Sharing an apartment: check out 5 unmissable tips
Renting a room and sharing an apartment is a great alternative for those who want or need to save some money at the end of the month. But this is not always an easy task.
Sharing the same house with one or more people can be an incredible experience, full of unforgettable moments. But if you have to deal with colleagues who are very different from you, your day-to-day life may not be as harmonious as you would like.
Every tenant dreams of sharing an apartment with someone who is very similar to them, who has the same habits, routines and tastes. But this is not always a reality. We have different personalities and it is very unlikely that roommates will be 100% compatible in everything.
Some care is necessary when living with another person. Both when choosing your roommate and, especially, in your day-to-day life. Basic rules for living together should be established to avoid any misunderstandings as much as possible.
After all, dirty dishes or dust in the apartment can be enough reasons to cause arguments between residents. But when all of this is clear to everyone, shared coexistence will be wonderful! Want to know how to achieve this experience?
So come with us! In this text we will explain in more detail what the day-to-day life of someone who shares an apartment is like, its advantages and disadvantages and important tips on how to ensure a good coexistence with your roommate.
See the topics that will be covered:
- How does sharing an apartment work?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of sharing an apartment?
- Difficulties in sharing an apartment: difficult roommates
- Five tips for sharing an apartment
Let's go!
How does sharing an apartment work?
If you are thinking about sharing an apartment, then you should know very well what the day-to-day life of those who live in a shared home is like. This is because if there is no good coexistence between the residents, the experience can become chaos!
Many tenants seek to share their homes with roommates. Typically, the main reason is to share expenses so that they can save money and be independent.
Although many people associate shared housing with a lack of privacy, this is not the case. Each person will have their own room, but they will share all the common areas of the place, such as the living room, kitchen and laundry room.
In other places, such as colivings , these spaces are usually shared with all residents of the building, creating a strong sense of community among everyone. In these spaces, tenants must help each other so that everyone can enjoy the common spaces without any harm through the collaborative economy.
We are sociable beings by nature, but that doesn't mean that we all have an easy time sharing and living with many people. When sharing an apartment, you will have to have this rule as a premise for your day-to-day life, so that you can maintain a good coexistence with your roommate.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of sharing an apartment?
Sharing an apartment may not be the best decision for some people. As we said above, it is important to be aware of all the advantages and disadvantages of sharing a home with another person.
On the one hand, you can save a lot of money, save time and have an incredible social life with your roommate. On the other hand, you may find it difficult to get along and share the space.
In an interview with ZAP Em Casa, lawyer Marilia Noelly Gois Monteiro makes this condition clear. “You will necessarily live together and share spaces. If you share a room, you will sleep and wake up with a stranger. So, it is good to have a sense of respect for the physical space, emotional limits and well-being of others,” she said.
So, we have separated the main advantages and disadvantages below to help you make your decision.
Advantage: saving resources
Sharing a space provides huge savings in resources. This is one of the main advantages and one of the most valued, especially among those who are moving for the first time and need to save money.
When we live with someone else, our roommate will help pay all the bills for the property, including electricity, water, gas, internet, and even groceries. Everything can be agreed upon and divided so that no one is left out.
If we think about tenants who live in big cities, sharing an apartment in São Paulo, for example, is even more advantageous! After all, the city is the largest in the country and, depending on the neighborhood where you live, the cost of living is not cheap at all.
So having someone to share your home with will be a big help.
Advantage: time optimization
Anyone who lives alone knows that it's not easy to keep the house in order. There are always dishes to wash, clothes to iron, sweeping the house, tidying everything up... just listing them is tiring!
With a roommate, you can share these tasks and greatly optimize the time you would otherwise spend. If you don't like washing the dishes, for example, you can agree to do another task instead.
This way, none of the residents will be burdened with keeping their home clean. A huge convenience for your day-to-day life! With the extra time, who knows, maybe you can catch up on that series or do a hobby you enjoy?
Advantage: socialization
Sharing an apartment goes far beyond just having someone to help pay the bills.
A roommate can be a great companion for your day-to-day life! They will be someone you will live with every day and you will be able to share incredible moments together. From the good times to the bad times when we need someone by our side.
Socialization is a great advantage, especially living in a coliving with people of different ages, customs and routines sharing all the common spaces.
Disadvantage: rapport
The main disadvantage of sharing an apartment is the lack of cohesion. Although some people find it easier to live together, others are more resistant and prefer to have their own space.
Not to mention that any difference in customs, habits or personality can be a reason for disagreement, even if it is over the smallest detail.
If you fit this profile, then think carefully before deciding to share your home. It is important to be clear about what sharing an apartment involves and what your new routine will be like, so that you know if you are willing to face the change.
If the answer is no, don't risk it. Look for a place of your own at a price that fits your budget. On our blog, we have several articles about how much it costs to live alone , tips for living alone and how to find your apartment . Take a look!
Difficulties in sharing an apartment: difficult roommates
We have seen many tenants share bad experiences when sharing an apartment precisely because of their roommates.
Although sharing a home brings many financial advantages, a roommate (as they are also known) who does not have similar tastes or habits to yours can be reason enough to make everyday life quite complicated.
Many people believe that this situation can happen when a tenant decides to share an apartment with a stranger. But don't be fooled: even people close to you may not be ideal roommates!
A roommate should be someone special and chosen with great care! He or she should be more than just capable of helping to pay all the household bills.
In practice, he should be a person who has a close affinity with you. And here, we don't mean closeness as a family or as a friend, but rather in many other aspects such as interests, routine and customs.
No one will be 100% the same as you, that's a fact. But the more things you have in common, the better! Otherwise, you may have several conflicts with your colleague on a daily basis.
Especially during this difficult time of social isolation that we are living in. We will share some tips on how to maintain a good relationship with your colleague.
But first, let's look at some of the most common cases of differences in habits between residents that cause constant conflicts.
Sharing an apartment with the boss
Sharing an apartment with someone who has a very different personality from yours doesn’t usually work out very well. Especially with those famous “bossy” roommates who want to dictate many things in your day-to-day life.
They can be for small issues like controlling the TV channel, or slightly more complicated issues, from wanting a specific organization for an object or room to having problems with guests coming over.
Have you ever imagined how many disagreements can occur? Living with someone who wants to control various day-to-day issues doesn't work. Roommates should agree on the rules of coexistence.
Even if each person has different opinions, they should reach a common agreement. If conflicts persist even after this conversation, the tenant can talk to the landlord and ask him to intervene in the situation.
The important thing is to find a balance so that no one is harmed.
Sharing an apartment with a smelly guy
This is a more delicate issue that many tenants face.
Living with someone who doesn't have good hygiene habits isn't easy. Whether it's because they don't have the habit of bathing or even washing their clothes, they end up smelling unpleasant.
It can be a difficult habit to break, so what’s the best way to deal with this problem?
Try to better understand your roommate’s behavior by having a frank conversation. Explain what’s bothering you in a way that doesn’t offend him. You can even offer some suggestions to help improve the situation.
If he doesn't have much time to wash his clothes, for example, suggest taking turns to help him. If your colleague has a health problem that could cause this bad smell, ask about the possibility of seeing a specialist.
You can talk about the subject calmly, without causing any embarrassment.
Sharing an apartment with a troublemaker
Sharing an apartment with a messy roommate is one of the most common problems faced by many tenants. It is also one of the most common causes of headaches and misunderstandings.
Some people are more relaxed when it comes to organization. A middle ground, not being extremely demanding nor sloppy about the order of their home.
But on the other hand, we also have extremes. People who worry too much about keeping their apartment tidy and those who end up leaving the house quite messy. This would be the worst scenario in terms of coexistence, with completely different personalities.
Having an honest conversation about this difference is the best way to try to solve the problem. Show how the issue bothers you and try to find a middle ground so that there are no more misunderstandings.
For example, try to reach an agreement to keep at least the common spaces tidy. That way, you won't have to live with a mess in the space.
Sharing an apartment with a glutton
Grocery shopping can also end up being a source of disagreement, especially with roommates who end up going over the top in this regard.
We all know that food shopping isn't cheap. And who hasn't enjoyed buying sweets, snacks or candies to satisfy that craving? The big problem with this issue is that, often, colleagues end up sharing these foods without having helped pay for them.
It can also become a very delicate problem if you don't know the best way to deal with it. Just like in the previous cases, a good conversation can make all the difference!
Set rules about grocery shopping. Everyone can have their own space in the fridge or cupboards, so there will be no confusion about which item belongs to whom.
Or, you can put labels on jars or containers to identify what is yours. Make sure it is clearly visible so there is no doubt.
If you really want to share everything, make sure you agree on this before your roommate moves into the apartment. That way, you both know that you will be sharing everything that is purchased.
Five tips for sharing an apartment
Sharing an apartment is not an easy task. Many people have difficulty adjusting to the new routine of sharing a home with someone who may have very different tastes and personalities than their own.
But don’t let that discourage you! This experience can be incredible and can mark this stage of your life. We want to help you in this regard.
Therefore, we have put together five essential tips to help you share your apartment, avoiding disagreements with your roommate as much as possible.
Check it out!
Define the rules of coexistence
The starting point for anyone who wants to share an apartment is to clarify all the rules of coexistence. To do this, it is important to first get to know your roommate thoroughly. Not only their tastes, but also their habits and routine.
From there, you should have a clear conversation about each person’s responsibilities in the house. How will you organize yourselves to keep the place tidy? Divide up household chores based on what each person prefers, without anyone feeling overwhelmed.
But beyond that, there are other important issues that should not be forgotten in this conversation. They mainly involve: payment of expenses, rules regarding visits and ways of using the apartment.
We will cover these aspects in more detail in the following tips.
Respect other people's space
Sharing an apartment doesn't mean you have to share everything. And even all the time.
Everyone should respect each other's space. Privacy is very important, especially when we live with other people.
After all, we are not always in the mood to socialize and chat. Many times we want to stay calm in our space, resting or practicing some hobby.
So, always respect the privacy of the people who live with you.
Keep your things in order
Organization comes first! Even if you have a messy side, your colleague may be different and not like things out of place at all.
So, keep the apartment tidy at least in the common areas like the living room, kitchen and laundry room. In your bedroom, you can leave it however you like.
This organization also applies to cleaning. Don't let dirt build up and take turns with your colleague who will be responsible for each task. A good strategy is to alternate responsibilities frequently to vary things up.
Be sensible with visitors
Receiving visitors is a great joy! But it must be at the right time when you share an apartment.
Before inviting anyone over to your home, make arrangements with your roommate in advance. Make sure they agree and won't feel uncomfortable. It all comes down to common sense.
After all, the space is not just yours. So make sure that even with guests at home, there is not too much noise or mess that could bother your roommate.
Always maintain good communication
Maintaining open and close communication is key to a good coexistence when sharing an apartment. Whether it's for light and fun topics or, especially, problems that are bothering you.
This way, any disagreements that may arise can be resolved easily. Just be honest with the other person and be willing to listen. Otherwise, sharing the same space will be very difficult.
Conclusion
Many tenants are looking to share an apartment these days. Sharing the same space with another person can be amazing, but it requires constant care to ensure good coexistence between everyone.
Therefore, remember the tips we gave throughout the text to avoid any problems with your roommate.
If you liked this text, share it on social media and continue your visit to our blog . We have other texts that may please you!