Who Does What?

To avoid roommate conflicts down the road, begin your experience together by deciding how you will coordinate various aspects of the household. I have found that most roommate conflicts are simply due to lack of communication. Following are some helpful items to discuss together to have a smooth-running apartment:

Food

• Will we rotate turns cooking dinner or other meals? If so, who will cook when, and who will be responsible for cleanup? What if someone cannot take their turn?

• Will any or all food be community property? Should we initial or mark food items?

Cleaning

• Who will do the dishes, vacuum, sweep and mop, wash windows and mirrors, clean the bathroom(s), take out the trash, and do other necessary tasks on a regular basis? You may want to post a cleaning rotation schedule.

Bathroom Use

• Should we organize a shower schedule to avoid conflicts?

Other

• How will we keep track of phone or other messages? Using a consistent method, such as a white board with a section for each roommate, can be helpful. (If you have cell phones, this may not be much of an issue.)

• Will one person be responsible for checking the mail each day, or should everyone have access to the mail key? Where is a safe, consistent place to leave each other’s mail so it doesn’t get misplaced?

• What will be our guidelines for visitors of the opposite sex?

• What are the expectations for keeping the doors locked and other security measures?

Taryn Nilsen, Utah

Illustration by Joe Flores