More than likely your roommate is almost a complete stranger to you and now you will be living in close proximity. Sharing a home is a unique relationship that requires a bit more communication and consideration than an average friendship. Asking some of these questions will help set you up for a more comfortable and successful relationship with your roommate(s).
1. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Knowing each other’s wake and sleep preferences is essential to getting to know each other as people. I believe that this is the most important thing to know when sharing a space with someone.2. What items are you comfortable sharing?
Mini fridge? Cleaning supplies? Hair dryer? Clothes? In a small space, it doesn’t make sense to have duplicates of certain things. (Tip: Naz Residential Life recommends only one fridge per room. Two is the max.) This is also a great way to set some healthy boundaries.3. How will we keep things tidy?
When sharing a relatively small space, it is essential to keep things in their places. A few things out of place can make a room feel cluttered, so talk about how you will organize your things. Additionally, if you have shared spaces like a bathroom, decide on cleaning schedules or rotating chores.
4. What is your preferred communication style?
This is something I learned from my internship course this summer. Finding out how someone communicates best will set you up for a stronger relationship. Whether it’s face-to-face, over text, written notes, or even via email, being able to get important messages across is key.5. When are you most productive?
Similar to question #1, understanding how someone else operates on a day-to-day basis will give you some idea of when they will be out and about or studying the most. If you have the same or different productive hours of the day, you can plan around each other for the best schedule.
