Roommates are great for a few reasons:
- It can be fun to live with someone else
- Helps to save money on rent and expenses (especially post-graduation)
- Always having someone to get your morning cup of coffee with
- You don’t have to worry about feeling lonely
But sometimes roommates can be a huge pain… So we’ve put together this list to break down what would make up the ideal shared living situation.
1. Think twice about moving in with your best friend
- Living with a close friend can bring the worst out of both of you
- It’s more ideal to live with a stranger or acquaintance
- You’ll get to keep your old friend
- Hopefully your roommate can become a new friend
- However, don’t expect to become “best friends forever” with your new roommate
2. Sharing is caring
- Be as generous as you can
- Nobody likes a stingy person
- It makes more sense to share certain things like detergent or milk
- That doesn’t mean you have to go as far as sharing toothbrushes
- Be VERY CLEAR about the things you don’t want to share
3. Dividing responsibilities
- Your relationship as roommates sets you as equals
- Both of you should have an equal amount of work to do
- Try designating rooms for each other to clean up every day
- Figure out who should take out the trash, pay the bills, etc.
- If you say you will do something, JUST DO IT
4. Communicate openly
- Let’s be real: passive-aggressiveness solves NOTHING
- Get comfortable with talking to each other on a mature level
- Set down ground rules the day you agree to be roommates
- Don’t wait for a big blowout – it always ends up being awkward
- Politely tackle small nuances as they come up
5. Just be nice
- Try to keep up with a positive environment
- The last thing you should dread is coming home after work
- A better relationship makes living together easier
- Sometimes it’s can be more ideal to confide in a roommate than a friend
- Go by the golden rule: treat them as you would like to be treated
6. Clean up
- Neither of you signed up to be the other’s maid
- It’s understandable to leave a bit of a mess when you’re in a rush
- Clean up after yourself as soon as you get the chance
- If one of you cooks dinner that night, the other should clean the dishes
- It’s hard to keep everything spotless 24/7; agree on a “tidiness minimum”
7. Compatibility
- Be honest with yourselves and each other about this
- Opposites don’t attract in this type of situation
- Some people just aren’t meant to get along, and that’s okay
- Hang out with your potential roommate in a few social settings beforehand
- If it just doesn’t make sense, look for somebody else – no hard feelings
8. Keep on top of bills
- Make sure you are both financially stable before signing a lease
- Neither of you should be responsible for paying the other person’s bills
- Set specific dates for bill payments and post them somewhere easily visible (i.e. the fridge)
- Choose dates that are about a week in advance of the actual due date to provide lee-way if needed
- Come up with money-saving solutions like conserving energy or ordering Netflix instead of cable
9. Protect each other
- Lock the doors and windows whenever leaving the house
- Don’t lend out a spare key to anyone without your roommate’s permission first
- If you have anybody over, keep an eye on all valuables
- If your roommate is sick, help them out if you can; If you’re sick, do your best not to get your roommate sick too
- Address any other safety or health concerns that you have such as food or pet allergies
10. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
- Remember that you share your living space
- Don’t have your own friends over all the time
- Be mindful of any noise you make
- Give each other all the privacy you both deserve
- Don’t monopolize the bathroom
Summary
If all these tips are taken into consideration, sharing an apartment should turn out to be pretty easy.
If you’ve already found a roommate and you’re both ready to find your new home in NYC, the next step is usually to choose a neighborhood.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at Platinum Properties at (212) 825-0050 – we’ll be happy to help you with your search.