kid knows he feels comfortable with the potential roommate, it's important that he actually see the apartment—both to get a glimpse of the candidate's living style, and also to see the space he's considering moving into.
Talk to Neighbors
Neighbors are important for two reasons: They can tell your kid about their potential roommate's living style (e.g., loud music late at night), as well as information about the apartments, themselves. "My senior year, I found an affordable one-bedroom by myself," Hardin says. "I didn't know this, but everybody below me could hear me. Walking loudly after 10 p.m., I'd get complaints. But if I had knocked on neighbors' doors, I would have found out the walls were thin."
