Questionnaire for prospective flatmate...any suggestions?

ergo

OK, just found out that one of my flatmates is moving out and we'll shortly be showing the room.

after the last time I found it was hard to get a good idea of a person just from showing them the room, especially if most people show up at the same time (as organised then by my landlord)

and I don't want to end up with another version of one of my current flatmates who stays in her room preactically all the time, then moved her bf in for while, and basically adds more or less nothing to the place

had a quick Google and found a few examples but nothing definitive

here's one example:

(from www.perfectflatmate.com)

1. Do you see flatmates as a possible source of socialising?
· Yes
· No
· Not bothered
2. Do you smoke?
· No
· Yes
· Light/socially
3. Would you share with smokers?
· Yes
· No
· Light/socially
4. How old are you?
· Under 26
· 26-35
· 36-45
· Over 45
5. What age range do you want to share with?
· Under 26
· 26-35
· 36-45
· Over 45
· Any age is fine
6. Housework, are you...?
· Very clean and tidy, e.g. can't bear any mess and insist on housework rotas etc.
· Middle of the road e.g enjoy pleasant surroundings but can accept limited untidiness.
· Happy to live with like minded souls, certain that life is about enjoying yourself and if there is time, the house will get the occasional clean and tidy up.
7. Do you eat out?
· No
· Occasionally
· Regularly
· What's a cooker?
8. Enjoy a drink?
· No
· Occasionally
· Regularly
· What's life without a hangover?
9. Early to rise in the morning and early to bed?
· Yes, always.
· Yes, apart from weekends
· Sometimes
· Rarely
10. What's your idea of a good weekend night out?
· Club
· Pub
· Restaurant
· Cinema
· Any of these, depending on how I feel at the time.
11. What's your idea of a good weekend night in?
· Video/DVD/Television
· House Party
· Dinner Party
· Games, such as card nights or board games
· Variety is the spice of life, so any of these would be good.


*****************************************************

another one asked you to rate how untidy you were from 1 (museum) to 10 (hurricane) !

any other suggestions?

and would people object to filling this in or, for example, object to being asked if they were single?

alternatively a High Fidelity style list of Top 5's...?

this is all hypothetical, most likely will not bother with a questionnaire but anyone have any experience of this

Supercell

Tbh , I think most (normal) people would make their polite excuses and leave if handed a questionnaire to fill in!!

Some of the questions there are good, just ask the prospective person questions that are important to you, try to get an idea of their interests, what job they do, do they have a bf/gf - how long are they going out.. etc, you'll soon get an idea of the personality and wheter you could stand living with them 24/7.

Calina

Speaking personally, with this, you wind up learning by experience.

The one question I would always ask is "do you smoke?" because I'm a non-smoker, and having lived with smokers, it has driven me up the wall quite a bit.

I think you learn more from chatting rather going with a full blown interview - I've tried both, and the ones I've interviewed (and passed on interview) have turned out to be nightmares, whereas the ones I could just sit down and chat with, who were just open and friendly, tended to be the best. Do your best to find out how flexible people are on various things (I've lived with total clean freaks - I mean the smell of bleach greeting you as you opened the door, being afraid to move in case you made some invisible mess) as the less flexible people are, the more they will be hard to live with. Also, if they really want the place, the chances are, they'll lie if you hit them wth a question that they're afraid you won't like the answer with.

ergo

Longfield wrote:

just ask the prospective person questions that are important to you,

yeah, I think that's the best way to go.

although when I was chatting with the aforementioned flatmate who is completely antisocial and moved the bf in for a while there, she was saying how in one place she viewed they asked her if she had a bf and she completely objected to that and left (now I know why :rolleyes: )

so that one should be a standard question

another tip I got is; when the shortlist has been made and people contacted it's important to destroy it after the room has been finally let. my friend moved into a place, subsequently found the shortlist lying around and she was number 6 on it! (ouch - but it worked out well in the end)

Supercell

Yep, i speak from long experience renting myself, bf/gf question is important, as would smoking one now that I don't anymore and can't stand the smell of them.

Hehe, good tip about the list.

One other thing, if you interview someone that calls home somewhere else..ie a county far away, chances are you will have peace and quiet in the weekend/holidays as they invariably go "home" often especially if its in the 18-30 agegroup, something to keep in mind.

Suaimhneach

Heh, where is your apt? I'm lookin' for a place, and I'm really sociable!

OptimusMime

I wouldn't want too move into a plce that hands out questionaires on the way in... you aren't Monica Gellar btw

ergo

to be honest I never had any intention of printing out an actual questionnaire, nevermind giving it to someone (and as for the question re: Monica Gellar: well I;d say I am reasonably tidy and considerate in common areas but in my own room; well, it's hurricane season all year :rolleyes: !)

just thought the search I'd done raised a few good questions. and after sharing with various people, both friends and randomers, for the past 8 or 9 years I've had enough of living with crazy/psychotic people or people who move their partner in regardless of others

and sorry,the room is gone,

I did find it very difficult for some reason to ask potential flatmates if they were single or not, it just made me feel a bit weird, so I couldn't ask, we'll see how it goes

Suaimhneach

As it turns out I am just gonna stay where I am instead, but am gonna get people to move in in place of my mates that are going.

But I'd like to knwo who people are first as well. Prefare to live with mates but when thats not possible, it would be nice to ask "are you on your own, or will there be a fella/missus around all the time" ...

Ah well.

3greenrizla's

questions......................

fav TV programes? (if it's big brother feck off)

do you know how to buy milk? butter? bread?