A room can look great in photos and feel wrong in person — or vice versa. Use this checklist on every tour so you're comparing listings on the facts that matter.
The money questions
- What is the total monthly cost — rent plus utilities? (Ours: rent + flat $175/mo.)
- What is the total move-in cost — deposit, fees, first month? (Ours: one month's refundable deposit + $48 screening, nothing else.)
- Are utilities flat or split? Split utilities with five housemates can swing $100+ month to month.
The lease questions
- How long is the lease, and what happens at the end? (Our houses: 12-month leases with renewal options, or month-to-month with a 3-month minimum.)
- What are the house rules — guests, quiet hours, smoking, pets? (Ours: no smoking/vaping indoors, one person per room.)
- Who are the current housemates, and how long have they lived there? Low turnover is a good sign.
The room itself
- Natural light — visit during the day if you can. (Our Delta Room's bay window and Foxtrot's skylight are best seen in daylight.)
- Storage: closet size matters more than floor space in DC rooms.
- Laundry: in-unit/building vs. laundromat. (All our houses have washers and dryers.)
- Parking: if you have a car, ask specifically. (Our Joey Room includes free off-street parking — rare in DC.)
- Internet: who provides it and is it included? (Ours: Fios, included in utilities.)
Red flags
Walk away from listings that won't show the room in person, demand cash deposits, can't name the property manager, or add surprise fees at signing. A legitimate landlord answers every question above without hesitation — we do.
Available rooms mentioned in this guide
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See the rooms for yourself
Every room has photos and a video tour. Tell us which one you're interested in and we'll set up a showing.
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