Interviewing Potential Roomates

Timmyctc

So we have to find a new roommate for the coming summer. We've never had to advertise a room to rent, but we've had quite a few people interested. So we want to be sure the we choose the person who suits our personalities and general díckface behaviour best.

We don't want to end up with some roommate who will **** all over the hall and toilet etc as I read on a previous thread on AH about awful roommates..

So AH what questions should we ask our potential roommates to ensure they're the right ones to live with us.

Gongoozler

What is 42 the answer to.

Frosty McSnowballs

"Do you know what AH is"?

No? Good, c'mon in!

Stavros Murphy

When they walk in for the interview, chuck a bowl of water over them and laugh hysterically. If they still want the room, they're either desperate or sound. Either can work if played correctly.

Micky Dolenz

Have they any issue with naked Tuesday and Thursday? If they do, best not mention free for all Friday.

Sir Osis of Liver.

Timmyctc wrote: »

So we want to be sure the we choose the person who suits our personalities and general díckface behaviour best.

Dickface behaviour?

Timmyctc

Sir Osis of Liver. wrote: »

Dickface behaviour?

Its like being a regular person, but occasionally being a dick about it.

maguic24

Whats the difference between jam and peanut butter?

Conmaicne Mara

Lots of tips in The Big Bang Theory.

gillmelly

Timmyctc wrote: »

So we want to be sure the we choose the person who suits our personalities and general díckface behaviour best.

simples . . . . just pick the biggest díckface that comes in the door

Timmyctc

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Lots of tips in The Big Bang Theory.

There's an idea.

Me: "Did you see last night's episode of the Big Bang Theory?"

Interviewee: "Oh yeah it was gre-"

Me: *Closes door*

gillmelly

As the saying goes . . . who'd want to share any house that would have me as a housemate

Froggy123

Use your instincts, anytime I've met a potential housemate it's the one who you immediately click with ends up being the best choice!!

If it's a house share, make sure at least two of the housemates are there, so if it ends up being a bad decision it'll fall to two of you's to get rid of them and not just one person getting the name!!

gillmelly

You could do a version of the voice and spin your seats around when they entertain you sufficiently

Cantremember

Schedule interviews from 9 am. Weeds out the lazy and the problem drinkers (unless they show up drunk). Get a group interview going. Weeds out the weird. Then do your individual interviews like speed dating. Clear them out, collate impressions and you're done.

Reject all who turn up on time (unless they're drunk). Sorted.

the_syco

Timmyctc wrote: »

as I read on a previous thread on AH about awful roommates..

Ah, you mean this thread?

gg2

the_syco wrote: »

Ah, you mean this thread?

Why don't I have permission to view the frigging page??:mad:

Davarus Walrus

It's been a few years, but when I shared a house I always took the following non-verbal cues as a reference when deciding if someone was going to be a suitable housemate.

Shoes: If they were coming from work then look at their shoes. Overly scuffed or grubby shoes aren't a good sign. Converse runners falling apart at the seems are a real no-no.

Hair: Greasy hair is sign of laziness. Long hair on men can be fine, but should be a caution sign. Make a judgement call. Same with facial hair. A scraggy head of hair and a mangy beard may lead to friends calling round to smoke weed and watch Asian martial arts movies. Fine if you're in college, but tedious if you have to get up before the Angelus bells ring.

Timmyctc

Davarus Walrus wrote: »

It's been a few years, but when I shared a house I always took the following non-verbal cues as a reference when deciding if someone was going to be a suitable housemate.

Shoes: If they were coming from work then look at their shoes. Overly scuffed or grubby shoes aren't a good sign. Converse runners falling apart at the seems are a real no-no.

Hair: Greasy hair is sign of laziness. Long hair on men can be fine, but should be a caution sign. Make a judgement call. Same with facial hair. A scraggy head of hair and a mangy beard may lead to friends calling round to smoke weed and watch Asian martial arts movies. Fine if you're in college, but tedious if you have to get up before the Angelus bells ring.

Arrah I wouldn't make the full judgement on their appearance. Especially on a once off meeting. Its not a formal job interview. Its a house viewing/impromptu roommate interview.

And for the record. Getting high and watching **** films sounds like a lovely way to unwind :pac:

leggo

I think you have to look for someone that's different than you. And what's more different than you, a guy who's not 19, than a female who IS 19?!

dpofloinn

Some Questions for potential roommates. Blur or Oasis ? Are you any good in a fight? Dyou drink tea?( if not show them the door you cant trust anyone who doesnt drink tea)

Davarus Walrus

Timmyctc wrote: »

Arrah I wouldn't make the full judgement on their appearance. Especially on a once off meeting. Its not a formal job interview. Its a house viewing/impromptu roommate interview.

And for the record. Getting high and watching **** films sounds like a lovely way to unwind :pac:

Oh no, I agree. Someone being sound was important as well. I shared a house with a girl for 5 years. We had to advertise the third room on a number of occasions. We just developed a type of checklist. At the end of the day, it's deciding on someone who is going to become an intrinsic part of your life. After making a couple of mistakes with scruffy 'sound skins' who wouldn't know what a hoover was if it hit them in the face, we decided that it was about more than initial impressions of how nice they seemed.

Timmyctc

leggo wrote: »

I think you have to look for someone that's different than you. And what's more different than you, a guy who's not 19, than a female who IS 19?!

Are you a 19 year old Female anyone looking for a room in Galway. Because if so ... I know a guy :pac:

Boombastic

Timmyctc wrote: »

....

We don't want to end up with some roommate who will **** all over the hall and toilet etc as I read on a previous thread on AH about awful roommates..

So AH what questions should we ask our potential roommates to ensure they're the right ones to live with us.

question 1- where do you intend ****ting?

Custardpi

I've had to interview housemates a good few times over the years. Eventually you develop an instinct for who's good & bad. They should be well spoken but not obviously trying to charm you. How a person carries themselves is far more important than their hair length or their clothes. That said, people who turn up in football (GAA or Soccer) shirts usually end up being lazy & reluctant to pay bills. Those who show up in business atire that's too properly worn (shirt closed up to the top button etc) tend to be ridiculously picky & argumentative. Ideally you want someone that's in between those two extremes.

Ciderswigger

dpofloinn wrote: »

Dyou drink tea?( if not show them the door you cant trust anyone who doesnt drink tea)

I don't drink tea (or coffee) and I'm sound. I swear I am!

The_Pretender

**** in the hall and see how they react. If they're horrified then you lnow they're an alright room mate.

Nulty

Cantremember wrote: »

Schedule interviews from 9 am. Weeds out the lazy and the problem drinkers (unless they show up drunk). Get a group interview going. Weeds out the weird. Then do your individual interviews like speed dating. Clear them out, collate impressions and you're done.

Reject all who turn up on time (unless they're drunk). Sorted.

What have you got against the drunk?

Timmyctc

Nulty wrote: »

What have you got against the drunk?

Yeah. He would be in good company -_-

Davarus Walrus

I've heard horror stories from friends about house-sharing with drunks and/or stoners.

Mince Pie

Can't believe Shallow Grave hasn't been mentioned yet. Best housemate interviews!

catallus

When is the last time someone said to you "You are the sunshine of my life?"

*cries pathetically

pundy

ah just go with anyone really....

if they're sh!te they'll move out, if you get on they'll be there for ages. grand.

petes

gg2 wrote: »

Why don't I have permission to view the frigging page??:mad:

It's part of the Ranting n Raving forum!

Davarus Walrus

pundy wrote: »

ah just go with anyone really....

if they're sh!te they'll move out, if you get on they'll be there for ages. grand.

The problem is when they don't move out. Not everyone has the same personality type and it can be hard to warm to some people, but there is nothing worse than some lazy slob as a housemate. Not washing up after cooking, leaving the jacks like something out of trainspotting, smoking weed in their room. You need to be able to preempt these things if at all possible, and that's why I believe you need to use non-verbal cues as well when assessing a potential housemate.

leggo

pundy wrote: »

ah just go with anyone really....

if they're sh!te they'll move out, if you get on they'll be there for ages. grand.

Ha! You've never lived with a lazy person no? Moving out means work, the one thing they are allergic to. Lazy people will put up with any number of circumstances to avoid doing something: not being talked to, being berated etc. They find moving out of the chair they're sitting in enough of a struggle, taking their stuff and moving it all to another home? You may as well ask them to do a marathon.

jester77

Set a list of tasks and see how they cope and tell them you are looking for a housemate who knows how to keep a place clean and orderly. Have someone clean the kitchen, someone else clean the bathroom, someone clean the windows, someone cook you a small meal to see how they leave the kitchen afterwards, and so on.


Then you have the weekend free




I find it saves on a cleaner to look for a new housemate every Friday

Davarus Walrus

leggo wrote: »

Ha! You've never lived with a lazy person no? Moving out means work, the one thing they are allergic to. Lazy people will put up with any number of circumstances to avoid doing something: not being talked to, being berated etc. They find moving out of the chair they're sitting in enough of a struggle, taking their stuff and moving it all to another home? You may as well ask them to do a marathon.

It's very common. I was surprised. For some people the sum total of their ambition in the evening is to wolf down a quick dinner and start playing computer games. No desire to keep the place tidy, interact with their housemates, or get some exercise in. A grown man sitting on a couch playing a game where he pretends to be a soldier shooting other soldiers. For 8 hours.

Kilgore__Trout

We can only hope that no high horses will be injured with all those imaginary bullets fired by grown men pretending to be soldiers whizzing around the place.

zetalambda

Timmyctc wrote: »

So we have to find a new roommate for the coming summer. We've never had to advertise a room to rent, but we've had quite a few people interested. So we want to be sure the we choose the person who suits our personalities and general díckface behaviour best.

We don't want to end up with some roommate who will **** all over the hall and toilet etc as I read on a previous thread on AH about awful roommates..

So AH what questions should we ask our potential roommates to ensure they're the right ones to live with us.

Get a woman. They're generally a lot cleaner than men and there's the potential to get a shag every now and then.

Gongoozler

Davarus Walrus wrote: »

It's very common. I was surprised. For some people the sum total of their ambition in the evening is to wolf down a quick dinner and start playing computer games. No desire to keep the place tidy, interact with their housemates, or get some exercise in. A grown man sitting on a couch playing a game where he pretends to be a soldier shooting other soldiers. For 8 hours.

There's no obligation to interact with your housemates. If you want that you should specify. Most people share because they can't afford to live by themselves. I wouldn't mind interactions with my housemate, only she doesn't consider me a person, just a vessel to talk at.

Oh god, just realised she's going to want to talk at me about her holiday when she gets back oh Jesus

Custardpi

Yeah, it's awful when people are friendly & sociable. What a monster! :eek:

smileyj1987

Pick the woman with the biggest rack it's that simple .

OneArt

zetalambda wrote: »

Get a woman. They're generally a lot cleaner than men and there's the potential to get a shag every now and then.

Balls. Lived with three women and they were all messy, and a lot I know tend to be messy.

Also you can shag men and well. I suppose it's a matter of taste, but it's the same with women. Just don't be so picky.

Gongoozler

Custardpi wrote: »

Yeah, it's awful when people are friendly & sociable. What a monster! :eek:

And how is that friendly and social, talking at someone regardless of what they say or want.

leggo

Gongoozler wrote: »

There's no obligation to interact with your housemates. If you want that you should specify. Most people share because they can't afford to live by themselves. I wouldn't mind interactions with my housemate, only she doesn't consider me a person, just a vessel to talk at.

Oh god, just realised she's going to want to talk at me about her holiday when she gets back oh Jesus

I'd go one further and say that I wouldn't live with friends again. It's not good to have the drama of 'the group' bleeding into your home life. A nice friendly 'don't **** about and let's keep it civil, but we live completely separate lives' vibe is ideal IMO. I'd avoid a place if I felt they were getting me in to be best buds.

mfceiling

Just be very careful OP.

When i was living in sydney many years ago, me and my cousin decided to rent our spare room out to a couple of girls. Probably get a bit of action we thought.

Interviewed a few hounds and also a few crackers. I was out on the razz one night and the cousin calls me to say "we're getting 2 irish birds...they liked the room and they're easy on the eye".





I'm married 10 years this year...:(

Ruu

When they are about to speak, say that you have had a change of heart and that you no longer want a roommate, turn your back with dramatic effect and lean on the window looking out. If they are still there when you turn around 5 minutes later, you have yourself a roommate!

Jonny Blaze

Ask what their favourite reality tv show is..

Reject all who give an answer.

Davarus Walrus

A wallet chain or a German army surplus coat would also raise a potential red-flag.

zetalambda

OneArt wrote: »

Balls. Lived with three women and they were all messy, and a lot I know tend to be messy.

Also you can shag men and well. I suppose it's a matter of taste, but it's the same with women. Just don't be so picky.

Yeah, I've lived with plenty of women and the house, especially the kitchen was regularly destroyed but it's a waiting game to see who gets fed up of living in their own filth and from my experience women always break first. They're always in a great mood after a few hours cleaning as well, a double delight.