When you're looking for a new roommate, your roommate profile is your introduction the world. It's used by some housing applications to match you with potentially compatible roommates, and it's viewed by other people during their roommate selection process. It spells out who you are and what you're looking for in a roommate ... or at least it should.

What information should you include in a roommate bio? 

person with quotes about himself
Your roommate bio is your introduction to the world. Make sure to include all information that will help people determine if you're a good match for them. |  Illustration by Courtney Sabo

Your bio serves as your introduction to potential roommates. Therefore, it's important to be honest and thorough. This isn't the time to withhold details or pretend you're someone you're not! If you lie on your bio, the truth will likely come out when potential roommates start asking you questions. And you might end up having to deal with a horrible roommate you're not compatible with!

When someone is looking for roommates or housemates in Facebook Groups or on Kopa, they'll likely dismiss profiles that don't provide all the necessary information. So, make sure to include all of the following items (even though it seems like a lot!).

  • Whether or not you're willing to share a bedroom
  • When you're hoping to move in
  • Your sleep schedule
  • Your work schedule
  • Your housing budget
  • Your ideal housing location
  • Your thoughts on guests and partying
  • What you like to do in your free time (show some personality!)
  • Your cleanliness standards
  • Whether you drink/smoke and if you're okay with roommates drinking/smoking
  • Any pet peeves
  • How your close friends describe you
  • What you're looking for in an ideal roommate

Examples of Bad, Okay, and Awesome Roommate Bios

A Bad Bio

I'm looking for a roomie. My college roommate I shared a dorm room with during my first year of college said I was the best, so take her word for it. I could be the perfect roommate for you! I'm even open to living with college students (get out of that residence hall already!).

I'm moving to New York City this summer to start a new part time job at a company. People say I'm easy to live with. I clean up after myself. I'm honest. I have a cat. I'm a fun guy. My favorite show is The Office.

If we would get along, reply to my roommate-wanted ad! I can't wait to meet my new friend!

The good: This person gives a general idea of where they're looking for a place to live. They also include some aspects of their personality.

The bad: This bio is missing a lot of necessary information. What is this person's name? What is their budget? What area of NYC do they want to live in? Are they okay with sharing a bedroom? How do they feel about partying?

An Okay Bio

My name is Jen. My lease is about to end and my current roommate is moving, so I'm looking for a new house and roommate.

I work at a marketing firm downtown and my hours are pretty normal. I'm not much into partying or drugs. I don't want my house to resemble a scene out of a crazy college life movie.

My friends would describe me as nerdy, goofy, and energetic. I'm a big fan of video games, and I enjoy watching movies. I also like going to group exercise classes such as spin classes. In high school, I was on the field hockey team. I even made the varsity team my freshman year!

I like my house to be clean. I'm allergic to dogs, so I can't live with anyone that has a dog. However, I'm okay with living with cats. I'm hoping to find somewhere to live in the North Seattle area, and I'd like to move in sometime within the next two months.

The good: Jen includes some helpful information including her personality, interests, and where she wants to live. She also includes some information about her thoughts on partying and cleanliness.

The bad: Jen can expand on some of the information. For example, what does "clean" mean to her? And what are "pretty normal" hours? Besides this, it would be helpful for Jen to include her budget, pet peeves, and who her ideal roommate is.

An Awesome Bio

I'm Kyle. I'm originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, but I've been living in Pittsburgh for the past four years. My friends would describe me as easy-going, sarcastic, analytical, and independent. In my free time, I like to spend my time outside, either alone or with others. On the weekends, I often head out to fly-fish, hike, and rock climb. One of my favorite places to go to is the Dolly Sods in West Virginia.

I'm a mechanical engineer by trade, and I work a pretty normal 8-5 schedule. During the week, I'm usually in bed by 10:30 and up by 6. On the weekends, I'm usually asleep by 12 and up around 9.

I'm a pretty social person, but I also need my alone time. I want my house to be a place where I can have people over, but not a place that's constantly full of people. I'm open to the idea of my roommates hosting small parties - I would just like to know about these ahead of time. I'm down to get to know each other; I'm not saying we have to be best friends, but I would like to do things like occasionally watch TV together and host cook outs for friends. If you're not open to the idea of sharing a meal together every once in a while, we're probably not a good fit.

I like to keep common living spaces pretty clean. I do my dishes every day and put away my belongings when I get home from work. I'm open to the idea of a cleaning schedule to keep things organized.

My monthly budget is $800, and I'm looking to move in sometime during May. I'm hoping to find a house near Frick Park in the Regent Square, Point Breeze, or Squirrel Hill neighborhoods. I would like my own bedroom, and I'm open to living with 1-3 other people. Ideally, the house would have a yard or at least a porch. If the bedrooms are sized differently enough to justify different prices, I'm happy staying in the larger or smaller room.

Here are some quirks and relevant information: I'm sometimes overwhelmed by loud noises and can't stand cupboard doors being left open. So, if you're someone that needs to have the volume on the TV up to the maximum, we might not be the best fit. With that said, I'm not going to get upset at you for making popcorn at night or watching your favorite TV show at a normal volume. I'm not a smoker and I don't want to live with smokers. I'm sort of a beer snob. I'm not into the whole social media thing.

The good: Kyle does a good job at covering all the basic information. He clearly states his schedule, interests, cleanliness standards, budget, and ideal location. He also provides a good picture of who he is as a person and what he likes in a roommate.

The bad: Kyle could include a bit more information about his weekday schedule. For example, is he home most nights?

Get started!

Now that you've seen some examples, it's time to get started writing your own profile. By writing a bio that showcases your personality as well as practical needs such as your budget and ideal location, you'll improve the success of finding a great match in your roommate search.

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