Need a roomate? Tips for Millenials or those entering the Golden Years

Are you an empty nester?  Do you have an empty room you would like to rent in your house?  Are you moving to a new city but can't afford your own space?  Are you tired of living alone and seeking a living companion?  There are many compelling reasons for seeking a roomate.

In today's NYT there was an article about finding a roomate in the  Golden Years. Although it is traditionally recognized that millenials seek roomates when they are starting out in college or moving to a new city it is becoming increasingly mainstream for older adults to seek a home sharing arrangement.  For an older person who lives alone it may be ideal to have someone younger for companionship and help around the house.  Home maintenance tasks become much more difficult as we age.  (I would have loved to have my kids home to shovel this winter.)

In many cities it is prohibitively expensive to rent an apartment and it may be more practical to have a companion for both social and economic reasons.    Local newspapers and facebook are a good starting point in your search.  There are dedicated facebook groups by demographic that will screen potential roomate seekers.  Craigslist also often has listings of people seeking a roomate.   I would suggest starting with your personal network and then expanding your search if you don't have luck. There are several online matching services.

When renting an apartment or living space a landlord typically has a screening mechanism in place.  When one has a home or apartment and wants to share it often the level of screening may be less stringent.  My son lives in New York with a roomate who sublet his apartment this summer.  Although I cannot attest to the level of screening conducted by his roomate, my son's laptop was stolen on the day the subletter moved out.  It has never been recovered. 

Due diligence is critical for a roomate search.  You MUST fully screen for safety and lifestyle quality.  You may want to request a financial verification, personal references and  CORI check if you are planning to sublet a room to someone.   You can never be too careful especially since this person will be living with you.

Below are some links to help facilitate this search.

Silvernest

Smartasset

If you have a roomate and need to find a place to live,  Wendy is a realtor in the metrowest area of Boston.  She loves helping clients in their search.  For more information visit www.wendybcb.com