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The Pros and Cons of Living with Someone
Getting a one-bedroom apartment or luxury studio will officially kick off a new chapter in your life. You’ll have new neighbors, make new friends, and will have a world of brand-new amenities at your disposal. However, with cost of living expenses continuing to go up year-over-year, there’s one question that renters continually ask themselves before signing their lease agreement: “Should I get a roommate?”
If you’re shopping for apartments in Lenexa, Kansas, consider this short list of pros and cons to help you make your decision as to whether or not to split the lease agreement. There are some definite advantages to living with someone else, but it’s not without its fair share of risks.
Pro #1 – Cut the Financial Burden in Half
Perhaps the biggest advantage of rooming with another person in a one-bedroom apartment or luxury studio is that you’ll get to split your rent. Not only that, you’ll be able to split things like the cable/internet bill, utilities, and other living-related expenses such as cleaning supplies and toiletries. From a purely financial standpoint, having a roommate is a win-win situation for both of you.
Being able to cut your living expenses in half is the main reason that most people decide to get a roommate in the first place. With all that additional money you’re not spending back in your pocket, you have more disposable income to pay off student loan debt, invest, or spend on recreational activities and vacations.
Con #1 – Total Privacy Goes Out the Window
Although having a roommate is advantageous from a financial standpoint, you definitely forfeit some of the benefits of living alone. The main one is privacy. If you live in a two or three-bedroom apartment, this isn’t so much of an issue since you’ll each have your own space to go to when you want to be alone. In a one-bedroom or studio apartment, getting alone time can be trickier.
Keep that in mind when you shop for apartments to rent. If one of you has a habit of staying out late or keeps unusual hours for work, the other person might find this disruptive. Additionally, if both of you are on the same exact schedule, then that means figuring out the logistics of the routine, such as who gets to shower first in the morning.
Try to hammer out the details of how your roommate lives before you sign a lease agreeing to live with them. It can save you a lot of trouble down the line.
Pro #2 – Sometimes Two is Better Than One
Even though having a roommate means giving up complete and total privacy, there are definitely some advantages to having another person around. First and foremost, you get to split the household chores, so keeping your luxury studio apartment clean should be a breeze. Having a second person around can also make your life easier in some ways. For example, let’s say that you need to go out of town for a work trip and need someone to look after your pet. Your roommate can do that for you, which saves you money on the cost of boarding it. Finding ways to make each other’s lives more convenient is one of the best parts of having a roommate. There’s also the benefit of always having company around to spend time with.
Con #2 – Sometimes Personalities Clash
Putting two or more people in a shared space can be delightful, a disaster, or somewhere in the middle. Most of the time, it’s somewhere in the middle. You’ll bicker about small things here and there, but for the most part, you’ll get along with your roommate famously.
However, there are some rare cases where roommates simply don’t mesh. Perhaps one of you is very particular about keeping the apartment clean while the other is perfectly fine with living in a mess. The best way to get in front of these personality clashes is by getting them on the table early. Hopefully, you’ve known your future roommate for a very long time and already have a good idea of what their quirks are. If that’s not the case, then you should dig in a little deeper on the subject to see if you two are a good match.
When in doubt, ask more questions. Most personality clashes happen because the two people moving in together didn’t talk things through before signing their lease.
Schedule Your Personal Guided Viewing at The Villas at Waterside Today!
If you (and your future roommate) are ready to see some of the finest luxury apartments in Lenexa, KS, then it’s time to book your tour here at The Villas at Waterside. Our smart apartments are brand new and come in a variety of spacious floorplans. We also have an extensive list of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, and a paw spa and bark park for your pups.
The best way to book a private tour of The Villas at Waterside is to send us a message using the Contact Us form. Simply let us know you’d like to schedule a viewing and a member of our team will get back to you.
Or, you can call us directly at 913-521-9550 to speak with someone in our leasing office. We are open Monday thru Sunday and conduct viewings by appointment-only to ensure staff availability.