No matter whether you’re renting your first apartment or have already switched places more often than you can remember, choosing the right person to move in with is terribly difficult. Knowing what questions to ask potential roommates can save you from ending up in an argument later on. Every living situation is made so much better when you’re friends with your roommate. That’s why it’s important to know good questions to ask your roommate (especially if you don’t know them well) so that they can become your friend.

1. WHICH CHORES DON’T YOU MIND DOING?

Directly asking a potential roomie how often they clean leaves some room for fabrication, so a better approach might be to ask them which chores they hate the least. Then, you can compromise, and while you’re sweeping your shared room one week, they’ll be cleaning out the bathroom sink!

2. DO YOU SMOKE?

Tobacco use and vaping is prohibited in the residence halls, but many non-smokers have a hard time living with students who smoke regularly. If you learn your potential roomie does smoke, make sure you come to agreeable terms in advance.

3. WHAT TIME DO YOU USUALLY GO TO BED?

After a long night of studying, the last thing you want is to come back to your dorm to find your roommate watching a movie without headphones until 2 a.m. On the other hand, living in the dark is no fun for anyone. If you know you typically stay up a little later to finish your work, it might not be wise to room with someone who goes to sleep at 10 p.m. on the dot every night!

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU USUALLY WAKE UP?

Try to compare your schedules for the semester in advance. Conflicting schedules are a recipe for friction between roommates and being jolted awake by the sound of a blow dryer at 7 a.m. is no fun for anyone.

5. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OVERNIGHT GUESTS?

Proposing this question in this format is ideal because it gives you a chance to hear your roommate’s response first. Keep in mind you are sharing a living space and no one wants to feel uncomfortable in their own room. Be courteous to your roommate when it comes to having overnight guests.

What's your daily routine? This line of questioning will be a slow burn. Start small by walking them through a typical day in the life. The goal is to get a feel for what a typical day for each of you is like sans drama or outside stressors (we'll get to those).

6.DO YOU LIKE THE ROOM WARMER OR COLDER?

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it won’t be when you wake up at 3 a.m. freezing after your roomate or suitemate lowered the thermostat by three degrees.

7. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE?

It’s beneficial to learn what your roommate isn’t fond of in advance, especially if that pet peeve is something you do every day. This question might be a deal-breaker for some, but others might learn that they share the same pet peeves as their roomie.

8. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHARING CLOTHES?

Coming home to your roommate wearing your new sweater without permission isn’t typically ideal. Clear up this foggy area in advance and — just to be safe — always ask permission before you take something that isn’t yours.

9. WHAT ARE YOUR STUDY HABITS LIKE?

Having a roommate that’s compatible on an academic level is a massive bonus. If you both study the same way and have the same classes, you basically have a tutor for free who lives with you.

What could be better than that?

10. WHAT’S YOUR TYPICAL WEEKEND LIKE?

In the best-case scenario, your roommate will end up being a close friend of yours. Simple questions like this test compatibility and give insight on whether you may be able to hang out outside of the halls as well. Of course, even if their typical weekend sounds nothing like yours, you still might be super compatible and find some exciting new activities to do on the weekends together.