Sharing an Apartment

Planning on sharing an apartment? Here are ten topics to discuss with your new roommate BEFORE you sign the lease.

1. (If you are finding a new place together) Describe your ideal apartment: what kind of furniture, cable/internet access, location, etc.?

2. Do you have any pets? Plan on getting any? Mind if I get any?

3. Do you have a lot of guests? Any overnight guests? How often does your family visit?

4. How loud do you usually turn up music/television, and at what hours? Are there any specific hours you prefer to be "quiet time?"

5. What are your standards for cleanliness in common areas? Where do you usually put dirty dishes? How often are dishes done?

6. How do you plan on handling various bills and expenses such as utilities, groceries, cable, etc.?

7. What kind of hours do you usually keep? What times of day and days of the week are you most often home?

8. Do you like to be sociable, or prefer to be left alone most times? Do you like to be "taken care of" or left alone when you aren't feeling well?

9. Do you smoke? Drink? Get drunk? Use drugs? Will you allow smoking inside the apartment?

10. Is there anything else about your lifestyle (religion, sexuality, restrictive diet, medical conditions) that I should take into account?

Apartment Renting

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