About Sylvia Bergthold Expertise I can answer questions dealing with roommate situations including compatability, leases, placing roommate wanted ads, what you have to offer to a roommate, sharing of utilities and other services, interviewing techniques and questions, some legal aspects of housesharing, clearance information, etc.
Experience I have had roommates in my home for over 32 years and am the author of:
"SORRY, THE BOA HAS GOTTA GO!" A Roommate Survival Guide
Publications The Los Angeles Times, The HB-FV Independent, The Arizona Tribune, Lansing Michigan Rental Guide, Roommate Locator Newsletter, The Plain Dealer,, Las Vegas Sun, Apartment Lifestyles Magazine, Instyle Magazine, The Whiz.com, Cosmopolitan, Under 25, The Portsmouth Herald
Question My roommate and I moved to a new city together as friends/good acquaintances. We both moved across the country and therefore needed to furnish the entire apartment. We split the cost of the couch/love seat/chair set, which came to $1400. I paid for the couch and my roommate is deducting monthly bills from the amount owed. We now have each paid half the amount.
I'm moving out of the apartment in a week, and although I don't want to take the furniture with me, I do feel that I should be compensated in some way. On the other hand, I've brought this up with my roommate and she has told me she is strapped for cash and doesn't know how to handle this situation. I don't really want to 'rock the boat.'
Any suggestions?
Answer Hi Julie
This is a major problem when roommates decide to furnish a place in this manner. Women do this more often then men. Men just pick up stuff at the Goodwill Store or garage sales and don't have this to deal with when they go their separate ways.
I strongly advise against splitting costs of furniture in my Roommate Survival Guide and now you understand the reason behind it.
I also understand a place has to be furnished. I usually recommend one roommate buys the couch, another buys the tables and lamps etc. You own it and are NOT splitting the cost or the ownership of it. Now you have the problem of WHO OWNS IT? You can't split a couch, or table or lamp. But you both own it equally. There is NO equitable way of splitting anything like this.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Leave all the furniture with your roommate and draw up a monthly payment plan for her to pay you. Make it small amount every month.
2. Take all the furniture with you and pay her a lump sum or payments. Just remember that the furniture is NOT worth as much today as when you bought it. That is the problem with buying stuff like this. It depreciates. That is why they have garage sales.
3. Sell it at a garage sale and whatever you get for all of it, split it between the two of you. However, you will NOT get a whole lot of money because it is used.
That's it....sorry I couldn't be more help here. I really HATE this type of situation. And the big thing is you want to remain friends with your roommate so you don't want to force anything.... I guess it comes down to how much is your friendship worth vs how much is the furniture worth.
Good Luck
Sincerely
Sylvia Bergthold
www.aroommatesurvivalguide.com
