Live Comfortably With Your Roommates
You’ve finally found friend(s) looking to rent an apartment and are figuring out whether or not you should move in together. What’s the next step after figuring out your personalities? Sometimes, it can be tough to figure out your roommate(s) pet peeves and figuring out the best way to communicate with one another. Here are a few things to keep in mind when living with roommate(s).
Know Each Other’s Schedules & Contact Info
There’s a good chance that you and your roommate may operate on different schedules. If you only have one shower in your apartment, figure out a schedule for the mornings when both of you are heading out the door. Planning ahead in general is one of the best things you can do as a roommate. You can put your schedule on a whiteboard, and place it in an easy to see place, like in a foyer or near your refrigerators.
Also, ensure that you have all of your roommates contact info, and that he or she has yours. It’s also a good idea to inform each other of any allergies you might have and medical conditions you may have.
Address Issues In Person & Compromise
This tip is especially important for first time renters. Communication is key to having a good relationship with your roommates. Within the first days of moving in, discuss some boundaries along with how chores will be divided up. You’ll also want to figure out pantry space in your kitchen along with bathroom storage if you and a roommate share the same bathroom.
Should you find that there is disagreement between you and your roommate(s), compromise to some of their desires so that both parties are satisfied with the outcome. Talking things out and addressing issues as they arise will lead to better responses than letting things go.
Figure Out How Everyone Will Pay Bills & Expenses
Whether you’re planning on ordering pizza, or need to figure out how to pay rent every month, see what your roommates want to do about paying for various bills and expenses. If your roommates don’t like to carry cash on them, you can have them pay you back with apps like MasterPass and Venmo. Ensure that you and your roommates have calendar reminders set on your phones about a week before bill due dates so that way you can have your payment ready. Have one person be in charge of collecting rent, and another be in charge of another bill. This will ensure that no one is overloaded with collection responsibility.
Be Courteous of Your Neighbors
When you and your roommates move into your new apartment, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to your new neighbors. This is one of the best ways to meet others in your community and get off to a great start. To respect your neighbors, please be mindful of the volume of your music and TV. If you are in a pet-friendly apartment, ensure that you keep your dog on a leash, and ensure to clean up after it should you take him or her for a walk.