I am sure that you have heard all sorts of horror stories before of people renting homes with those that they thought at first would be the ideal roommates, only to realize the errors of their ways shortly thereafter; when a lease has already been signed contractually obligating them to rents for a determined period of time. I have seen it myself plenty of times before, more often than not, and have put some thought into this commonly experienced dilemma. What I have been able to digress are some really solid tips on choosing the ideal roommate, so that those of you who are considering such a living situation can make a decision that serves your interests the best. 

Determine Whether or Not Your Personalities are Compatible
First you need to make sure that you are compatible to live together. Hang out with them at their current residence to see how they live. Are they clean? Are they slob? Is their room covered in clothing in piles on the floor? How about their fridge, is it clean, and well stocked with food? Do they procrastinate cleaning or is it spotless inside? Compare your findings to how you prefer to live to make sure that you may be a good fit.

See What Kind of a Person They are
Personalities being compatible are essential for any harmonious living experiences. How well do you get along? Do you keep the same friends and enjoy the same movies and bands? What about nightlife? Do you both stay up late and listen to loud music? Do you drink a lot and smoke inside, or are you smoke-free and go to bed at a certain time every night? Knowing what kind of person that they are, and whether or not you can tolerate them, will help you to make the best decisions when it comes to sharing a living space with somebody.

Financial Stability and Mentality are Important
Personal and financial stability, as well as mentality are very important. Do they get stressed and go on a drinking binge? Are they financially stable and have a secure job that will allow for them to pay the rent on time always, or are they always scraping pennies just to make ends meet? Do they have other obligations that could put them behind? Are they working a dead end job and barely making ends meet? How long have they been employed gainfully and do you foresee them keeping with this trend. The last thing that you want to realize after you sign on the dotted line is that the person is exactly the opposite of what you had thought. Take your time and make your decision carefully and you will most certainly net yourself a worthy roommate.

The Significant Other Factor
Finally, last and certainly not least on this list is the significant other factor. Do they have girlfriend or a boyfriend? How often are they together, and can you stand their significant other? If you are planning on sharing a place with both, make sure you apply the above list to both parties before agreeing to anything.