Finding a roommate through a local classifieds site is normal in Chicago, especially around university areas and near Devon Ave where a lot of the South Asian community lives close together. A little structure makes it go smoothly.
Always video call before meeting in person — it filters out most bad matches in five minutes and costs nothing.
Meet the first time in a public space, not the apartment, especially if you're renting a room from someone you've never met. Coffee shops near Lincoln Square, Devon, or Lakeview work well for this.
Ask direct questions early: rent split, utilities, move-in date, lease length, guests policy, and whether the lease will have both names on it. Vague answers to these are a bigger warning sign than people realize.
If money changes hands before move-in (deposit, first month), get it in writing — even a simple text message confirming the amount and date protects both sides later.
Trust your gut. If a listing or a person feels off, there will be another roommate next week. Chicago's rental market moves fast in every direction.
And once you've found someone — leave your old listing a quick rating or report back to the platform if something didn't match what was posted. It helps the next person.