Having roommates is a very common living arrangement. Not only does a roommate lower your housing costs but it also provides you with the opportunity to get to know someone else. Many people choose to live with friends that they have known for a while, but that’s not always an option for everyone.
Some people move far away from their hometowns and relocate to cities where they don’t know anyone else yet. Other people simply don’t feel inclined to live with friends as that can sometimes cause issues between friends who just don’t work well as roommates.
These are only two of the many reasons why a lot of people have a hard time finding a roommate. The good news is that it’s easy to find roommates when you know where to look! Today, we’re going to explore five different ways you can search for a roommate in Nashville.
By the time you finish reading this article, you will be equipped with insight that will help you find a roommate for your Nashville roommate!
1. Look Through Your Contact List
A lot of us have contact lists on our phones that are full of phone numbers belonging to former coworkers, friends from years ago, cousins we haven’t seen in awhile, and other people who might not come to mind right away. To jog your memory and help yourself consider all of your options, it helps to look through your contact list.
Maybe you will spot the name of a friend from college who might be looking for a roommate, too. Or maybe you will be reminded of someone you’ve lost touch with and you think they would make for a wonderful roommate. The options are endless, but the idea of going through your contact list is to exhaust your personal connections before turning to the general public.
2. Ask Your Friends If They Know Anyone
While going through your contact list, you might not come across the names of anyone that you want to be friends with but that’s okay. The thing about knowing other people is that they also know people, so you can create mutual connections and find roommates that way.
Reach out to friends and family members whose opinions you trust. Ask them if they happen to know of anyone who is also looking for a roommate, and see if they will connect you with people they know. Mutual connections are not only an amazing way to expand your network but some of the best people you’ll meet are friends with people you already know.
Though it can be very overwhelming to search for roommates when the world feels so big, consider the idea that you are more connected to other people than you might realize. Have you heard of the concept of six degrees of separation?
It is an idea that suggests we are all only six people apart, meaning that it’s usually possible to link two people together based on six people that connect between them. It goes to show that the world is smaller than it seems, and mutual connections are a great way to find your next best roommate in Nashville.
3. Post About Your Search for a Roommate on Social Media
Another way to find roommates through mutual connections is by posting about your search for a Nashville roommate on social media. If you have an Instagram account, create a post that explains how you’re searching for a roommate in your area.
Also, make sure you set the location of your post to Nashville, TN. This will broaden your reach and make your post visible to people who look at photos posted in Nashville. Use hashtags that are relevant to roommate searches and the city of Nashville, too.
Send out a tweet on Twitter asking if anyone is looking for a Nashville roommate, and update your Facebook status in a way that shows you’re looking for roommates. The more social media platforms you have, the wider your reach and the better chances you’ll have of finding a roommate on social media!
4. Look for Roommates on Local Facebook and Reddit Pages
Similar to posting on social media, another way to find local roommates in Nashville is by looking on Facebook and Reddit pages. On Facebook, all you have to do is search for local and relevant pages in the search bar. A long list of community pages will appear and you can start looking through these pages for other people posting about their roommate searches.
Alternatively, try looking on Reddit for roommates in Nashville. If you already know how to navigate Reddit, finding discussion boards and subreddits dedicated to helping people find roommates.
However, to anyone who is not well versed in the layout of Reddit, try searching “looking for roommates in Nashville Reddit” to locate these pages on Google. One of the most popular subreddits for finding roommates is called RedditRoommates. Check it out!
5. Make a Profile on Roommate Searching Apps
Social media platforms are not the only outlet for people who are looking for roommates in Nashville. There are actually a number of apps out there specifically designed to help you find roommates! In no particular order, some of the best roommate searching apps include:
- Roomi
- Roommates.com
- Roomie Match
- Roomster
- Diggz
- Circle for Roommates
- Bumble BFF
- PadMapper
- Rainbow Roommates
Let’s take a look at 5 of these amazing roommate searching apps!
Roomi
Roomi is an app that deep dives into people’s personal history. Not only will Roomi verify the identities of people looking for roommates on the app, but it conducts thorough background checks as well.
You will be able to rest assured knowing that the roommate options on Roomi have been vetted for security purposes, putting many Roomi users in a positive situation where they can trust other people on the app.
RoomieMatch
Recognized for the way all profiles are reviewed by real people, RoomieMatch is a great option if you are worried about being scammed. The moderators of the app weed out people who are trying to waste your time, leaving you with only well-suited options.
Roomster
Roomster is one of the best apps for people who want to get a feel for what potential roommates are like in person before even reaching out and planning to talk about their roommate compatibility.
Similar to going on dates with potential romantic partners, Roomster lets you do a lot of research about the people behind the screen before meeting up and considering them as your next roommate. To make this possible, Roomster gives you access to people’s social media profiles.
You can read their latest tweets, check out their new Instagram posts, and explore their job history on LinkedIn before you message them about possibly being your next roommate!
Diggz
Diggz is an app that helps you find roommates in your area. Unlike many roommate searching apps, Diggz is available in only 13 cities, but don’t worry! Nashville is one of them. The search results on Diggz are impressively customizable.
For example, you can set your standards in a way that reflects your expectations. From defining your outlook on partying in the apartment to explaining your sleep schedule, Diggz is a free tool for finding roommates that share the same values and expectations as you.
PadMapper
Though PadMapper is not specifically designed for finding a roommate, PadMapper is a great place to post about the available space in your Nashville apartment. As a place where people can explore open units and rooms in their area, PadMapper is a way to give more exposure to your available room. People who are looking for roommates will come to you instead of you having to seek out people who might want to room with you!
Questions to Ask Potential Roommates in Nashville
Before we go, we want to leave you with a few tips to implement when you interview potential roommates for your apartment in Nashville. You have to remember that you will be sharing your personal space with anyone who becomes your roommate, so being careful about who you decide to sign a lease with is key.
A great way to figure out if you and your potential roommates will live well together is to pose some questions that will give you an idea of who they are, what their lifestyle is like, and whether their way of living pairs well with yours.
Inquire About Their Job Status
To start with, ask your potential roommate if they have a steady stream of reliable income. There is nothing more terrifying than signing a lease with someone who cannot uphold their portion of the monthly rent payments.
Asking potential roommates if they can afford their half of the rent and commit to monthly payments is a direct way of figuring out their reliability. It’s always good news when someone has held a job position for a long time, too. This means that they are able to show up to their job on a consistent basis and uphold their financial responsibilities.
Learn More About Their Day-to-Day Schedule
It’s important to understand what someone else’s day-to-day schedule looks like before agreeing to be roommates. Some schedules work perfectly together while other schedules cause conflict.
For example, if your roommate is an early bird who rises at three in the morning and makes a lot of noise in the kitchen, it will ruin your sleep schedule if you happen to wake up around ten in the morning due to a totally different schedule. This is just one example of a scenario that doesn’t always work out well, but it’s up to your discretion.
Talk about what times you each wake up, when you go to bed, and how often you tend to be at home. From there, you can decide how you feel about their answers and whether or not their work schedule is complementary to yours.
Find Out if They Have Pets or Significant Others
When looking for roommates that are well suited for your Nashville apartment, we strongly advise you to ask potential roomies about any pets or significant others. While it might feel as though you’re overstepping into their private life, the truth is that these details will affect you as their roommate.
If someone has pets that you are allergic to, then you won’t pair well as roommates. Similarly, let them know about any pets that you have or plan to get soon. It’s important to respect each other, and disclosing information regarding pets is one way to do exactly that!
Likewise, ask if they have a significant other and pose a question regarding whether or not you can expect their partner to come over often. If you’re someone who isn’t comfortable with people other than your roommate in your apartment, then rooming with someone whose partner stays the night frequently won’t work well.
Also, having guests come over to your apartment can be disruptive, especially if you work from home, you’re particular about your alone time, or you are sensitive to noise. Your values and expectations need to line up in general but especially when it comes to pet and guest policies.
Ask Them About Their Expectations
A great way to understand how you and someone else would work as roommates is by discussing your individual expectations. Do you expect your roommate to pitch in equally around the apartment? Or do you think it’s better to split up the chores so that you do all of the laundry and they wash all of the dishes?
Are you interested in having quiet hours set in place? Do you have any requirements that you aren’t able to compromise on? These are important details to work out ahead of time because going into the experience with the same expectations will make living with a roommate enjoyable rather than stressful!
At the end of the day, trust your gut. You know what you need in a roommate, and you should keep your preferences at the forefront of your mind. Since you’ll be living in the same space, make sure you lay everything out on the table during your conversations. As with many situations, honesty is the best policy when searching for a roommate in Nashville.
