Finding a Roommate Off of Craigslist - Yaay or No Way?

How well do you like living?

LMAO! But I agree :indifferent:

Two of my previous living situations were through Craigslist, but this was about a decade ago. The last time I was looking at the site, it seemed full of scam artists and other sketchy types.

I hear that Kijiji is the "new Craigslist." Judging by the things I've seen there, I'd be more comfortable finding a roommate through that site. As always, try to make sure you're not meeting potential roommates alone, regardless of which medium you use, and trust your gut instincts.

no idea about CL, but most of the places I have lived in since the internet became popular have been through roommate finding websites. There's bound to be a flatmatedot or roommatedot where you are and it's probably the best place to search for someone serious about wanting a place to live.

I have had over 50 different flatmates over the years (and no, that's not a reflection on me, I hope). You get some weird ones and some good ones. Think about what you want from a flatmate - do you want someone to pay the rent or someone to hang out with? It's not like you have to take the first person who responds, and don't forget, they have to be able to get along with you just as much as you have to get along with them. Meeting and getting a feel for what a person like is easy enough. And it's all very well meeting the potential 'roommate' in a public place, but they will actually want to see the room at some point.....

Alternatively, you could watch the film 'Shallowgrave' and think about what happens when you share with people you think you know well......

I'm not going to say its a terrible idea. If you go about it the right way, be very mindful, and follow your instinct, I'm sure you can find someone who isn't a killer. I would suggest using a roommate finder site first. Not saying they're completely safe, but they're a bit more credible. Perhaps you could put an ad in the classified section of your newspaper? Definitely network on Facebook, someone might know someone who knows someone....

No big deal if you ask for references, do a background check, and a personal interview first. Unless your new room mate is one of your good friends, I would do all of those things anyway. I wouldn't put your address in the ad though, just a description and a neighborhood. No need to advertise that you are a woman living alone...

I would definitely look for local colleges to post an advertisement at first...also, if you have any large corporate companies near you, they usually have people traveling that are looking to rent by the week and/or month and have in person or online ad boards...if you are going to go craigslist I would get a $20 tracphone so that if you do end up with a crazy stalker they won't likely find you, and definitely take time to get to know them somewhere public before deciding to keep them...you can always meet them for coffee with a photo album of the room for rent with any identifying landmarks removed from the photo (like a mailbox with the house number)...then they can decide if they are interested and you can take some time to decide if they are compatible...they don't have to be crazy to be a horrible roomate, and sometimes even friends or friends-of-friends turn out to be an awful match.

I have had about a million craigslist roommates. Most have been great. I haven't loved all of them but several of them are still close friends years after moving out. I just went to one former CL roommates wedding last weekend with another former CL roommate as my "date".

I didn't check references or get police reports on any of them (and none got mine). Carefully worded ads, careful screening of replies and in person interviews were sufficient and this is New York City.

I definately would not want to live with a college student - unless I was still college aged myself. I do not think they make the best roommates or are anymore trustworthy than the general population. I would take a working grown up over a college student anyday!


That being said - living alone is SO nice! Why would you want to give that up if you can afford to do it alone? Maybe a temporary sublet or month to month roommate would be a good compromise. So you can get the $$$ for a little while but not have to sign on for a whole year.

A great big HELLLLLLLLLLL NO! LOL Did ya see the movie "Single White Female"??????? LMAO

I was thinking the exact same thing....but then again, that could be hot LOLOL \m/

Scary thought :noway:

Don't do it! A lot of weird and scary people out there.

I lived in a three bedroom apartment in Hoboken, NJ (a very transient town) for a number of years. I found many of my roommates on Craig's List. I may not have been best friends with many of them, but I never ended up living with any true psychos (that said, I believe there's a little crazy in all of us - and that's healthy).

I was very specific about what I wanted - from the beginning of the process to the end. I specified the characteristics that I sought in my ad, and also stated that the person would have to A) pass a credit check and sign a lease. It's important not to be on the hook for their financial indiscretions. I felt that doing this weeded out a lot of shady characters even before a person contacted me.

Also, I actually did interview people. The purpose wasn't to find out if I liked the person, but rather to find out if I could LIVE with the person - were their living habits compatible with mine (and my other roommate's)? I preferred a roommate I could be friendly with, but not necessarily the best of friends - that way you're more likely to get the space we all need. On the flip side, I didn't want a roommate that would stay in their room whenever in the apartment - I felt that this would cause the person to be a stranger to me whenever they did (inevitably) surface, and I wanted someone I felt comfortable talking with (and/or confronting if issues arose).

I actually prefer to live with "a random" than a friend, or a friend of a friend. If you don't like living with the random, then you've lost nothing - They will probably feel similarly about you, and will probably move out at the end of lease. Living with someone you already have a connection with gets a little more tricky - if you decide you don't like living with them, you may end up losing a friend.

Basically, I feel Craig's List, or something along those lines is the way to go, but the selection process is not something to be taken lightly. Best of luck! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Rent the movie. Single White Female and get back to us...

My friends have been fine. State in your ad that you will be running a background check on the person. And do it. But even mentioning it should help scare off any creepers.

haha nah way too many sketchy people

I like Craigslist for finding places to live. Have had great luck in that area with Craigslist. Also got one of my cats off of Craigslist over six years ago as a kitten and he is the best cat ever. However, the one time I got a roommate off of Craigslist ended up being my last roommate ever. She was an alcoholic and almost broke me and my husband (then boyfriend) up for good, long story.