How To Behave As A Good Roommate In An Apartment?

By: ROS Team

Most of the time, you move to big cities such as NYC without family for professional assignments or seek better education opportunities. Even if you are capable enough to manage everything by yourself, you would still need a person for emotional reasons.

In such scenarios, a roommate is the closest alternative for a family you can ever manage. If you happen to strike a common ground, you can get along very well and who knows might end up being a good friend. Besides emotional anchoring, you are likely to have financial benefits as you would split the rent and utility bills with your roommate. In addition to them, having a person by your side in a room gives you a sense of security.

While all these benefits are good enough, you need to have a good sense of what is coming your way. You would be sharing everything with your roommate and that demands emotional intelligence along with management skills. You would be required to make sacrifices on occasions and behave well all the way.

Following are some of the basics you need to know and execute when you aim to move in as a roommate:

Etiquettes Of Being A Good Roommate:

It does not matter what are your prime reasons for accommodating a roommate with you, it would work in your favor if you follow the following tips:

It is less likely that you would know your roommate before shifting. You would have the least idea of him/her and vice versa. To build a good relationship, it is of utmost importance that you know the limitations of each other and set some boundaries around your comfort zones. Sit and talk through this with your roommate. Get basics settled such as how to split the utility bill and who would manage rents in time and all the important, cleanings scheduled?
Even though you have discussed basics with your roommate and now know for sure what is allowed and what is not? Make one rule: never use something of your roommate without permission. Even though you are a good friend to him/her, taking permission before borrowing comes under basic etiquette. It could be a shirt you think is of no use to your roommate or her money you know where she keeps. If you are already a good friend, you would get that anyway. Taking without permission might annoy your roommate.
Even though you would be together all the time when at home, try and create some space for personal time and respect that. It is equally good for you as for your roommate. Keep the sanctity of privacy intact
Be mindful of your roommate’s schedule and health conditions before inviting over your friends or throwing a party. Let your roommate know how many people are going to come and how long it would take them before departure. And when guests are gone, it is highly expected of you to clean the mess your friends created, besides the general cleaning schedule.
It is always better to talk through the issues in the home. If you have any complaints or there is any misunderstanding just let your roommate know about it. It is highly likely that it might be only a misunderstanding and if there is any serious issue, you may discuss and resolve it instead of doing gossip.

Things To Mind Before Becoming A Roommate:

Instead of ruining your relationship with your roommate on an unpleasant note, it is always better to do some homework and bring a like-minded person.

Consider the Following Tips:

Consider your working hours with your potential roommate. If you have different working hours, it is likely to be a disturbance in the house. It especially hurts sleeping and social hours. So, try and find a roommate who has the same working hours as yours.
Do you have to believe in different social values than your potential roommate? One likes to be social and throw parties while you don’t like to mix with strangers. Then it would make things miserable for you. Try to get to know before bringing your roommate to the house that you both have the same social values.
While it is a great way to save money but it can turn into the worst experience as well if you both do not get along. So get to know some of the details before the shifting so that it turns out to be a blessed relationship.
Try and get to know the financial history of your potential roommate. You would surely not want to pay his bills. And nothing brings more trouble than having a roommate who does foot his bills.

Some Additional Tips:

People cringe at the unhygienic behaviors. If you want to be a good roommate, you have to adopt habits of cleaning and a healthy lifestyle. So try and be super clean.
Own your responsibilities and try your best to execute them when and where required. You would expect the same from any person who has to shoulder responsibilities with you.
Be super careful in providing money where you share the budget with your roommate. Sometimes late submission incurs extra which your roommate would never want to split. So instead of getting into feuds, behave like a responsible person, and submit fees.