To thine own self be true
The absolute most important part of finding housemates that you want to keep is being really, really honest with yourself and others about who you are and what you can and want to live with.
This is NOT the time to wish you were different. Do not believe you can make someone else different. If you don’t like alcohol, don’t live with someone who has a drink every night. If you like to have a kitchen that is immaculate, don’t move into a house with a kitchen that makes you uncomfortable. If you really like playing music all the time, don’t choose to live with someone who says that they like quiet.
This may all seems obvious. Don’t let yourself slip because you like the person, the location is perfect for you, or the price is right. Since looking for housing can feel scary and be anxiety producing, it’s easy to fall into hoping and ignoring the warning signals. Don’t do it.
Do know the difference between what you MUST have in a living space and what you would like to have.
See future posts on the difference.
