Shared Living & Home Maintenance Hat
Advice for students and people who are renting for the first time on how to live with others and take care of their homes.
You have to learn how to get around people and places when you live away from home, especially the first time. This means learning how to keep your home clean and get along with your roommates.
Write a Roommate Agreement Ahead of Time
Before you move in, write down what you expect:
The amount of rent and how the bills are split
Plans for cleaning and chores
Rules for guests and quiet hours
Rules for shared spaces like the kitchen and bathroom
Writing this down helps to make sure there are no misunderstandings in the future.
Keep the lines of communication open
Check in once a month to talk about problems, chores, and costs before they get too big.
Group Chats: Use Messenger or WhatsApp to send updates or set up schedules.
Be nice but honest: Take care of problems right away and focus on actions instead of people.
The Basics of Resolving Conflicts
Don't talk; just listen.
Don't point fingers; just use the facts.
Give in when you have to.
Tip: Shared living works best when empathy, flexibility, and respect are always present.
Basic Skills for Keeping Your Home Up
If you move out, no one will be there to change the lightbulb or clear the clogged sink for you unless you do it yourself.
Putting in a new light bulb
Turn off the lights.
Let the light bulb cool down.
To get rid of the old lightbulb, turn it counterclockwise.
Put the new light bulb in and turn it to the right.
Getting rid of a clogged drain
Use a drain snake or plunger first.
Stay away from strong chemicals because they can hurt pipes.
Check the P-trap, which is the U-shaped pipe under the sink, for anything that might be blocking it.
Using a heater
Know the settings for fan-only, cool, and hot.
Set it up so that it saves energy when you're not home.
Quick safety checks and maintenance
Check the smoke detectors every month.
Change the batteries once a year.
Find out where your water shut-off valve and circuit breaker are.
Tip: These small skills wow landlords, save money, and stop small problems from turning into big ones.
Note: You can hire professional service to have basic maintenance and cost will get split between you and roommates. For example, Move out cleaning, Cleaning bathroom once per month and so on..
Why This Matters
You'll feel more independent and sure of yourself in your new life away from home when you can live with someone else and fix things around the house without getting into fights.
