Making the Decision
Do you want a roommate? Or do you need to live with a roommate? What are the pros and cons of staying with a roommate? What do you need to consider when looking for a roommate? And what are the issues that you need to get settled before you move in? Let me share some pros and cons of the living with roommates. These are some of the observations I made in eight months of sharing room experience with my roommate when I am staying in a Miami apartment. As a whole it was a nice experience for both of us. At times we used to have some small issues but we resolved in no time as they arrived between us.
The Pros:
It’s often cheaper as costs (rent, utilities, food) are split
· Household chores are a shared responsibility
· You can often afford a bigger apartment with more living space if you split the costs
· A roommate can assuage loneliness
The Cons:
· A perceived (if not real) lack of privacy
· Someone else’s problems can become yours
· You’re relying on someone else honoring his or her obligations like to pay rent, to pay utilities, etc.
· There is always the potential for disputes, even with a friend.
It all depends on how understanding is your roommate and how you understand your roommate.