How to Get Along- Tips for Living with a Roommate

                Whether you know the person you moving in with or not, it’s important to set house rules, chores and know what you want as far as personal privacy. You need to know what you both expect from each other and you need to have an open line of communication. You’re going to be living together- it won’t be a picnic all the time, but here are some things to discuss when you first move in together.

House Rules

                Sit down together with a sheet of paper and brainstorm rules that each of you can think of. Some examples are:

                -Trash nights everyone gathers trash

                -Visitors need to be cleared within an acceptable timeframe with your roommate

                -After cooking/eating, clean up after yourself

There will be of course rules tailored to your own living situation, but it’s important to set these rules. Keep in mind though- frivolous rules or extremely strict rules won’t do either of you good and may eventually start a fight. It’s also a good idea to revisit these about once a month to remove or add some rules if the need arises.

Chores

                Some people have to make out schedules of who cleans what and when. If you’re in a dorm room with an assigned roommate who you don’t know, this idea is a good one until you get to know each other better. Make sure to make a separate Chore Schedule instead of adding to the rules. Post the Chore Schedule next to the House Rules so there won’t be any reason why roommates don’t read them.

                If communication with you roommate is good and you know each other the most common thing to do is just talk about it. Or set general rules, such as, if one person cooks dinner for the two of you, the other roommate does the dishes. Also make sure the universal rule is acknowledged and understood- Clean up after Yourself! Roommates are not parents; you are responsible for your own mess. Be responsible for your own mess, pick up after yourself and let your roommate know you expect the same from them.