Pros and Cons of Having a Roomate

Sharing a living space can be a wonderful way to make new friends and minimize the strain of paying rent each month. There are numerous benefits to having a roommate, but like all other living arrangements, it’s not for everyone. Before making the decision to share a home with another person, carefully consider the benefits and disadvantages of having roommates.

Spending Less on Rent

Having a roommate can help budget-conscious renters save on monthly payments. The more roommates there are, the smaller everyone’s portion of the rent. This might be necessary, especially when times are tough due to an economic downturn or job loss. In such a situation, finding a roommate can help you make rent and stay in your apartment. Furthermore, if you’re able to pay the rent on your own, roommates can help you keep more of your hard-earned money.

Spending Less on Utilities

Similar to spending less money on rent, the more roomies you have, the more ways you’ll split monthly utilities such as water, gas and electricity. The less you spend to keep the water running and the lights on, the more money you’ll have at the end of the month.

Sharing Household Duties

Cleaning the bathroom isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, and most people do it only when they really have to. When you have roommates, though, you don’t just share the rent, you also divide the household duties. For instance, everyone can take a week of keeping things clean, or the work can be divided up by task.

Making Friends

Gaining a roommate or two is an easy way to make friends, especially if you’re new to the city and you don’t know anyone. Sharing a living space means sharing some of life’s most intimate details, and roommates often end up confiding in one another and becoming lifelong friends.

Sharing the Space

While sharing chores, rent, and utilities are all big advantages, sharing living quarters isn’t a big perk for everyone. All people have times when they just want to be left alone, but when you’ve got roommates, that’s not always possible. Roommates can bicker and fight, just like couples do. Splitting the bills can cause resentment, and just as with married couples, too much togetherness can lead to petty arguments. Roommates are great, but it’s important to have alone time as well.

Relying On Other People

When you’re living alone, you can only count on yourself. However, when you share a home with a roommate (or two), you’ll come to rely on them in many ways. You’ll count on them to pay their bills on time, to clean up after themselves, and to use their guest privileges responsibly. To make things easier, list responsibilities and due dates for everyone to see.

Unwanted and Uninvited Guests

While you may end up liking your roommates, their friends might tend to overstay their welcome. When entering a roommate arrangement, you should set ground rules beforehand. If there are no rules on guests, it’s easy to wind up feeling out of place in your own home.

Having roommates can be beneficial in some cases, but you should carefully consider the pros and cons before moving ahead with such an arrangement. If you can maximize the advantages while minimizing the downsides, sharing a living space can be a memorable experience for all the right reasons.

Gregg Shimanski Realty, Inc. offers quality real estate for both domestic and commercial renters. With an experienced and professional team of property managers and technicians, they’ll be able to help you with all your renting needs. Contact them today or fill out on online application for your next apartment.