I can read your mind and I can tell your fears. I know that you are torn between choices. But then who wouldn’t? Having to move in with a total stranger whom you might or might not get along with, might overstep your boundaries, hate you, nag you, or take advantage of your niceness; it’s a big risk! For a large number of people, if they had their way, they’ll pick their privacy over shared house cost but you know how it can be with cash, we all wish that the issues of life, especially finances were that simple.
So before I begin to bore you with the chances and options you’ve got, the disadvantages of a roommate, and the disadvantages of living alone, let me quickly chip in the fact that you’ll learn some tips for a good roommate relationship so that you can enjoy the benefits of living with roommates.
How To Get Along With Your New Roommates
Firstly, you should understand that before you agree to stay with anyone, you should have mutually agreed rules that guide major areas of your relationship as roommates. A couple of these rules will be discussed later on in the piece. Setting these rules upon agreement to live with each other will help set boundaries and ensure that the possibility of disagreements is brought to the barest minimum.
So just in case your roommate moves in and you guys are not having the best of time getting along, try these tips:
- Hangout as roommates: Have planned times for seeing a movie, you could take up community projects together, cook together, or just enjoy activities that aid bonding. Ensure that no extra friends are allowed at least for the first one month of getting to know each other. You could pick a time for a day or two in the week for hangouts. But while trying to bond, ensure that you do not force things, be as natural as you can be, see this as you trying to build a relationship.
- Talk more about yourselves than about other things: At least while still trying to get to know each other, avoid generic topics like politics, culture, and other topics that do not directly tell you about your new roommate. Instead, take personality tests together, discuss the inspiration behind your fashion sense, your hobbies, your goals, childhood, and all. But understand that you are not under compulsion to divulge information that you consider personal.
- Always ask questions about the intentions behind actions and words: It is easy to misunderstand people especially when you do not really know them. Sometimes, people’s actions and intents do not exactly play out the same message and a lot of people have issues communicating the ideas in their head. So before you feel offended, ask to be sure that their intentions were really to hurt you.
- Speak up when you are hurt, but be calm: Whenever your roommate hurts you, speak up and let them understand your pains, this will help them refrain from repeating such misdeeds.
- Show that you can be trusted by showing some level of vulnerability: Sometimes, until you show some level of vulnerability, people do not think you worthy of getting into details of their life. Open up (but don’t sacrifice your privacy) and they will too.
- Make sure your friends and visitors do not encroach on your roommates’ space or disrespect them.
- Show your willingness to be more than a roommate, be a friend, show genuine concern, and give genuine compliments.
- Avoid being too opinionated or bossy.
What More About Co-living?
The following are rules to institute when initiating a co-living arrangement. Institute rules in the following areas of association and reach consensus before agreeing to live with a potential roommate. Agree on…
- The ratio for sharing financial obligation.
- Rules on the reception of visitors and privacy.
- Maintenance of the kitchen, toilet, and other general rooms.
- Other important rules you deem fit.
Once you can follow the aforementioned roommate tips, then the question- “Is it worth having a roommate?” Will always have a “yes” answer from you.
I am hoping that this piece has helped allay your fears about living with roommates in NY with its discussion on tips for being a good roommate. Just follow the tips above and you’ll have a home-away-from-home experience. Contact SharedEasy for your coliving needs. services that involve how to find roommates in NYC, searching for apartments, financial arrangements for living with roommates in NY, and a lot of other coliving services.
