Young women playing video games
During your college journey, you’re likely to have a wide range of different experiences. One unique experience will likely be the people you live with when you choose an off-campus living situation. Not only will you probably not be living with the same people again after school, you almost certainly won’t be living with as many people as you might in college.
In order to save money, it’s common for college students to take three, four or even eight housemates to cut down on the costs of living off-campus. However, living with a large group brings its own set of challenges, which require some smart planning among everyone who will be living in the home.
The good news is that if you take the time to plan things out, your experience in one of the Ohio University rental houses in Athens can be one of the best of your life. Here’s what you need to consider!
Communicate and Don’t Overpack
When you’re sharing your home with multiple people, you’re likely going to find that space is at a premium. Just as you’re going to want to have your own things available, so too are the rest of your housemates. If you find yourself in a fight for space, you’re going to be in a lot of fights throughout the year.
Instead, just pack what you need to live comfortably and figure out which community items you’re each going to be bringing. If you’ve got a set of quality cooking supplies, for example, it might not be necessary for your housemates to pack their own cooking supplies if you can share them adequately. The less that you have to bring, the more space you’ll have for the necessities.
Get on the Same Page
Friends marking their first day as flatmates
One of the easiest ways to make a living experience miserable is when some housemates have one idea for the home and others have a totally different idea. Case in point: a lot of college students enjoy throwing parties on weekends, especially when they’re new to living off campus. But not everyone likes the idea of planning and hosting a party and then cleaning up afterward.
Before you move into your university off campus housing in Athens, make sure your housemates share some similar interests to your own. You’ll enjoy your experience much more.
Set up a Calendar
Here’s a sure source of conflict: Person A wants to invite friends over to watch a big game while Person B has a big test in the morning. A calendar can fix this by letting everyone know what’s coming up. As soon as a major event is known, it can go on the calendar so everyone can plan accordingly. If one person has a test and needs to rest, someone else can make plans to watch the game at a friend’s house, maximizing enjoyment for both.
Living with a lot of housemates can seem daunting at first, but it can be a lot of fun when it’s done right. If you’re smart about choosing your group, your experience in one of the university rental houses in Athens will be one of the best in your life, and you might even stay friends long after you’ve graduated!
