Date Posted: 2012-07-20 03:17:44
Site Posted: Myproperty.ph
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We’ve all heard what a nightmare it can be for some to live with a roommate; we’ve got friends’ personal accounts and pop culture to thank for that. Yes, some roommates tend to do things like leave dirty dishes in the sink or not pay their share of the rent, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure this kind of behavior. Here are some ways that you can survive having a roommate in your apartment.
1. When deciding to get a roommate to share a pad with, it’s better if you find a new apartment for rent that you can share. If you’re living in an apartment and decide to get a roommate, or if you choose to seek out a tenant who’s looking for someone to share their place with, there’s sure to be trouble about who has the last word on everything. Starting in a new place ensures that you both have an equal say on how things will go during your stay in the unit.
2. Living with your best friend sounds like a great idea since you have the same tastes and opinion about everything, right? Not necessarily. This is one of those situations for which the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder” was coined. It’s one thing to go out or have sleepovers a couple of times a week, but if you live with them day in and day out, you’ll start to get on each other’s nerves. The little quirks you have that seem harmless will become increasingly annoying to the other, and it’ll take its toll on your friendship.
3. No one really likes to do chores, but you have to do them. Don’t resort to sneaking out of the apartment every early Saturday morning to stick the other with cleaning the mess you’ve both been making all week. Create a list of chores that you each have to do, and do them every week, or however often you agree to doing them. An even better set-up is enforcing a clean-as-you-go rule for some chores; for instance, wash every dish after you use them so they don’t sit in the sink for time immemorial.
4. A lot of roommate relationships go south because of money matters, so make sure that you discuss everything beforehand. Do you plan on splitting all the bills as soon as they arrive, or would you rather each pay a certain bill every month and then reimburse half later on? Also, avoid borrowing from or lending money to each other; if one doesn’t get paid right away, conflict is sure to ensue.
5. You don’t have to treat each other as your best friend, but you don’t have to alienate each other, either. Make sure that you take some time every week to get together to talk; this will make sure that issues are brought to light as soon as they happen and no one breeds contempt for the other.
These days, when most people need every cent they can save, one of the things that they can do to get by if they’re living alone is to get a roommate. It’s understandable for you to fear your friends’ horror stories of having roommates, but hopefully, these suggestions will make the experience a more pleasant one for you.
Jillian Cariola, Writer
(cover image by ms pupik)
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