Looking for a roommate?Roommate locating services make it easy to find someone who shares
same interests and goals as you do. You no longer need to put expensive ads in paper because most roommate locating services are free. These services are guaranteed to be fast, easy, and convenient... but are they guaranteed to be safe?
In order to increase your security, you should avoid using any locator service which asks you to display your phone number or your current address in your profile. It might seem more convenient to provide potential roommates with every possible way to contact you. However, putting your phone number or current address on internet is just an open invitation for unwanted phone calls, drive bys and danger. The number of people using internet is unfathomable, and, unfortunately, there's a chance some weirdo might use a locator service for evil purposes. If you have access to internet, you have access to some sort of email account, and this is only real contact information you need to provide for potential roommates.
Due to mass of subscribers some of these sites have, free roommate locator services do not perform background checks on their members. Every Roommate Locator service I browsed through (about 15) had a section in their disclaimers rejecting any representation of their subscribers' character, credit worthiness, rental history or ability to pay rent. This, then, becomes your responsibility.
You will want a credit report done on candidate. A credit report will show you how responsible potential roommates are when it comes to finances. Since your name will be on lease with them, it is important that they have a good history. Some good locator services such as Roommateexpress.com, provide a section for comments. In this section, you should request that people bring a credit history report to interview. This saves you trouble and cost of having to get one made for them. They can get a credit report from RPS on line in thirty seconds for just eight dollars.
