Smart Strategies for Living With a Short-Term Work Roommate

Before you agree to be a roommate with someone for even one week, make sure that you are both compatible at a basic level. If someone is excessively messy but you only feel comfortable when things are tidy, you should know that right away. You would probably just make each other unhappy in that scenario. So prepare a list of basic questions to ask your potential roommate.

Some of the questions may include: 

These are just a few of the hundreds of possible questions you may want to ask. To avoid overwhelming potential roommates, try to prioritize three to 10 questions to ask on your first meeting. 

As you adjust to life with the roommate of your choice, continue to ask open-ended questions and try to get to know each other. Always ask whether they are okay with your choices that impact the household. Ask before painting or redecorating a shared area. When possible, honor your roommate's preferences. 

If you want to develop a true friendship with your roommate or simply feel a mutual warmth while you are living together, be generous. That doesn't mean that you need to share all your food, detergent, and shampoo with your roommate. However, if you make the first effort to share  and be generous, you'll probably encourage your roommate to do the same.

Although friendliness should be the norm between roommates, you are under no obligation to be friends with your roommate. You don't owe them explanations for what you do outside the apartment, and you also don't owe your roommate your personal attention while you're home. Set clear boundaries with your roommate from the start and try to be communicative about them.

Have a discussion about drugs or alcohol. Find out where your roommate stands with these issues. If a roommate casually drinks outside the home, you may not have any right to weigh in on the matter. On the other hand, if your roommate plans to have gatherings in the home where they serve alcohol, that's an entirely different matter. Come to a mutual agreement on what should be allowed. 

Many roommates feud over who pays which portion of certain bills. Talk about any bills that you expect to share with your roommate. If you pay for a high-quality internet connection so you can work from home, let your roommate know if they are allowed to use it. If so, be clear about whether you expect any compensation for providing an internet connection.

When you plan to share a corporate housing situation, you might not realize that you may need to pay for optional services beyond the utilities. Setting clear expectations on who is expected to pay what can help you avoid arguments with your new roommate. 

Finally, contact Corporate Relocation, Inc., today for your relocation needs. We help with short-term and long-term rentals for those who move for work or are otherwise in need of temporary housing. We can help you and your roommate find the perfect housing situation to meet both your needs and wants for your new home.