Housing

Searching for a roommate can be a long and frustrating process, especially if it's your first time doing so. When searching for a roommate, consider asking each other the following questions to determine whether you will be compatible.

• What’s your sleeping schedule like? Do you like to stay up late or go to bed early? Are you a light or heavy sleeper?
• Are you messy or clean?
• How often do you like to clean?
• How will cleaning be shared?
• At what temperature do you like to keep the room and/or apartment?
• Are you okay with sharing/borrowing clothes, food, etc.? What is off limits?
• How important is studying to you, and how often do you plan to study?
• Where, when, and how do you prefer to study?
• Do you drink, smoke, and/or use drugs? How often?
• What’s your work/class schedule like?
• Do you shower at night or in the morning? How often do you shower?
• What are your pet peeves?
• Do you have any allergies (particularly food) that I should be aware of?
• How often can guests come over? Can they spend the night? Does a heads-up need to be given to have friends over and/or have a party? How far in advance should roommates be informed?
• What about significant others? Can they spend the night? Can they hang out all day, every day? Can we give them duplicates of keys?
• What are your hobbies and interests?
• When you get angry and/or stressed, how do you express that? What are your coping mechanisms?
• What are your religious and political beliefs?
• Can we carpool to class?
• What is your communication style? How do you envision working through conflict when/if we have it?
• Do you consider yourself to be on the quieter side or the more social side?
• Are pets allowed? (if applicable)

If you will be living with a complete stranger, it is important to get to know them right away.

If you are provided with contact information for your roommate(s) before you move, take advantage of that. Contact your roommate(s) to get to know them early on. Putting yourself out there can make it more enjoyable and less awkward during move-in.

Some questions you can start with:

• Do you know anyone else on campus?
• Where are you from? What's it like there?
• What are you going to major and/or minor in? Do you plan to transfer from Hawkeye to another school?
• Favorites: Color, food, music, TV show, movie, animal, etc.
• Do you have a significant other?
• Do you have any siblings? How old are they?
• Why did you choose to attend Hawkeye Community College?
• What program are you pursuing?
• What are some of your hobbies?
• Do you/did you play any sports?
• What are you most anxious about for college?
• Are you interested in participating in any extracurricular activities in college?
• Do you plan on working while in school? If so, where at?
• Discuss what each of you will be bringing to your living space and which of those items you might share. For example: Furniture, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies, dorm fridge, computer, printer, etc.
• To ensure a comfortable living environment, it's important to go over each of the questions in our list of questions to ask when searching for a roommate.

Be open and honest about issues that you have with your roommate(s) as they come up. Address things when they are little. Do not let problems drag on without talking about them, because it will only allow the issue to escalate and create more tension.

Have weekly chats to make sure that everyone is on the same page. You want to be sure that household chores are being completed, bills are being paid, etc.

It is good to check in with roommates on a routine basis, because then it holds them and you accountable.

A rental agreement exists so that guidelines are set up at the beginning of a lease. These guidelines lay out the responsibilities of each person in the living environment to ensure a living situation acceptable to each tenant. It is best if all roommates have signed and dated copies of the agreement to avoid problems.

Several topics can be included in a rental agreement including:

• Finances
• Household duties/cleaning
• Subleasing
• Abandonment
• Guest policies

All of these topics are important to talk about up front in order to avoid future issues between tenants.

Don't forget the golden rule. Treat your roommate like you want to be treated. You may not always like your roommate, but it's important to remember to give him/her the respect that they deserve.

Don't degrade or ridicule your roommate. Try to work out issues without resorting to anger and hostility.

Respect your roommate's personal belongings. If you wouldn't want him/her borrowing your clothes, eating your food, and using your laptop, give him/her the same courtesy.

Remember that you and your roommate(s) likely come from different backgrounds. You were probably raised differently and may have different beliefs and values. It is important for you to respect one another's beliefs and values, but yet, to embrace people who are different from you. College is a time to learn, grow, and have new experiences.

As a tenant, you have the right to feel safe, comfortable, and clean in your own living space. You also have the right to seek aid from staff in resolving conflict/issues after your own unsuccessful attempts.

Sometimes roommates end up being best friends, but more often than not, they don't. And that's okay. It is important for you to understand that you don't have to be best friends with the person or people that you live with. You just have to be able to respect each other enough to make it work.

Even if you are moving in with your best friend, understand that just because you're good friends doesn't mean that you will make good roommates. Some of the best friendships can turn into negative roommate relationships. Don't set your expectations too high when moving in with your best friend. Remember to set ground rules and guidelines from the get go, just as you would with a stranger.

Even if you plan to live with your best friend and do not ever envision having conflict, conflict can and does happen amongst roommates who are living in close quarters with one another.

It is important to sit down with your roommate(s), even if your roommate(s) are your best friend(s), and go through the Questions to Ask Your Roommate Before Move In Day to determine how compatible you will be when living with one another.

Another preventative method is to come up with a rental agreement upon move-in, which lays out a plan for handling roommate issues as they arise.

Types of Conflict

Conflict can vary amongst roommates depending on each living situation. It is important to be aware of common roommate problems up front so that you are able to take the necessary steps to prevent these problems by personally exhibiting the traits of a good roommate.

Knowing about common roommate problems can also help you to recognize and resolve conflicts in a much quicker and more acceptable manner.

Some of the most common roommate problems include:

• Borrowing personal items, such as clothing, without permission.
• Eating another’s food.
• Messy living habits.
• Poor personal hygiene.
• Lack of respect for each other’s space.
• Being too noisy.
• Having friends and/or significant others over more frequently than the other roommate(s) prefers.
• Unequal sharing of bills (money).

It’s a good idea to establish rules up front for handling these issues if they come up. If preventative measures aren’t taken, it can permanently damage roommate relationships and make living situations intolerable.

Ask for Help

If it’s helpful to have a conflict mediator, please contact your RA, Residence Life Coordinator, or Apartment Manager to assist you with any roommate issues that you may be experiencing.

If you live in an establishment that doesn't have such a person or you don't feel comfortable talking to that person, you are welcome to contact the Student Services office at 319-296-4014 or email Student Services to talk about any roommate issues that you may be experiencing.

Things to Consider

• Do not prop outside doors open for strangers to get in.
• Always lock door when you leave/are sleeping.
• When conflicts arise, try to resolve them by talking with people, not about them.

• Never walk alone at night: There is safety in numbers. By walking with someone else at night, you significantly reduce your chances of being assaulted. If you don’t know of anyone to walk with you, contact a public safety officer on campus to escort you home.
• Be aware of your surroundings: If you listen to music while you are out, put only one ear bud in. If you use an ATM, be sure it’s in a well-lit area. Never use an ATM at the back of a bank. Never stand there and count your money. Be aware of who is around you at all times.
• Change up your route or routine every once in a while: Changing your walking route, particularly at night, decreases the chances of you being followed. Be sure to always walk in well-lit areas where others can see you.
• Give someone your schedule: Consider swapping schedules with your roommate. It’s important that someone knows where you are at all times so that if you don’t show up at home, someone will know that you are missing.
• Keep a list of important emergency contacts: Program these numbers in your cell phone and put them in a prominent place in your apartment, such as a message board or hanging on your refrigerator, so that you are able to quickly dial them. Be sure to have the following phone numbers easily accessible in case of an emergency:
  • Local Authorities
  • Your Landlord
  • Iowa Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222
  • Utilities such as your electric, gas, water, cable, internet, ...
• Get into a routine of locking your doors and windows: Lock the doors and windows of your room and/or apartment when you leave the premises and as soon as you return. Be sure to keep your keys in your hand so that you are able to lock your doors immediately after coming and going. This will prevent intruders from having easy access.
• Learn some self-defense techniques: Most colleges offer some type of self-defense course or seminar that students can take. It is important to learn how to defend yourself should you ever be put into a situation where you would need to. The Health Education and Services Center often offers self-defense classes. Contact the staff at the front desk for class dates and times.
• Keep expensive belongings hidden: When walking alone, keep expensive belongings, such as laptops, hidden. This will make you less of a target to thieves and attackers.