How to Build Trust With Your Roommate
Living with a roommate is a good way to have companionship and save money on a limited income, but roommate relationships come with their own set of conflicts and issues in addition to those of a regular friendship. Trust is an essential component in roommate relationships in order to ensure that living together is satisfactory to all parties. Conflict is unavoidable in most living situations, but building trust with your roommate and establishing meaningful ways to resolve conflict can go a long way toward a successful living situation.
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Instructions
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Compare your personality, lifestyle, likes and dislikes with that of your potential roommate. Identify potential conflicts based on your differences, and establish ground rules to hopefully avoid those types of conflicts.
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Consider a written agreement between you and your roommate that details policies regarding guests, social events, security, privacy, cleanliness and anything else that applies to your living situation. Writing down your agreements and understandings will serve as a point of reference and help build trust in the early days of living together.
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Adopt a policy of open communication and honesty with your roommate. If you become angry or annoyed about something your roommate does, let him know right away before the situation escalates.
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Respect your roommate's privacy and consider her room off limits to you and your guests.
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Refrain from using your roommate's belongings or eating their food without permission. While roommates often share items, it's better to ask permission ahead of time. Your roommate might be comfortable with you eating their chips, but not with borrowing their computer.
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Adopt a positive attitude wherever possible to make conflict resolution easier for you and your roommate. Avoid attacking each other or making it personal when discussing conflicts and possible solutions.
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Tips & Warnings
Honestly really is the best policy. If you make a promise to your roommate, follow through. Agree to tell the truth in all situations.
Consider the personal and financial ramifications when first choosing a roommate and while living together. Roommate relationships can end badly and sometimes result in the loss of a friendship in addition to financial harm.
