Living with Roommates
Whether it’s your first time living with someone or your 10th, sharing your Chicago apartment with another person comes with challenges. Opposite schedules, cleaning habits, cooking preferences—these are just a few of the common reasons roommates can clash. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to avoid these unwanted issues.
Choose Roommates Wisely
It may seem like a close friend would be the best choice for a roommate. That’s not always the reality, though. When you live with another person, you’ll likely be exposed to different aspects of their personality that you were unaware of previously. Maybe they’re secretly messy (or maybe you are, and their cleaning habits will get on your nerves). Similarly, you’ll be around this person a lot. Too much of anything can have negative consequences, and a friendship isn’t any different. If you do decide to go with a close friend as a roommate, be open and honest from the start as to what your expectations are.
Open Communication
Just like any relationship, communication is key to successful roommate rapport. Without it, problems are inevitable. Discussing things like cleaning habits and chores will help resolve potential issues before they’re an actual problem. Be honest with what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not. People can be extremely different when it comes to what they think is “normal” behavior. If boundaries aren’t clear-cut, problems are likely to arise.