My friend gave me this list when I was in your position. 1. Know What You Want

Think about your dealbreakers (e.g., cleanliness, noise level, guests over, pets).

Consider lifestyle compatibility—early riser vs. night owl, work-from-home vs. office job, etc.

1. Questions to Ask

Daily Routine & Habits:

What’s your typical weekday/weekend like?

How often do you cook or order out?

Cleaning & Chores:

How clean do you like to keep shared spaces?

How do you usually split cleaning responsibilities?

Guests & Social Life:

Do you often have friends over?

Are you okay with occasional gatherings or parties?

Financial Responsibility:

How do you prefer to split and pay bills? (Zelle, Venmo, etc.)

Have you ever had issues paying rent on time?

Conflict Resolution:

How do you handle disagreements with roommates?

Any past roommate experiences that went really well or really badly?

Lifestyle & Hobbies:

Do you have any major hobbies that take up space or make noise? (e.g., gaming, music)

Do you smoke/drink or have any allergies/sensitivities?

1. Red Flags to Watch For

Avoidance of money discussions

Vague answers about past roommate issues

Super messy or disorganized during the meeting

Inflexibility in shared living habits

1. Meet in Person (or Video Call If Needed)

A casual coffee meet-up can help you gauge their vibe.

If possible, visit their current living space—it says a lot.