Sharing your home with a Roommate, Romantic Partner or Spouse

Whether you are planning to jointly purchase a home with a close companion or are renting out your guest room to generate income, sharing your home with a properly vetted roommate is a great way to offset expenses, avoid feelings of isolation and it can be a very rewarding experience.

Whether your roommate is a friend, spouse, romantic partner or a stranger who answered your craigslist ad, the fundamentals of happy co-habitation are the same. It’s about setting expectations and keeping the lines of communication open.

With that in mind, here are some hot-button issues that are best addressed with a preemptive conversation and some basic ground rules.

Money

• Set clear expectations on how all monetary considerations will be handled.


• How will the rent or mortgage be handled? Include deadlines and late fees if they apply.


• How will the utilities and other shared household expenses be handled?


• What about things like toilet paper, dish soap and ketchup?

Household Chores

• Define unacceptable bad habits (dishes in the sink, socks on the floor, etc).


• Create an agreed upon plan for management of cleaning and household chores.

Use of Common Areas

• Assign Parking spots and discuss guest parking considerations.


• Define appropriate common area attire for residents and overnight guests.


• Allocate pantry space, closet space and other storage areas as needed.

Thermostat

• Agree on a comfortable temperature range for summer and winter.


• Make it clear whether roommates may or may not adjust the thermostat.

Volume

• Define the maximum volume for the TV, stereo and other electronic devices.


• Define agreed upon quiet hours and set volume parameters during quiet hours.

Fridge

• Create an agreed upon plan for how to manage the household groceries.


• Allocate fridge space if groceries are to be purchased separately.


• Discuss not-for-sharing grocery items and any special dietary considerations

If you are considering the joint purchase of a new home with a friend, romantic partner or spouse, call 480-279-0032 to discuss your mortgage options with a Boles Group at Bay Equity loan officer.

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Bay Equity Home Loans – Boles Group is a team of lending professionals located in Gilbert, Arizona and licensed to originate home loans for purchase or refinance in 11 states (AZ, CA, CO, Fl, GA, ID, MN, NM, NV, OR, WA). Boles Group lending professionals have the knowledge and experience to create solutions where other lenders create problems. The team prides itself on responsive, accurate communication and is highly regarded by clients and business associates alike.