It is not always fun and games living with a group of friends. Weekly games night can soon turn sour if someone has disobeyed the household rules. Here are some ideas you can implement to ensure things run smoothly in your share house.
Firstly, it is super important to establish a set of ground rules early on. It is also important to have open communication with your housemates on a daily basis. This will ensure there are no awkward run-ins or any bottled up feelings.
TOP TIPS TO KEEP THE PEACE
MAKE A ROSTER
Cleaning, cooking, whatever it may be, make a roster and take turns sharing the load. Write it up and stick on the fridge for everyone to refer back to. This will help keep things fair and will help avoid finger pointing. When it comes to creating the roster, try and keep things to a weekly schedule rather than a daily schedule and split the weekly tasks evenly, so you aren’t having to devote an entire day to complete all the tasks.
TAKE TURNS TO BUY STAPLES
Try and keep grocery shopping individual, however, that being said, no household needs three bottles of tomato sauce. Try making a monthly schedule and taking it in turns to buy staple items such as glad wrap, cooking oil, frequently used condiments and even toilet paper.
SET HOUSE RULES
This one is really a no brainer. Make sure you set house rules to promote harmonious living. They could be as simple as cleaning as you go, packing the toaster away or even wiping down the bench after breakfast. By setting these rules and sticking to them, you can ensure everyone is pulling their weight.
BE MINDFUL
When living with others it is important to be mindful of their living habits. If you want to have a guest over, make sure you get approval before they arrive. The same idea goes in regards to noise. Your housemates might not appreciate you blasting the tunes at 8am on a Sunday morning (or night for that matter).
JUST SPLIT IT (EVENLY OF COURSE!)
In order to keep things fair when paying for things such as utilities, your best option is to just split it evenly. However, if these services are not being used evenly (e.g. one housemate works from home so uses more wifi) it is important to review your agreement.
DECORATING A SHARE HOUSE
Is living in a share house cramping your style? Well, it doesn’t have to! Here are some tips and tricks for decorating that will make your and your housemates’ house proud, without breaking the bank.
STYLISH ESSENTIALS
You can pick up some stylish and beautifully designed essentials like toasters, kettles and other kitchen appliances for such reasonable prices. You’d be surprised how much these pieces can impact and transform your kitchen.
Our top picks:
- Sunbeam 1.7L Coastal Kettle – $69
- Sunbeam 4 Slice Coastal Toaster – $69
- Espresso Coffee Machine – $89
SPLIT THE COSTS
You are all going to benefit, so it is only fair to divvy up the costs. However, it is also important to make a list of things you absolutely need to avoid overspending and buying items you do not have the room for.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
It is easy to go overboard and want to try all the newest interior trends, however, they tend to go in and out of style and can become dated extremely quickly. Even if the pieces are extremely affordable, it can end up costing you more in the long run if you are constantly wanting to keep up with the trends. To keep things safe, opt for a natural colour scheme that will work in various spaces and will last season to season.
Our top picks:
STORAGE AND SPACE SAVERS
Living in a share house it is likely that you are short on space. When furniture shopping, try and choose functional and multipurpose pieces of furniture. Also, look for items that will save you space, whilst still looking good.
Our top picks:
So there you have it! Living in a share house doesn’t always have to come with the horror stories. By implementing these tips and tricks you can live in a beautiful and harmonious home easily.
iThink Property has a team of real estate agents in Ipswich and Toowoomba offering property sales and property management services. With a passion for people and property, iThink Property was conceived with the notion of building a team of good people to work in a real estate brand that did things differently. iThink Property focuses on transparency, communication, innovation and teamwork and has become a leading independent brand with unique points of difference. So whether you are thinking of buying, selling or renting, think iThink Property.
TAYLAH ANTONIOLLI – MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
07 3202 3040
A go getter and doer, Taylah is a no excuses, get the job done kind of girl. With a strong work ethic and high attention to detail, Taylah is happy to help out wherever she can. Armed with a degree in business specialising in marketing and public relations Taylah brings fresh ideas and innovation to the iThink team.
TAYLAH ANTONIOLLI – MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR