Moving in with another person is a big deal. In a very real way, you’re linking two or more different lives. It is difficult to move in with someone without some anxiety, whether it’s a friend, family member, roommate, or romantic partner. How do you know, after all, that they’re not terrible roommates? How do you know they’re not going to adopt fourteen cats instantly and never clean their dishes?
Sadly, there is no way of defending against any future moving-in-together misfortune. However, there is a way to protect against much of it: talk about it! Until paperwork is signed instead of after, ask the significant questions. The questions that you need to ask and answer are here! For every roommate before moving in.
There is a surprising amount of research in the psychology behind the reasons why roommates (particularly couples) move in together. Common reasons were listed in research for individuals to move in together. They were: as a test, spending more time together, being comfortable, raising a child together, or stepping up engagement.
On the issue of why there is no guaranteed “correct” answer. However, what does matter is that the priorities are lined up. Things don’t line up if one of you feels your partnership is shifting and the other is trying to reduce their financial burden. That’s when problems can start to occur.
You can spend a great deal of time with someone and not understand the truth of their spending habits. Before you do something else, write down and detail which roommate is responsible for what. Include who, to whom, where, would pay what sum. In setting it out now, stop potential money claims
Cohabiting efficiently is all about engagement and meeting desires. Figure out who is going to do what until it is appropriate to do these things. This may include duties such as washing, vacuuming, ordering groceries, and any other activities.
Work out who prefers to do those things from there and make an arrangement. It’s also going to be nice to find out who does what when you plan your move as well.
No matter how much you enjoy or love someone, there’s no one without faults. For each other, be frank about the things you find irritating. Be blunt about the stuff you prioritize, too.
Work together to make sure before they arise, you can fix these arguments-in-the-making. How are you going to fix it if one of you is a slob and the other is a clean freak? What are you going to do about it if one of you hates tigers and the other just eats Frosted Flakes? Before it’s too late, have a major, long talk with your roommate about these things.
This will be a discussion of confidence as well as logistics. Even if you have the best of intentions, things do not always turn out the way you expect. When there is only one of you on the lease, if anything comes up, it would be easier to change the situation.
When making a life-changing decision like this one, that sort of realism can be difficult to consider. That’s also a red flag if you don’t trust the person you’re with to pay their rent because their name is on the contract. To stop making a mistake you’ll regret later, work it out before you sign the papers.
Also Read : How to Make your Move Fun and Enjoyable
When people move in together, the compromise that comes with cohabitation is often not understood by them. Whenever you want, you will not be able to do anything you want. Before an issue arises, spell out the expectations about visitors and respect.
Give each roommate as much notice as possible for major gatherings or parties. Respect the interests and social personalities of each other. How can you handle it if one roommate is extroverted and the other is introverted?
You have to decide who will ultimately pay those sums, and when and how, once you have decided how you will divide the costs. Discuss who is paying for what and before the move, make a plan. Remember to pay the bills for electricity, internet plans, moving expenses, and more.
Even if your personal situation makes payment arrangements sound so clear that you don’t have to talk about them, we still suggest having the discussion. Before misunderstandings arise, it is often easier to be on the stage. A bill payment you don’t want to skip because you both thought the other roommate was going to cover it!
Life isn’t perfect, ensuring the conflict can arise at some point. The easiest way to prevent them from getting out of control is to determine how you’ll resolve disputes before they happen.
You and your desires depend on how you plan to treat them. When things get too hot, you might agree to use a mediator, ask your parents or close friends for advice, or agree to always have a means of stepping away.
You should be ready to go after you’ve had a safe chat addressing these questions. What you need to do next is to locate the best spot and hire the right moving company.
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