Ask for advice...

[neotoma]

For those of you who have actually met me (and even better, seen my apartment), is this a decent ad to put out for a roommate?

"Night-owl bibliophile seeks quiet female professional (geeky and fannish a plus) to share 2 BR, 2BA apartment in Germantown. $545/month and half utilities. Master bedroom, 13'9" by 12'6", with private bath. W/D and dishwasher in apartment. Kitchen, dining and living rooms mostly furnished by current occupant. Close to shopping, public library, theater, cinema, bus routes, and MARC train."

Anything else I should put in? Especially things that might help weed out the people who would drive me stark screaming mad?

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Other things to mention: gender of roommate (if relevant), pets, smoking.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Oh, good calls. Things that I wouldn't usually remember, since smoking just a blank spot in my mind -- I know people *do* it, but never consider that a new acquatiance would, until they get out their smokes.

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

Pet issues ( cats acceptable? How many are acceptable? snakes and lizards ( which can run up your electricity bill and smell)?

Include your gender.

Are a clean freak ( I would start to cry, because I am)? How messy is messy?

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

You know, you could always solve the problem and move out here. Except you would want to clean every weekened and I would give you funny looks.

Hmmm... 'moderately neat', I think it what I'm going for. I don't have trash on the floor, but I do tend to leave mail and interesting parts of the paper on the table. I am pretty strict about cleaning up the kitchen, though.

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

I am trying! The two goverment jobs I applied in that area interview me out here, so it is another round of waiting. And Publication is dragging it's feet.

Moderately neat is very good! Most people are!

Yeah, I do clean every weekend. In fact, I am taking a break from my weekend cleaning now, because tonight I go see "Ghostbusters" at the open air show downtown.

[josanpq.livejournal.com]

References? Not just personal but banking as well.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... "Must pass apartment complex screening"... they check the bank refs.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

I was going to add the smoking and pets thing, but I see I've been beaten to the punch. Most other things have to wait to get sorted out during the interview process, including your general "sense of" the other person.

Although:

1. Mpreg: Fun sometimes or The Devil!
2. Can I see a copy of your friends list?
3. Snape: evil or not?
4. Fanfic: just for fun, or must at least be beta'd?

[aubrem.livejournal.com]

gosh, I want to come live with you.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

This is not a cheap place to live, though it's a lot more pedestrian friendly than just about anywhere is your state.

I am terribly amused when I consider than this apartment is bigger inside than my brother's first *house*.

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

Third-floor-ness.

'looking for SWF for squeeing over HP, SW, BB'

Something about fiber arts?

I'm not sure. I'll think and get back to you.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

oh, yeah, the stairs. I barely notice them anymore.

SF, yes, but W not a requirement.

Hmmm... 'no wool allergies'. Or 'dedicated knitter'?

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

The stairs are a thing which should be mentioned. I remember them because the last time I saw the place was moving stuff up them. ^_^

Well, I figured W wasn't a requirement, but "SF" to me is SciFi and would've lost that nice personals-ad feeling...

I'm not sure. I mean, I think I'd do well there and I am not a dedicated knitter, and I do have minor wool allergies...

Rennie. Hmm. Uhm... GEEK, definitely, but you knew that part.

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Looks like folks have covered the important items like smoking. Quizzing them in an interview would be best for the fiddly stuff. There are lots of nice young singles in my town, but a fair % of them would see your HP books and start trying to 'save' you from hell. Rooming with one of those might not be much fun. I was lucky to room with college friends and we all were SF fans and into zines, so that part was fine. What took negotiating was cooking, cleaning, and dishes. We got it sorted out eventually, but you might want to work that out up front. Good luck!

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

There are lots of nice young singles in my town, but a fair % of them would see your HP books and start trying to 'save' you from hell.

If they think HP books are a sign of hell-boundness, then they are not 'nice young singles'.

I tried finding a roommate through my fannish network, but I live too far out from DC, apparently.

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should've said they were 'nice till they turned into crazed evangelists'? :D

Hmm, any fans around at work who might be able to link you up with a roomie? Finding one through the friends network is probably both safer and surer.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

God no. The people at work are NOT fannish for the most part, and at least two of them are anti-gay evangelicals. The roommates they'd offer would be throw out in a week, at best.

The friends network tried, but it was the cost or the distance that killed every attempt. I'll keep trying, but I'm going to have to try craigslist and the classifieds as well.

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Hey! Is there an email address I can send you directions to the party on Sunday? I don't want to post my address on lj!

OK, you probably don't need directions for about eight blocks, but you do need the address!

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

neotoma73 at gmail.com