Seven Tips on How to Act When Staying at Someone’s Home

It has all happened to many of us and it might be happening to some readers now.  A pressing matter has set you back, so now you must move back home with parents, stay with a relative, or share a small living space with a roommate. 

It doesn’t have to be a difficult situation if you do your part to ensure that your stay is short, beneficial to the household, and pleasant. 

Before you move in with anyone you will want to get some things understood such as:  how much money is expected of you, what are you expected to do to help maintain the household, what time do your roommates like to go to bed, what part of the home is off limits, whether you are allowed to cook in the kitchen and what cooking utensils should you use, and how often are you expected to wash clothes, and more.  Unfortunately, many guests don’t think of things like this.  They falsely assume that most people manage their household the same and that’s when they get into trouble with their roommates! 

One.  Always ask before you touch, move, clean, put away or rearrange something.

There are some things that your parent, relative or someone else just doesn’t want anyone to use.  No matter how stupid or obsessed you think they are about their stuff, remember it is their hard-earned cash that paid for it.  Therefore, you will want to be sure you ask before you use it. 

Now let’s say they appear like they don’t care about you using things like: watching the flat screen TV all hours of the night, making long distance phone calls, helping yourself to the last beer in the fridge or taking long hot showers.  Although it looks like they are “okay with,” don’t take advantage.  Avoid spending long lengths of time using their phone and TV, shorten your showers, ask and/or replace what you take out the fridge, and be sure to watch for anything else you may be doing that might later cause problems for you and your host(s) later.  It will only be a matter of time before they will start complaining about you running up their phone, electric and water bills.