5 tips for living with roommates

5 Tips For Living With Roommates

When you’re setting off on your own, it can be very beneficial to live with a roommate or two. You’ll be able to afford a nicer, more spacious place if you are able to split the rent with one or more people, and you may even make some new friends along the way. Whether you’re meeting a new college roommate for the first time, or moving into a luxurious home with several other individuals, there will always be some friction and challenges as you get used to each other.

In today’s blog, Pelican Bluff Apartments in Windsor is going to walk you through five important tips to help your living situation thrive. If you are in the market for a beautiful one- or two-bedroom apartment, we offer some of the best living spaces around. Our complex is conveniently located near several other cities, offers high-quality amenities, provides on-site maintenance, and more! Get in touch with our office today to schedule a tour of our apartments by yourself or with your future roommate.

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1. Communicate

The most important thing that roommates can do is communicate. It sounds easy, but good communication is easy to overlook. If you let something slide once or twice, it can turn into a large fight later down the line. When you are moving in together, set ground rules about dishes, noise levels, responsibilities, and almost everything else in your day-to-day lives. Be sure to communicate face to face, and avoid leaving passive-aggressive notes, as that tends to only breed more frustration or resentment. You’ll see communication echoed throughout these tips because you’ll always need to be on the same page with each other so you can build a peaceful living relationship.

2. Track Finances

Since you are living together, there will be things you need to buy together — the biggest example being your monthly rent. Discuss who will be the one directing the funds to your landlord, but if it is not you, make sure that you are always paying your portion on time. If you often go out together for food or events, make sure that it’s not always the same person paying for everything. You can track finances and pay each other back easily with apps like Venmo or CashApp.

Some other things to consider include daily necessities. Will you split the cost of these items, or will you both buy your own supply? Some of these include:

  • Toilet paper
  • Dish soap
  • Internet service
  • Laundry detergent
  • Toothpaste
  • And more

Circling back to communication, be sure to have a good discussion about money with your roommate. If it doesn’t seem that finances are working properly, you can revisit your budget and plan at a later time.

3. Agree On Chores

Even though chores are almost never fun, they must be done. When you start living with your roommate, you should discuss and agree upon what chores each individual is responsible for. Does one person do the vacuuming while the other does yard work? Maybe you’re each responsible for your own dishes, or possibly you take turns cleaning the bathrooms. Come up with a system that works for everyone’s schedules and doesn’t leave one person with the bulk of the responsibility.

4. Be Respectful Of Each Other’s Belongings

Just because you’re sharing a living space does not mean that everything in the apartment is shared. Don’t use your roommate’s food, toothpaste, anything else without asking for permission first. Once again, this goes back to communication. If you buy something to be shared, let the other person know they are free to use it! While it may be unspoken that you don’t use each other’s items, it can be helpful to kindly communicate that you don’t want them using a certain belonging or eating a specific food item. Keep the communication clear and flowing!

5. Get To Know Each Other

You may already be friends with your roommate, and you may not be. Either way, you should aim to get to know each other better. Remember that good friends don’t always make good roommates, and good roommates don’t always make good friends. As you are building your relationship, be respectful and kind to each other. You don’t have to do everything together, but getting to know your roommate with their likes, dislikes, and general ways of living will lead to a more peaceful relationship.

Once you’re prepared to move into a new apartment with your roommate, be sure to schedule a time to come and view the beautiful apartments in Windsor at Pelican Bluff. We have a variety of floor plans and layouts, so you can be sure to find a two-bedroom apartment that will work for you and your roommate. If you’re looking to live by yourself, we offer one-bedroom units as well! We look forward to adding you to our community, and discovering more about you soon.