We decode Craigslist ads so you don't have to

By Leah Hochbaum Rosner | August 6, 2015 - 12:59PM

If you’re in the market for a new roommate and have been trolling Craigslist ads to find one, you’ll probably notice that certain words and phrases seem to appear more often than others. Here are a few of the more common ones, and what they really mean:

Young professional: College-educated, won't likely be friends of your parents.
Employed: Can afford to pay rent. Leaves the house on a regular basis. Two things roommates appreciate.
Respectful: Won’t steal your clothes. Or your food. Or your boyfriend.
Female or gay male only: Bros need not apply.
Drama-free: No psychopaths, please. (Unfortunately no one really describes themselves as drama-full. Even if they really are.)
420-friendly. Barely even code at this point, but since there are only some places in the country where you can broadcast your love of weed (and New York isn't one of those places yet), here's a hint: These people get high—probably a lot.
Doesn’t bring the party home: Don’t even think about bringing your wasted friends back to the apartment.

For more, read “‘Seeking Employed, 420-Friendly, Young Professional’: Decoding Craigslist Roommate Ads.”

In Case You Missed It: Every so often, BrickUnderground digs through the archives to find the best advice our experts have shared through the years.

Proof That You Can Find a Roommate No Matter What Your Craigslist Ad Says

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