
Moving in with friends can be a great way to save money and live near your besties, but it's also a big step that can lead to some problems. Whether you're new to living with roommates or have experience doing so, here are some tips for helping make the transition smooth.
Discuss the Financials
You must discuss the financials when you're getting ready to move in with friends. This is especially true if you split rent and utilities with them. If they're only paying half of the rent and utilities, then that means that you'll likely be responsible for twice as much. It can be hard to know how much each person should contribute until everyone has weighed in on what they think is reasonable.
If all goes well, you will have a good idea of how much extra money you'll have each month when living with friends compared to living alone or sharing an apartment with strangers who don't share your interests or values.
The best option is always to split up the amount in equal parts. This is what most people do. According to a recent survey from Forbes Advisor and OnePoll, 47% of Americans are splitting bills at restaurants and movie halls. You can do the same with your rent and other expenses.
Move In Together
Moving in with roommates is quite common in the USA. While most people live with family, spouses, and partners, many Americans live with roommates. According to Statista, around 8.2% of men and 4.6% of women stay with roommates.
However, moving in with friends is a big decision, and it's essential to take the time to consider whether it's the right move for you. If you're currently living alone and are considering moving in with friends, here are some general tips that can help make the transition smoother:
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking your new roommate about their habits and preferences is key when figuring out how best to cohabitate. You should also talk about what kinds of financial expectations you both have so that there aren't any surprises later on down the line.
- Don't have too much stuff. You might think that having more belongings will make your new home feel like home easier, but this isn't always true, especially when those items aren't easily stored or organized. It's best if each person has fewer than 10 boxes worth of items going into storage before settling into their new apartment or house together. Otherwise, things could get cluttered very quickly.
- Hire a single local mover. Instead of hiring different movers for each of you, consider a single local mover. This will allow you to work together on something and get you into the habit of splitting bills and making equal efforts. For instance, many people are moving out of San Diego.
According to a news article from the Los Angeles Times, the population of San Diego fell by over 11,000 from July 2020 to July 2021. If you are leaving San Diego or coming to settle in it, you can hire a single mover in San Diego.
While you’ll find plenty of service providers in San Diego, it’s always a good idea to hire reputable movers like Finch Moving Company. They provide top-notch moving services with skilled professionals who ensure a smooth and stress-free relocation experience for their clients. They are known for their expertise in the industry and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Organize Household Responsibilities and Chores
One of the most important things you can do is to organize household responsibilities and chores fairly. When you're moving in with friends, it's easy to fall into a pattern of doing everything yourself. But if you want your roommate to be as respectful of your space as you are theirs, it's essential that they feel they have a fair share in keeping everything clean and tidy.
To do this, sit down with your roommate to discuss what chores are expected of each person in the house. Then come up with a schedule for when these responsibilities will happen.
It's also important that everyone communicates about these plans, so there aren't any surprises regarding who has which chore on any given day. The last thing anyone wants is extra work because someone forgot about an upcoming responsibility.
Don't Be Late With Rent
Many things can go wrong when you're living with friends, but one of the most important things to avoid is being late with rent. You should research the accommodation and prepare for the rent before moving in.
For instance, if you are a student, the average cost of student accommodation in the USA is $600 for a shared apartment. You can do the calculations based on the number of people living in the apartment and prepare the rent accordingly.
Even if you think it might happen once or twice, being late with rent will make your landlord very unhappy. This could lead to eviction and potentially losing your security deposit, so make sure you have enough money to pay the rent on time.
However, you will get warnings before eviction. Some state laws can delay tenant eviction. For example, Nevada state has eviction protection till June 5, 2023, and Massachusetts has protection till May 31, 2023.
If you cannot pay the rent on time every month, contact your landlord immediately and let them know what happened so that they don't hold it against you when it comes time to renew your lease agreement next year. If they aren't able to give any leeway at all and still charge late fees every month, then maybe living together isn't such a good idea after all.
Give Your Roommates Space
It's important to give your roommates space. They need a little time to do their own thing, and if you try to be too nosy or judge them, they'll resent you. There are ways to get along with each other that don't involve too much prying.
I've found it helpful in my own experiences when I've tried not to be overly curious about what people are doing all the time. This makes them feel like I'm being invasive and can make them uncomfortable, which isn't suitable for anyone.
Have Fun Activities Regularly
While having fun activities for your roommates is essential, you don't want to overdo it. Ensure that the activities are not too expensive, too far away, or too time-consuming.
There's no point in spending all your extra money on a trip when you can do something more reasonable with it. The same goes for activities. If it requires driving far away and spending all day there, consider going somewhere closer that won't take up so much time or money.
Finally, always make sure that these events aren't risky. You don't want anything bad happening while getting together with friends because this can cause issues between roommates or even result in legal consequences if they aren't careful enough while having fun together.
Conclusion
Once you've established a good relationship with your roommates, you can make the most of living with them. You can have fun together and maintain a positive atmosphere in your home. Just remember that everyone deserves their own space sometimes.