Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Dealing With a Suspicious College Roommate

You've moved into a new college dorm with a new roommate, and at first everything seems fine. She respects you, picks up her laundry and lets you know when you've missed a phone call. But then you start to notice that things are a little strange.

What do you do? Here are some suggestions for dealing with a suspicious college roommate.

Get to know each other. One of the best ways to avoid mistrust or suspecting each other of wrongdoing is to get to know each other early in the school year. If you are from different backgrounds or social circles, some of your habits may seem a bit odd, but understanding each other will help to eliminate this awkwardness.

Set ground rules. There is nothing wrong with setting rules at the beginning of your school year establishing places in the room that are private or items that are not community property. Setting these boundaries ahead of time is a good way to protect yourself in case your roommate should prove to be less than trustworthy.

Don't jump to conclusions. If something that your roommate does seems out of the ordinary or weird, remember that you just met him recently and that there may be a reasonable explanation for his behavior. If whatever he's doing concerns you enough, casually bring it up in conversation. Ask him how things have been going, or ask him if anything is wrong. Give him an opportunity to open up to you.

Keep track of suspicious activities. If you begin to notice patterns of suspicious behavior that you feel might be cause for concern, pay attention to how often they happen and other details. Note any strange people that keep showing up at the room or write down occasions when your roommate receives strange phone calls or comes home much later than usual. Once you have kept track of these details for a while, determine if there is any pattern that could mean that something is going on.

Know your rights. If you suspect your roommate of committing a crime, such as stealing or being involved with drugs, know what your rights are as a roommate. Most colleges include information on campus security and crime prevention in their new student orientation materials. If this information does not tell you what you need to know, contact campus police or the housing office to find out how to handle a roommate that you suspect of a crime.

Protect yourself. If your roommate's suspicious behavior threatens you or makes you feel genuinely unsafe, take action. If you feel you have legitimate concern for your safety and well-being, consult your resident adviser about what you should do. Your resident adviser may be able to offer suggestions about relocating or finding a different roommate and can advise you on how to report your roommate's suspicious activity to the proper authorities.

Finding a good roommate is not that an easy task. But looking for a roommate at Roommate.ph website will surely help you to find the right one.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Dealing With An Annoying Roommate In College

If you draw poorly at the roommate game, don't get discouraged. There are steps you can take to surviving with him/her.

If your roommate spends a lot of time in your room alone, try including him/her in some of your activities. Most of the time, people will stay in their room if they don't know anyone or haven't made many friends. Give them a chance.

If your roommate has annoying habits, there are steps for that too. The first and probably best step is to talk with them about the problem. Explain your side of the issue and why it bothers you. Most of the time, they will understand where you're coming from.

If you really can't stand your roommate anymore, ask your RA if there is something you can do about it. Perhaps he could do a switch or get something worked out with your residence hall director. Just keep trying!

Finding a good roommate is not that an easy task. But looking for a roommate at Roommate.ph website will surely help you to find the right one.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Dealing With a Loud Roommate

Maybe you're still in college and/or already working, it is really a time of new experiences, including living with a new roommate. Habits and ways of life that you may not share with your roommate (like volume tolerance) can cause tension.

So how do you cope? Here are some tips for dealing with a loud roommate.

Get to know each other. You and your roommate may seem vastly different from one another, but one of the best ways to attempt to overcome these differences is to simply talk to each other and find out where each of you is coming from. Discuss families, friends, majors and courses of study, reactions to college life and likes and dislikes. Knowing basic facts about each other will allow you to relate to each other.

Set ground rules together. Discuss important boundaries with your roommate so that you both know what things are important to each of you. In regards to noise, decide how late is too late to play music or watch the television and what times are will be designated for study, during which the room should be noise-free.

Voice your concerns. The first few times that your roommate gets a little loud, tell them. Explain why the noise was excessive and how you found it intrusive, but be nice about it. It may be that your ideas of what is and isn't loud are simply not the same.

Offer alternatives. If your roommate likes to play video games with the volume turned up, suggest buying headphones for the computer that will allow them to have the sound they need without intruding on your quiet. If they continuously have the stereo playing at all hours, ask if they would agree to a time of night when the stereo could be turned off to avoid disturbing your sleep and the rest of the dorm.

Be firm. If your roommate continues to be loud at all hours of the day and still does not respect your boundaries after several requests, do not give up. You have as much right to your quiet as they do to their noise, and as roommates, you must have a mutual respect for one another.

Enlist help. If you feel that the noise situation between you and your loud roommate cannot be resolved between the two of you, ask your resident adviser to help you out. Set up a meeting with your roommate and adviser when both you and your roommate can voice your opinions and be heard by an objective third party. Your resident adviser will be able to offer suggestions about sharing space and respecting each other's boundaries and preferences.

Finding a good roommate is not that an easy task. But looking for a roommate at Roommate.ph website will surely help you to find the right one.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Improving Your Relationship with Your Roommate

Are you living with a roommate now? Is your experience living with this person less than stellar?
Want to know some ways to improve your relationship with your roommate?

Well, first of, think positively and be nice. When you're nice, you're bound to have better results! Discuss the basics. Are you going to share food or buy your food separately? Who will be responsible for doing the dishes and taking out the trash? Should you switch off? Who is going to pay what bills? How will you buy common items such as paper towels, aluminum foil, dish soap etc. These may seem like small and insignificant things, but they can really begin to damage a friendship with someone once you start living together!

Approach your roommate and tell him/her that you would like to spend more quality time together. For instance, suggest that once a week one of you will be responsible for making dinner. If it's your turn, you are responsible for getting the ingredients and making the meal. Ask your roommate the weekend before what days he/she has open the following week. This is a great way to make sure you spend time together even if you're extremely busy!

Be respectful. You are living there together. You have rights to the house/apartment/dorm, just like he/she does. If your roommate is taking up too much space, or is having friends over too much, or is doing something else that you don't enjoy, Talk to him/her. Don't assume that he/she knows how you feel.

Finding a good roommate is not that an easy task. But looking for a roommate at Roommate.ph website will surely help you to find the right one.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Getting Along Well With a Roommate

Study shown that living alone isn't always cost-effective. However, living with a roommate, however, can drain your sanity.

Here's how to make it easier:

Communicate openly with your roommate. Agree to talk about issues before they get out of control.

Accept that sometimes people will be in a bad mood. If he/she says he/she doesn't want to go do something with you, don't take it personally.

Decide early how the rent and utilities will be split, and what to do if one person can't make the month's payments.

Establish rules about food, company, chores, noise, tobacco and alcohol use, and parking. Make sure each person's expectations and responsibilities are clear.

Respect your roommate's right to privacy and his/her possessions. Always ask before you borrow anything, no matter how small.

Knock before entering his/her room.

Don't tie up the only phone line consider getting separate lines for each of you.

Take messages from callers. Get the name and phone number and write it down where your roommate will see it.

Begin your statements with "I," as in "I get really annoyed when you leave your dishes in the sink" instead of "You're such a pig!" Focus on her behavior, not his/her personally.

Recognize that some people are neater, louder, more private, or more possessive than others. Don't expect your roommate to mirror your own personality.

Treat his/her the way you expect to be treated.

Don't lie. If you screw up, admit it immediately.

Well, here's the deal, to avoid conflicts, be sure to know first your roommate. And the good way to do that is to find good roommate in this website called Roommate.ph. You can get to know individuals that are also like you that are looking for roommates.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Befriending Your Roommate: The Ultimate Guide on Making Friends With Your Roommate

I bet you have heard a lot of roommate horror stories out there. Are you one of them? So don't be.

Follow these folling guides to become friends with your roommate and have a good relationship that can last throughout college.

First, avoid rooming with a high school friend. I know what you're thinking, "I want to live with someone I know and like." Chances are, it won't work out. The majority of high school friends that live in a dorm room together don't stay friends for long. You already have too much history together. It's time for someone new.

Second, get to know your roommate before you meet face to face. When you get your roommate assignment, a university will probably let you know who you'll be rooming with along with contact information. If you don't feel comfortable calling, email him/her. By doing this you can get to know each other and sort out who is bringing what. You don't want to end up with two microwaves.

Third, think about the first meeting. You'll probably be meeting your roommate during the unpacking process. Take this time to talk. Comment on your roommate's pictures, posters, or anything else you may find interesting. It's a good way to break the ice.

Fourth, make plans to have a meal together. It doesn't have to be right after your first meeting, but sometime within the first day or two.

Fifth, explore the campus. Get your schedules and find out where your classes are going to be. Take note of all the interesting places in-between.

Sixth, go shopping together for your dorm room. If you get on campus and realize that you forgot something, see if your roommate wants to go with you. They probably forgot something as well.

Seventh, meet your neighbors. Bring your roommate with you when your meet your neighbors. It will be easier, plus meeting your neighbors is something you want to do anyway.

Eighth, set ground rules. Once you've gotten to know your roommate a little better, try to set down some ground rules. Write down a list of things that are/are not allowed in your dorm room. Set quiet times for studying and specific times to clean. This will help both of you out throughout the year.

Ninth, have a weekly get-together. Spend at least an hour or two a week to just spend time together; just the two of you. If that means, talking about any conflicts you may have, going out to eat, watching a movie, or even discussing your classes, it's a good way to stay close.

Tenth, know when to give space. Like with any friendship, you need to know when you're pushing too hard. You both can't spend every minute together. You need some time apart to be with other people or to be by yourself.

And lastly, the first step of course of having a friendly roommate is to find one first. How you can do this? Visit this site called Roommate.ph. And I suggest to create your profile, then start searching for members that have the same interests with you that you think can be a good roommate to share the house or apartment with.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Living Your Life with A College Roommate

It has been said that a roommate can be your best friend or your worst enemy. So please be considerate.

Get in touch with your roommate before school starts, if you don't already know him or her, and decide who should bring what. Make an effort to accommodate your roommate's needs.

Remember that looks can be deceiving, so avoid making snap decisions the first time you see your roommate.

Determine how you each want the room to look and come to agreements that meet both your needs.

Discuss housecleaning and bill-paying before they become problematic issues.

Come to a reasonable agreement about visiting boyfriends or girlfriends, including arrival and departure times.

Set up schedules for kitchen use, study times, bathroom times and party nights.

Determine what belongs to you and what belongs to your roommate. Check before helping yourself to his or her groceries, clothing, CDs or toiletries.

Keep things that happen in the room confidential.

Be patient with your roommate's choice of music, clothes, food and friends.

Respect your roommate's family.

Lastly, a good way to find a good roommate is to find it at this website that caters housing rentals and roommates in the Philippines:

http://roommate.ph

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Super Strategy Guide on Finding Your College Roommates

If you are a college student and renting a house or an apartment and you are looking for a roommate, then this article will surely help you. Many of you have felt the pressure of finding an extra college roommate to fill up an extra bedroom for various reasons.

The following tips and guides can help you find a safe college roommate who is easy to live with and takes care of their rent portion as well:

First, local college newspapers are a very good source for finding a college roommate. Most colleges have some sort of local campus paper. Grab one and look for the classifieds section. You will find that there are many people looking for a place to live!

Also, you may ask your landlord. If you are having trouble finding an extra college roommate ask your landlord for some assistance. Many people come to apartment companies asking to be placed in an apartment with other college roommates. Landlords match them up with others all of the time.

Check classifieds on social websites. Myspace, facebook,hi-5, etc can all have a classifieds section. Look up the college roommates area there. All of the major social websites can be found at http://stought.com/social.html

There are a number of other websites that have a college roomate section. But as for the most recommended one, I suggest you visit www.roommate.ph, register, create your profile, then search there for other persons that like you are also looking for their roommates. Who knows, you might find there the perfect roommate for you.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Splitting Bills Responsibility With a Roommate

There are some people that are social creatures and enjoy living with others; most find a roommate to help pay the bills. Though roommates are great money savers, getting down to brass tacks can be awkward depending on how familiar you are with one another and your attitudes towards spending. To minimize the tension, start by finding a roommate who makes about as much money as you do. Then, sit down and make an agreement.

Read on with the following tips and guide, that will surely can help you.

Decide who is going to have utilities in their name. The most common of roommate agreements is to split the responsibility; one person takes cable, another electric, etc. Whoever is in charge of a utility is responsible for having it turned on and off, telling each person how much they owe, and sending in the payment on time.

Forge an agreement on how payment will be split amongst roommates. You can simply divide each bill by the number of people living in the house. But if you consume resources unevenly, take these differences into account. For instance: if you need premium channels but your roommate doesn't watch much TV, cover the cost of cable on your own.

Put your decisions in writing. You can find sample roommate agreements online that cover everything from sharing utilities, the presence of guests and the event of an early move-out. If you feel very confident about the character of your roommate, you can write an informal agreement.

Post how much each person owes as soon as a bill comes in. It is courteous to give your roommates as much time as possible to come up with the money. Remember, if a utility is in your name, a late payment will be on your credit report.

Make sure any utility you are responsible for gets paid on time. Collecting money and paying the bills isn't exactly fun, but it's better than dealing with angry roommates when the water or electric gets shut off. If you have trouble remembering, have the money withdrawn from your account automatically.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

On Applying for a Rental With a Roommate

If you are planning to rent a house or an apartment with a roommate, you'll still go through the same process as you would if you were renting yourself - only, you'll need more documentation. Each person whose name will appear on the lease will have to supply references and rental history to the landlord or management company.

You should talk to your roommate-to-be before starting the application process. Find out if there's anything in your future roommate's rental history that would throw a wrench into getting approval for both of you.

Then, tell the landlord or property manager exactly how many people will be living in the property. Each of you will have to fill out a rental application.

Also, make sure each of you has all your rental history information together. This includes previous addresses, as well as phone numbers of previous landlords. After this, fill out the paperwork completely and honestly.

Finally, ask if the lease can be worded so that rental responsibilities between you and your roommate are divided. This is a legal way to protect yourself if you meet your half of the rent but your roommate doesn't. (In other words, you don't want to be responsible for the difference.)

By the way, I know a website wherein you can browse on rental listings and a community-based site where you can find and meet a roommate that will most likely perfect for you to live with. Just visit this site at http://roommate.ph. You can register as a roommate finder. Create your profile. Then connect with other roommate finders just like yourself. It will be a sure fun. I guarantee.

That will be for now. Til next time.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Tips on Finding a Roommate

If you live just by yourself and you are renting an apartment or house or even a room, rommates are certainly a good way to cut expenses. But before you move in together, take a few minutes to figure out what kind of living arrangement works for you - it could save a lot of headaches down the road.




In finding a roommate, you will need things like telephones, classified ads, internet access and roommate agreements.

If you are finding a roommate to move into your place, here are some tips that can help you:

First, figure out how you want to divide the costs of rent and utilities. Unless one of the bedrooms is substantially larger than the other, you probably will want to split the costs evenly between roommates.

Second, figure out how you want to divide daily living expenses - things that fall into the "common-use" category such as milk, coffee and laundry detergent. If you decide you want to have "mutual property," such as furniture or appliances, determine how to divide those expenses, too.

Then, determine what kind of person you want living in your home. Do you want a male or female roommate? A smoker or nonsmoker? Gay or straight? A partier or a homebody?

Also, ask friends if they know of people looking for a place to live. This gives you a character reference.

In addition, place ads on community bulletin boards and in local newspapers with a clear description of your home or apartment, monthly expenses and the kind of roommate you're looking for. Some Internet sites let users list their ads for free.

Moreover, screen applicants on the phone when they call. If you can tell right away that someone won't work out, don't waste your time meeting him or her face-to-face.

Furthermore, invite applicants who sound promising to come by for a meeting. If your ad specifies a nonsmoker and the person smells like cigarettes, you'll have saved yourself time and hassle.

Then, ask for references from previous landlords and roommates.

Finally, verify the applicant's employment.

While on the other hand, if you are finding someone who is looking for a roommate to move in, read on these tips below:

You can look in the real estate sections in metropolitan and community newspapers for "roommate wanted" ads. Ideally, the ads will give a description of the house or apartment as well as information on costs. You can also get leads on the Internet.

Then, respond to the ads that look promising. On the phone, discuss some basics about what you're looking for and what your expectations for privacy are.

Also, arrange a meeting with the potential roommate at the house or apartment so you can look at the place. Be sure to find out which bedroom will be yours.

Then, be up-front about any personal characteristics that may be problematic for you, such as smoking or staying up late to watch movies.

And finally, talk about dividing expenses for common-use items such as milk, coffee and laundry detergent.