Being a Good Roommate

An independent life is everyone’s dream these days. And, most importantly the obvious reason behind it would be making your career or pursuing your dreams. Deciding on shifting to a PG, or a shared room will be the new choice to make, you’ll come across when you leave behind your hometown. But would you be compatible with your new roommate? If not, what are the ways of being a good roommate? 

We will surely discuss this below but first, let’s elaborate on the challenges of shifting to a new town first. So, as we discussed above, depending upon the career you’ve pursued and your job location, you’ll have to shift to a new and unfamiliar town. But your challenges do not end there! 

Brace yourself for the challenge of finding a suitable home for you. First of all, you’ll cross paths with the issue of finding an abode located near your office. Looking out for a home near one’s workplace is the most urgent need because believe me if you live in metropolitan cities like Bangalore you’ll find yourself stuck in heavy traffic jams for hours. 

The second issue is finding a budget-friendly home that should not only be pocket-friendly but also with basic amenities. But finding a suitable home fulfilling both these conditions will be hard. Then you’ll be left with no choice other than settling down for a PG or a shared room on your own space. 

And living in PG or shared room, you can’t know what kinds of roommates you are going to end up with? How would you ensure being a good roommate from your end? 

This may seem funny at first —  trying to figure out the ways of being a good roommate. But you need to understand that you can’t change your room every time end up with roommates who aren’t like-minded. Often depending upon the type of roommates you choose to live, you will also need to adapt and make some adjustments from your end too! 

But do not worry! Much-like its might in the rental space by providing affordable tech-enabled homes to millennials, Colive has you covered with its 7 great tips on being a good roommate. 

Related: Types Of Roommates You Will Meet In A PG Or Shared Space

Tips on being a good roommate

1. Understand your roommates well

Understand your roommates well
Source: TVF’s Permanent Roommates

When moving in with someone new especially it being a roommate, you both might or might share certain likes and dislikes which makes it often hard for roommates to be compatible with one another. In such situations, you need to understand your roommate well and the things he/she likes or dislikes. 

You should adjust accordingly with him/her depending on their likes and dislikes. This surely is one of the best tips on being a good roommate. 

2. Always be ready to compromise

Always be ready to compromise
Source: From the Movie ‘Wake Up Sid’

When you are moving with a roommate, you need to understand that more or less it all comes to compromise. You need to adapt to his or her way of living and the same can be said about your roommate who also needs to do the same for you. 

You might have to compromise certain things and habits of yourself which your roommate might not like. These may include your unhygienic way of living or even playing loud music. If you want to become compatible with him/her, be ready to learn the word of ‘compromise’. This surely will help you adjust well with him/her and is one of the best tips on being a good roommate. 

3. Your cleanliness always comes handy

Your cleanliness always comes handy
Source: TV Series ‘Friends’

In one of our previous posts on the type of roommates, you will meet in a shared space, we discussed a typical ‘neat freak’ roommate. Such roommates won’t even tolerate a few locks of hair on the floor or even would sometimes freak out if you accidentally drip a drop of coffee on the table. Moreover, not cleaning your dishes properly can even result in frequent quarrels between you and your roommate.

In such cases, changing your habits and keeping cleanliness will always come in handy for you,  thus making you more compatible with your roommate. This surely is one of the best tips on being a good roommate for you.

4. Respect their privacy

Respect their privacy
Source: From the Movie ‘Dear Zindagi’

When it comes to maintaining some privacy, we all love it. But coliving with someone in shared space also means adjusting and adapting to your roommate. For this reason, you need to set some boundaries between you and your roommate. 

Believe it or not, all roommates love their privacy. Though sharing a space together means becoming more than roommates into friends and living in harmony, some boundaries between you and him/her will make you an ideal roommate. This tip on being a good roommate will surely work for you. 

5. Sharing is Caring

Sharing is Caring
Source: From the movie ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’

Though in the previous point we talked about setting some boundaries between you and your roommate, your path to being a good roommate also needs some sharing. And, this sharing isn’t just all about sharing your personal belongings with him/her like food items, clothes and deodorants but also about sharing ideas, thoughts, and values. 

There have been many instances where sharing ideas, thoughts, and values have brought roommates together to be friends and in long run business partners, especially for the millennials. Take for example the interesting story of Facebook which was founded in a shared space.

Read More: 5 Leading Companies Founded In A Shared Space

6. Always bring in good communication

Always bring in good communication
source

Being a good roommate is always upheld by simple communications and conversations. This may not be an easy task for newbies who have recently moved to a new city. They may shy away on talking about many things they want to discuss with their roommate but believe us, a healthy talk with him/her ensures long-lasting compatibility and in time you may also shift from being a good roommate to the best buddy for him/her. 

7. Divide your work equally

Divide your work equally
Source: Movie ‘Love Per Square Foot’

Like we discussed earlier, being a good roommate requires certain compromises from your end, so does dividing your work equally. Just imagine getting to do all household chores all by yourself and all your roommate does is sleep and enjoy. This may seem like a difficult situation by applies to you too. You surely want to be a good roommate and thus you need to help your roommate out by dividing your household chores equally too much like sharing your rent equally.

In your path of being a good roommate, you need to understand that you can’t change your room every time end up with roommates who aren’t like-minded. Often depending upon the type of roommates you choose to live, you will also need to adapt and make some adjustments from your end too. Our tips on being a good roommate will surely come in handy for you. 

We, at Colive, help you get rental facilities at affordable rates but also have premium amenities, and a chance to build your community of like-minded people. Moreover, we also offer them a high-speed internet 24×7 to let them have a stress-free work from home and bide their time in their facilities during the phase of the ongoing crisis and lockdown. Visit the website of Colive to know more!