If you’re looking to move out of wherever you are now–whether that is in an apartment by yourself or your parents’ house–know that living with roommates is a great way to save money and still afford a nice place.
The aspect you need to contend with, though, is that there is at least one other person sharing your living space with you, and you may or may not know these people.
But still, saving that money is important. Maybe you’re saving up to start looking at homes for
sale in Vancouver. If you want to get there, you first must learn to get along with your roommates. This is common-sense stuff, but if this is your first time living with others, and you need some pointers, don’t worry: we have you covered.

Here are three great tips for living with roommates:

Get to Know Them
This one just comes with the territory. If you’re going to be living with others, then you should get
to know who they are as people. There is a lot of trust involved here. After all, the space will be
theirs, but it will be yours, too. You have to know that everything will be fine while you’re
sleeping and unaware.
Get to know your potential roommates before committing to anything, and you’ll be better off.

Communicate
Just like in a marriage, communication is key. Sharing an apartment or house means more than just sharing the rent. It also entails putting in group effort to upkeep the space.
If you don’t like your roommates’ messy habits, you have to say something. There is always a nice way to do and say everything, so there’s no need for accusatory language. But if something isn’t to your liking, communicate to your roommates that you want them to do their part to clean up after themselves. Respectful dialogue will go a long way toward building better relationships with your roommates.

Respect Them, Too
If you’re sharing a living space, remember that, while you yourself have needs, so do your roommates. They may come to you with a request or two, and you should consider what they are and do your best to accommodate.
But then, you should also go out of your way to be considerate of your roommates without them having to ask for something. If they wake up early for a job, try not to have a party late at night.
Think of their needs before they have to come to you, and they will appreciate and respect you for it.

Quite a great tip, right? Have you tried living with a roommate? Share your experience in the comment box below. 👇