Mutual Expectations Talk for Housemates
It is important to discuss a wide variety of details with any prospective housemate before you each know if the living arrangement will be a good...
2 min read
Jennifer Hammer
:
Sep 27, 2021 2:19:09 PM
The first tasks you need to do to welcome a new roommate seem pretty obvious: declutter and clean the guest (or spare) room and bathroom. But what about the rest of the home? Your roommate will also be sharing the living room, kitchen and other common areas, though right?
A pre-move-in house cleaning is a pretty obvious goal, but people tend to forget about certain tasks that really make a difference. Read on to discover five overlooked ways to prepare for a roommate ahead of time.
We all need a place to keep our keys, bag and coat for easy retrieval. Go through the most-used entryway(s) and remove the following:
While you’re at it, give the entry area a good clean-up too.
If you’ve lived in your space for a while, you’ve personalized it to your liking. However, your roommate will naturally want some of their own taste, style and memories around—and not just inside their room. Pare down some of your personal items on the mantle, on the walls, etc. so your roommate will feel welcome to add their things in. You don’t have to get rid of anything (unless you want to declutter!). Many items can be used in new ways in your private space or rotated in and out over time.
(De-personalizing is actually a very important part of preparing for a new roommate, according to coach, speaker and author Sue Ronnenkamp. Check out her 10 things you can do to be an amazing housemate, based on Sue’s longtime homesharing experience.)
If you’re like many people, the stuff in your pantry, fridge and cabinets seems to expand to fill all available space. Now’s the time to discover and deal with things like:
Donate unwanted but still usable items to your local food pantry or Buy Nothing Group. Then, give the entire kitchen a thorough cleaning.
Most roommates will bring along at least a few storage boxes for mementos, holiday decor, etc. Make sure there’s a cobweb-free, easy-to-access storage spot for their things. Bonus: decluttering these areas will create new energy for you!
We know Mittens and Caesar are perfect in every way, but their toys and other pet supplies do get grungy—not to mention strewn all over the place. Where possible, run your pet’s bedding and stuffed toys through the laundry. Other items may be scrubbed up in the sink or, potentially, the dishwasher. Drop the clean toys into a fresh basket or bin and create a tidy feeding area. Voila! Your little angel is ready to be a great roommate pal.
Ultimately, it’s about being open to new experiences and new beginnings. Sometimes people need a little attitude adjustment and self care to get there. If that’s you, take a look at our new blog on the matter—Bringing in a New Roommate: Preparation Dos and Don’ts.
Silvernest has helped all kinds of people create their own Home Sweet Shared Home®. Looking for your own homesharing match? Visit www.silvernest.com to explore and get started!
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