If you have just signed the lease for one of the 2 bedroom apartments in Ventura, then you might be sharing your space with someone else soon. While you may be able to live alone in such a big space, there is also the possibility that you will need to have a roommate - and that is totally okay.

Having a roommate is a smart move and a great way to save yourself money and also have some company too. But there are certain things that you should remember in order to get along well with your new roomie. If it’s a stranger or someone you have known very well for the majority of your life, you need to follow a few simple rules when you move in with your roommate.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

This is the first and probably most important rule that you have to remember when you are living with a roommate. Even if it’s someone you have been close to since childhood, you definitely need to communicate clearly and often with your roommate. Right from the beginning, establish open and honest dialogue.

Talk about expectations that you both have, preferences, rules, and potential issues. You need to craft and maintain the sort of environment where everyone feels comfortable talking. If you don’t have this sort of open energy, it’ll only lead to conflicts in the future.

Creates Boundaries

What are boundaries and why do you need them? Essentially, they are rules and expectations that you can set with your roommate. They are things that you should both follow. Things about chores, guests, quiet hours, and other things that need to be addressed when you’re sharing this sort of space. During this time, talk about how you can handle different situations when you don’t see eye to eye and what both of you will and won’t do.

Share Your Responsibilities

This isn’t just your space and it’s not just your roommate’s either. To that end, both of you should carry the weight, take care of chores, and address the responsibilities of the apartment. It’s up to both of you to keep things tidy, in order, and feeling comfortable. From trash to dishes to vacuuming and other things, not one person should be doing it all. This is definitely a case where you both need to share often.

Respect Privacy

You may be best friends with your roommate. But even then, you need to be sure that everyone has their fair share of alone time. Privacy is vital, no matter how big a space you have in your apartment. By doing this, you will ensure that both of you want to remain close and won’t start getting on each other’s nerves.