Roommate advice

[misssullyinc]

So I only got accepted Saturday woohoo and I've already found 4 out of my 5 roommates. We've been talking, we all have so much in common and get along great!

I'm worried about chores and I don't want to bring it up and be a debby downer. But I do feel something needs to be said. Alumni or parents of alumni/current DCPers...how would you split it up? Chore wheel? Obviously everyone cleans up after themselves, but I know certain things will have to be done (sweeping, cleaning the bathroom, etc.) and I want to pass inspection. Any tips?

 

[::Snow_White::]

Alumni here and I do think it's a good thing to have a talk about chores and split things up week to week. We didn't talk about chores and in a perfect world everyone would do their part but trash was left everywhere, only certain people would take out the trash, or leave their dishes for days, etc so DO IT.

The best way would probably be to either set up where one roommate does one chore every few days (whatever they like best? vacuum, trash, etc) and continue that the entire time. Or split up days and say today is my, Emily, or Jess's day to take the trash out and have a calendar on the fridge.

I wouldn't split up the dishes task if you're only using the sink. Just set limits where each person cleans their own dishes. If you use the dishwasher split up who empties it when. For personal room chores I'd talk about that between your roommates. Once a week have someone clean the area, vaccuum and someone else do it the next week. Usually you'll know about when inspections are and can figure out what building they are in so you know approximately when to get down to business. Then maybe just say hey just keep everything tidy since they're coming around.

I'd get up everyday at 6 and take out the trash/empty the dishes/wipe down kitchen when I knew it was inspections time. They are pretty strict.

 

[misssullyinc]

And do all of us have to be there for the inspection?

 

[Albion218]

Nope. Technically there doesn't have to be anyone home for inspection. Chances are you'll be out working when it happens.

 

[Zooshoveller]

Not Disney, but when I was in college I had 3 roommates. We divided everything up into 4 areas of chores and we rotated every week. So one week I was in charge of trash, the next week I was responsible for sweeping/vacuuming, etc. We all tried to be mindful and pick up after ourselves, but sometimes you just have a bad week. It happens to everyone and in the end everything was even.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Nobody has to be there, but they can. However, they come whenever they want and you can't really turn them away. My suitemate and I left to get groceries early, around 8 and my roommates told us when we returned they woke them all up and walked in on them sleeping.

Another time though, 2 of my roommates were asleep, 2 were awake and the inspectors didn't even enter the room that they were sleeping so who actually knows?