Austin Apartments - A Guide to Living with Roommates

Posted: Dec 20, 2010 |

At some time or another, just about everyone will have a roommate. It's a great way of lowering expenses as well as having a consistent source of social interaction. However, there are a few things to be mindful of when selecting and living with a roommate. This brief guide addresses many of the crucial points one must consider when looking for a roommate and more importantly, when living with one.

You have to fully understand your expectations to begin with. What exactly are your current objectives? Next, think about what you are searching for in a roommate. Because you'll be sharing living space with this individual, you should treat it as a major decision. Ask your friends, family members and co-workers whether they know of anyone searching for a roommate. In the event that doesn't work, you can also find websites online that specialize in roommate matching. Whatever means you choose to utilize in your roommate search, it's important to trust your own intuition. Should your gut tell you that something doesn't feel right, proceed to the next prospect.

Be certain to talk about lifestyles and personal preferences honestly. You don't want to discover that your roommate practices his electric guitar every night until 3 AM after the fact, do you? Ask questions. Learn how frequently they clean up after themselves, if they smoke, have pets, anticipate bringing over a boyfriend or girlfriend, and so on.


Confirm that your roommate is able to pay their own share. Apartments in Austin usually require that renters or their guarantor have a verifiable income equal to at least three times the monthly rent for the apartment in question. Avoid getting snagged in the "I was planning on finding a job this week" scenario. It's important to verify that your prospective roommate has enough income or family support to pay their share of the rent and the household expenses.

Be very clear on the house rules. Exactly how will the rent end up being divided? 50/50, or does the individual using the master bedroom pay out more? Precisely what are the household bills and in what way will they be split? Always be clear on usage and furnishings. Should you have a brand new sofa and don't really want your roommate eating there, be clear in advance. Decide on how the housework will be divided. Don't simply expect 50/50. Other people might not be as neat as you are.

Whose name will be on the actual lease contract? The lease holder will be ultimately responsible for having to pay rent as well as paying for any damages to the apartment. All Austin apartments require that anyone living in the apartment who is over the age of 18 be on the lease contract. However, if you find yourself in a situation in which your roommate is not on the lease but pays half of the bills, you have to consider what will happen in the event that they decide to move out early? Do you have an emergency fund or other means to pay the rent until you find another roommate?

Don't hesitate to discuss the small things. Whether it is which way the toilet paper goes on the roll or how the kitchen utensils fit into the drawer, the small things at times have a way of growing to be big things if you're not vigilant. Remember, most disputes generally get big and unpleasant whenever one person does something which upsets the other person, and the other person neglects to ever bring it up until it simply drives them insane and they blow up in a fit of rage. Don't allow it to get that far! It's important in any partnership to have decent communication skills. Discuss things before a situation gets unmanageable.

In the end, living with a roommate is much like any other interpersonal relationship. If you focus on selecting someone who has similar lifestyle, values and interests, you are much more likely to have a happy home that you look forward to returning to every day. Remember that the typical lease term offered by Austin apartments is six to twelve months. If you spend a bit of time choosing the right candidate and keeping the lines of honest communication open, those months can fly by and you may even find yourself looking forward to signing your next lease!

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