Safety Tips for Finding a Roommate

Diramates offers a fun, safe environment that gives you control over your roommate finding experience, allowing you to progress at your own pace in order to establish a relationship with the person you hope with become your roommate!

With that said, we also want you to exercise caution when getting to know people online and off-line. Don't be afraid to make connections. With a little common sense, you should be able to avoid that "one bad apple.

It’s always smart to take basic precautions when meeting someone offline. Always trust your instincts. And be sure to keep the following guidelines in mind:

Meet in public.

Arrange to have your first meeting in a public place. Once you feel comfortable with that person, then take the next step of meeting in a private home or better yet – go apartment hunting together!

Tell a friend.

Tell at least one friend or family member who you are meeting, where you are going and when you expect to return.

Take your mobile phone.

If you have a mobile phone, take it with you on dates. Most cell phones can be used to call 911 in the States or 100 in Israel.

DON'T leave personal belongings (purses, wallets) unattended.

Don't risk having your personal information stolen.

Listen to your gut.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."  Remember that, when it comes to your personal safety, it's not only OK to snoop, it's your duty. Here are a few additional guidelines:

If the other person can only meet or talk to you at odd hours, he or she may be keeping a secret. If this person cannot be honest with you from the start, you cannot count on him or her to be honest in the future.

Get as many details as possible about the other person before you meet off-line

Because privacy is of the highest importance at Diramates, we do not require our members to submit to background checks. We do, however, encourage members to do their own research on potential roommates, including asking questions, utilizing Internet search engines (try www.google.com) and most importantly, use common sense.

Be wary of someone who is vague, talks in circles or answers questions with other questions.

Some people are very private, but if you're about to make the decision to live together, this isn't the time for reservation.

Follow these practical safety tips and you should have a wonderful experience on Diramates!