Have you ever wondered if living on your own is overrated? With no one to talk to, skyrocketing expenses, and sole responsibility for your space, having your own home may not be worth it.

The benefits of roommates are extensive. It's more affordable to share space with multiple people; there is always someone to talk to. However, building roommate friendship relies on some key guidelines and boundaries for success.

Have you ever wondered how to be a good roommate? This guide will teach you how to coexist peacefully with others and form lasting relationships.

‍

Discuss Expectations Beforehand

Before you agree to move in with someone, it's important to outline expectations. Go over non-negotiables first, such as:

• Fixed monthly expenses
• Allergies and dietary restrictions
• Pets
• Landlord rules

For instance, your landlord may have a pet policy that's set in stone. If they do not allow pets in your unit, you will not have to discuss pet preferences with your roommate.

By talking about expectations before signing a lease agreement, you can avoid potential problems. It is better to know beforehand and find a new roommate than to move in with someone and end up leaving on bad terms.

Create a Roommate Agreement

Contrary to popular belief, roommate agreements don't have to be incredibly detailed or complex. Outlining terms that you and your roommate agree to is essential for peaceful cohabitation.

Write down a list of factors that are important to you in a shared household, such as:

• Preferred quiet hours
• Pets (if your landlord allows them)
• Cleaning expectations
• Shared property
• Payment of rent and other bills

The above are just some of the examples of items you can include in the roommate agreement. Ultimately, it is completely up to you.

A roommate agreement doesn't have to be set in stone, either. Revisit it regularly to see if anything needs to be changed. For instance, you and your housemate may realize that quiet hours beginning early in the evening are unreasonable, or you want to allow more overnight guests.

Don't Borrow Without Asking

If you had siblings growing up, you're likely familiar with the frustration of finding your favorite shirt missing, or fruitlessly searching for a book you swore was in its original location. That same principle applies to living with roommates.

Unless your housemate has explicitly permitted you to borrow an item at your leisure, always ask before taking or using something. It is better to be overly cautious than upset your roommate by taking something that is not yours.

When your roommate allows you to borrow or use their belongings, extend the same courtesy. You don't have to share everything, but utilizing available resources is a cornerstone of living with others. It will often save you time and money.

Be Mindful of Utility Usage

We've all had that roommate who stays in the shower for hours or runs a personal air conditioner during the summer months. Not only is it expensive, but it's inconsiderate.

Be conscious of how much energy or water you use for your everyday tasks. If you have extenuating circumstances, discuss them beforehand. For instance, working from home often uses more energy, so offer to contribute extra to the electric bill.

It can be difficult to determine when to use shared utilities such as heating and cooling. Discuss a budget with your roommate beforehand. Put aside extra money if you plan on utilizing your air conditioner or heater during extreme temperatures.

Make sure to contribute more to the utilities if you have a significant other or frequent visitors. Plugging in a phone charger or taking a quick shower may not seem like a lot, but those costs can add up quickly.

Clean Up After Yourself

A good mantra to go by is: Don't put it down. Put it away. Cleaning up after yourself should become second nature when you live with others.

Having possessions strewn about creates a stressful living environment. You may not know where your roommate's items go, so leaving them out is the only option.

When you cook a meal, clean spaces like kitchen countertops and stovetop surfaces as you go. If you're using the living room to study or play games, pick up the items when you plan to exit the room.

Maintain Shared Spaces

It can be tricky to determine responsibilities when it comes to shared spaces. All roommates should do their part and regularly maintain the rooms that everyone uses.

Some chores that you may split with your roommate include:

• Cleaning the bathroom
• Wiping down kitchen counters
• Dusting
• Vacuuming
• Taking out the trash

Your landlord may have certain cleanliness expectations for tenants, such as keeping the lawn tidy. Ensure you and your other roommates follow these rules to keep a functional living space.

Respect Different Lifestyles

When you live with others, you may need to make lifestyle compromises. Determine what factors are non-negotiable for you, and which ones you can bend on. Make a list to stay on track and avoid meeting with roommates who don't meet your expectations.

To find an ideal roommate match, consider signing up for a roommate listing service. You can explore roommates who are in the same age range as yourself and have similar lifestyle preferences.

Ask your roommate if they enjoy activities such as:

• Drinking
• Smoking
• Vaping

You can't necessarily stop them from doing any of these, but you can compromise and create boundaries. Most people don't allow smoking indoors. Encourage responsible alcohol consumption.

If you have a sober lifestyle or you're a recovering addict or alcoholic, share that information up front. Your roommate may be willing to take their activities outside of the house.

Be Flexible

You cannot expect your roommate to always compromise for you, but refuse to compromise for them. Living with others can have benefits such as cheaper rent, but that comes with the tradeoff of differing:

• Attitudes
• Opinions
• Standards
• Lifestyles

Flexibility is key. For instance, you may not enjoy having your roommate's significant other in your space for a few nights every week. However, it's important to remember that it is their living space, too.

If you have trouble with empathy or flexibility, put yourself in your roommate's shoes. Ask yourself what you would do in a situation where your roommate was unwilling to compromise. It may shift your perspective.

Pay Your Bills on Time

Money can play a huge role in stress levels and overall mental well-being. When you do not feel financially secure, it seems like everything else in your life is suspended in limbo.

It's imperative to find a roommate who is financially responsible. You also need to ensure that you stay on top of bills and household expenses.

Split responsibilities with your roommate. For instance, you can take over the electric bill, and they can handle the water charges. Send each other your part of the cost as soon as possible.

If either one of you is unable to pay your rent or bills on time, it can affect your credit. Don't let a financially irresponsible person flush your credit score down the toilet.

That being said, life happens, and you cannot always be prepared for financial emergencies. Communicate with your roommate promptly if you foresee financial hardship.

A good rule of thumb is to make payments a few days ahead of time. This method gives you room for errors, such as bounced checks. You can resolve the issues without being late on your bills.

Be Considerate of Other Schedules

Early birds and night owls can coexist, but it is important to respect one another's boundaries and schedules. Before you move in together, discuss your sleep schedules.

Designated quiet hours can be a good solution. If you're an early bird but your roommate likes to sleep in, avoid noisy activities before noon. Likewise, your roommate can lower the volume on their television and take the same considerations later in the evening when you're winding down for the night.

Do Your Dishes Promptly

At one point or another, we've all heard the familiar phrases when it comes to washing dishes:

• "I'll do it later."
• "It just needs to soak."
• "It's too large to wash."

Dishes can be one of the most frustrating aspects of living with others. When dishes pile up in the sink, it prevents others from cleaning their dishes. Dirty dishes can also harbor bacteria and cause issues such as mold.

When possible, do your dishes immediately after using them. If you have a dishwasher, try to load the dishes quickly. Once you leave the room, you're more likely to forget about the dishes sitting in the sink.

Sometimes, dishes really do need to soak. Crusty leftovers can soften over time, making them easier to scrub later.

Set a timer on your phone to remind you about your soaking dishes. Once they are ready to go, clean and dry them quickly to make room in the sink.

Ask Before Having People Over

Even if your roommate expresses flexibility for guests, it is still respectful to ask. They may be sick, or they simply may not be in the mood to have people over. It's important to respect your roommate's boundaries and avoid unwanted intrusions into their private life.

When you communicate with your roommate, let them know how many guests you expect to have and how long they plan to stay. For noisier activities, limit them to weekends or times when your roommate will be awake or out of the house.

Be prepared for your roommate to potentially dislike people you bring over. If they express serious concern about someone, listen to them. Try to find a compromise, such as having that person over less or not bringing them over at all.

Communicate Regularly

Roommate communication skills are essential for maintaining a good relationship. When in doubt, reach out.

Talk to your roommate as soon as possible if you have an issue. Passive aggressiveness and resentment can lead to tension within the household.

Learn about conflict resolution strategies to make communication easier. Ask your roommate how they would prefer to communicate. They may feel better about receiving a text message to clean up after themselves than being reminded in person.

Consider scheduling a regular roommate meeting to bring up pain points or other problems. You can make a list and have it handy to present to your roommate. With a set time and space, you're less likely to get overly emotional.

Follow the Golden Rule

You have probably heard it hundreds of times since you were little: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Living with someone means sharing the most intimate parts of yourself. It can be a rewarding experience, but respect is essential for a cohesive living environment.

Make sure you respect your roommate at all times. Even when you are annoyed or angry, offer the same respect they would if the roles were reversed.

Use Headphones

Unwanted noise can be torturous when you live with others. Although a certain level of noise is expected, there are reasonable adjustments you can make to enjoy loud activities without bothering others.

Headphones offer a versatile solution to most of these problems. With headphones, you can:

• Connect to your television or another entertainment device
• Listen to music at your preferred volume
• Have non-bothersome phone conversations
• Conduct private calls or meetings

Invest in a good quality pair of headphones. If you want to block out unwanted sounds, noise-cancelling headphones may be worth the cost.

How to Be a Good Roommate

Learning how to be a good roommate is a learning curve, but the payoff is well worth it in the end. With these tips, you can have a functional and fun household.

At Reazy Hub, we make finding good roommates one of our missions. With our roommate search tool, you can find the perfect housemate and start building roommate friendships.

Are you ready to find the roommate of your dreams? Take a look around our website and contact us today to learn more about how we can help. We can't wait to hear from you!