Renting a room in your home? Consider these things before opening up your doors

Home sharing, where an owner rents an extra bedroom to a nonfamily member, is being touted as an affordable housing option

It can help owners with their expenses such as mortgage debt and maintenance costs while providing housemates a cheaper option than renting an apartment on their own.

But there are a few things both parties should consider when exploring this option. The key is compatibility, experts and others say.

“Be honest with yourself regarding your personal goals for the decision and stick to those goals,” says Tess Fields, executive director of Home Share Oregon, a nonprofit which matches homeowners with housemates.

More 'Golden Girls' than 'Friends: Can home sharing be the answer to America's housing affordability crisis? These housemates think so.

What is home sharing?

Home sharing is a living arrangement in which two or more unrelated people share a house or apartment, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A home share program provides a service that helps to match a person who has an extra room or separate unit available (a provider) with a seeker who is looking for a place to live.

The trend is more 'Golden Girls' (a homeowner and housemate/mates) than 'Friends' (just roommates, where no one has sole ownership over the space).

What's your home-sharing goal?

That's an important question to answer, says Fields.

"For many people, this is a financial decision (cheaper rent, or some mortgage relief) however it is important to consider aside from just the financial, what else you would like to gain from the experience," she says. "It could be companionship, wanting to help expand access to affordable housing, or all of the above."

Here are a few tips provided by Silvernest, an online home-sharing platform:

Be selective

You want to share your space – as well as life experiences, friendship and companionship – with your housemate, so it’s important to find someone compatible.

Determine your criteria for a long-term housemate and weigh all candidates against it. Be specific about what you’re looking for in your post. If you’re retired, you may want someone who works during the day. It may be important that a potential housemate is tidy, share similar hobbies or love pets.

Keep an open mind about your housemate

Many living situations have been shown to be successful and joyful. Don’t write someone off just because they’re not what you had in mind at the start of your search.

Vet your housemates prior to entering into a home-sharing agreement

Ask for references and verify their identity. It can be helpful to engage family and friends to help you assess candidates. You may also want to do a background check to ensure there are no red flags (note that the more comprehensive background checks often require the person’s social security number).

Always document the home-sharing terms

Free lease templates can be found online and you can customize them.

Every state has a general template, so be certain to select one for your state to ensure it meets all the legal criteria.

Hire a lawyer to review your lease, if you have any special clauses or requirements. And don't forget to add an addendum that outlines house rules, shared space agreements, communication preferences and any other specifics you want documented.

Start with a trial period

Rather than entering into a one-year agreement off the bat, consider an initial three-month period to get to know your housemate and determine if you’re compatible. If things go well, you can easily extend the lease.

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a housing and economy correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on Twitter @SwapnaVenugopal and sign up for our Daily Money newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Renting a room in your house? Here are the essential home sharing tips