Moving to an apartment can be a wonderfully exciting time – a chance to live on your own and take responsibility for your own life; for many, it marks the true beginning of adulthood. Apartment living can be a great choice for those who have just graduated from school and are embarking on a new career; the ease of maintenance and affordability make apartments generally appealing. But regardless of their affordability in comparison to a large, single-family home, apartments can still be quite expensive for those with entry level salaries; and depending on where your apartment is located, even the most well-paid person has difficulty affording an apartment all on their own. In these cases, moving to an apartment with roommates can significantly offset expenses.
Choosing the right roommate
Some roommates are a product of friendship and planning; others, a product of chance. Whether you’ve known each other your whole lives or found each through the real estate section of your local newspaper, a roommate is a very specific relationship. While you no longer live with mom and dad, and may consider your new apartment to be your journey into independence, living with a roommate still requires you to be at least partially responsible to another person. In forming your union, you are promising to share the rental expenses of your apartment; but you are also implicitly pledging to be considerate of one another’s time, space, and money.
Be smart, Put It In Writin
For these reasons – friends or not – all details surrounding your living arrangement should be put in writing. Some things to consider include division of rent, fees, repairs, and utilities, as well as how you wish to handle the purchasing of food, paper goods, and other items for the apartment.
Day-to-day Routine
Beyond these more formal arrangements, however, there are more day-to-day topics that should be discussed prior to moving to an apartment. Such issues include your expectations of each other with regard to the division of cleaning, having guests, noise level, cooking, and the like. These may seem like unimportant details that you can work out as you go, but they are only small decisions when you make them ahead of time. If you don’t discuss something in particular, and it becomes a sticking point down the road, something very small can become larger than life. It’s better to tackle every scenario before making your move.
In Summary
Having a roommate can make moving to an apartment an even more enjoyable experience, as you can share the excitement of your having your own space…together! Work out your details early and keep the lines of communication open and you’ll be sure to have a great place to come home to for years to come.
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