Sharing an apartment in Nigeria can be a smart financial decision, but moving in with the wrong person can turn your home into a source of daily stress. Here is how to get it right from the start.

1. Start with your existing network: The safest roommate is usually someone connected to people you already trust. A friend of a friend, a coursemate, a colleague, or someone from your church or mosque carries a level of social accountability that a complete stranger does not.

2. If you are going beyond your network, verify thoroughly: Ask for a means of identification, confirm their place of work or school, and speak with at least one person who knows them personally. Anyone who resists basic verification is already a red flag.

3. Have a direct conversation before anything is signed: Discuss rent contribution, utility bills, guests, cleaning responsibilities, noise levels, and lifestyle habits. Compatibility on paper means nothing if your daily routines clash badly in practice.

4. Put the agreement in writing: A simple written arrangement covering who pays what and by when protects both parties and removes room for selective memory later. It does not need to be a legal document, just something both of you sign and keep a copy of.

5. Trust your instincts: If something feels off during your conversations, do not talk yourself out of that feeling in the interest of filling the room quickly. A vacant room costs you money. A bad roommate costs you money, peace, and sometimes more.

The goal is a living situation that works for both people. Take the time to find that, and the arrangement will sustain itself.