Since watching ‘Single White Female’ we have all learned not to take prospective house sharers at face value and remember to check credentials and references carefully before entering into a sharing arrangement. There are some weird and wonderful characters out there and without becoming paranoid we all need to safeguard our security. Assuming these precautions have been taken and your home companion has moved in, there are ‘give and take’ guidelines that could prove useful. To start with, there are certain household expenses that are shared, such as washing detergents; mops and buckets; light bulbs; some foodstuffs such as herbs and spices etc. Apartment buddies should cut the grocery bill for such items in half rather than rely one on the other to replace the item when it is ‘their turn’ to do so. With the best will in the world anyone can forget to buy essentials after a long day at work. The best method is to always have one item in stock and share the cost. Do not ‘borrow’ the other person’s belongings without permission. Good intentions are always to return the item but it is better not to assume your house sharer ‘won’t mind...’ The chances are they will be offended if you borrow their hairdryer without permission. Hairdryers also have an annoying habit of breaking in the hands of someone other than their rightful owner and having to return it broken when you did not have permission to use it is so embarrassing. Pay on time. There is nothing worse than having to pay your sharer’s half of the rent. Be grown up about financial commitments and remember that defaulting on the rent or the bills will reflect not just on your credit but also on your companion’s. Also remember that you can get a reputation for being a poor risk when it comes to sharing and if you are irresponsible pretty soon nobody will want to share a house with you. Do not import pets without asking your house mate. It seems an obviously sensible thing to do but so many people put their sharers in the awkward position of having to insist a pet is removed. Do not invite other people to stay over without telling your sharer, or at the very least leave a note on the kitchen counter to advise that there is a guest in the house. You and your companion might be on friendly enough terms to wander around in your bathrobes but it’s no fun being startled by a stranger in the hallway early morning when you are not looking your best! Be considerate enough to leave the room when your house sharer is on the phone. Don’t assume it is okay to listen or to be involved in any way without first being invited. Everyone likes personal space and if you cannot respect your companion’s private area of the house it is best you go for single occupancy. Keep it legal. Your landlord has every right to know who is living in his (or her) house or apartment and slipping a sharing companion in under the door is just not fair. Provided you are upfront about it your landlord might not mind your ‘sharing arrangement’ but certainly if you are caught hiding a sublet you will be evicted and deservedly so. Sharing the rent and bills is great way to save hard earned cash but remember everyone is different and we all have silly habits that sometimes we are unaware we have – if you are the low tolerance type it might be best to avoid sharing!
Article Source: http://www.bizymoms.com/expert-advice
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