Whether you have young adult children still trying to afford an apartment or older parents on a fixed income, multi-generational living is a typical event for many Spring Hill renters. Actually, the number of multi-generational households in the United States is growing. According to the Pew Research Center, one in five Americans currently live in multi-generational homes, a number that has risen dramatically in the last few decades. Even though there are several advantages to different generations of family members sharing a home, some challenges can make it stressful occasionally. Here are a couple of valuable tips you can take right now to assist with keeping things working well for everyone.
Communication is Key
Sharing a house might result in a lot more time together. However, it may also lead to little everyday annoyances that can breed resentment if left neglected. Whether you’re living with parents, adult children, or both, it’s important to communicate regularly and transparently with each member of the household. Try to avoid passive-aggressive “hints” or tactics – they are infrequently effective. Rather, choose to have open discussions about boundaries, personal habits, schedules, and anything else that will affect the whole family. It could seem difficult in the beginning, but the more you communicate, the better off everyone will be in the future.
Define Responsibilities
While combining households can help everyone save money, it’s still vital to discuss who’s responsible for the cost and work of keeping up the home with your family members. To make a multi-generational household work, it’s imperative to clearly define who is responsible for what. For illustration, everyone in the family should know who will pay for what and how much. The same thing applies to cleaning and maintenance of the home. Each member should have assigned responsibilities and tasks that help contribute to the smooth running of the house. Try following this list from AARP to guarantee that you’ve covered all the important topics. When everyone has a directly defined role and set of responsibilities, daily living will be a lot more fun for all family members.
Protect Privacy
Living together in a house may make it difficult to have adequate privacy and personal space. However, these elements are a necessary part of long-term happiness. No matter what size your current living situation may be, it’s advisable to do all you can to guarantee that each family member has a way to create and enjoy a little private space. Even in shared rooms, you can hang curtains or use other dividers to provide extra privacy, if necessary. At that time, if things start to feel too crowded, take time to get out of the house and do hobbies you enjoy. Push your family members to do the same. A little time away may do great for a tense situation.
Set Realistic Expectations
While you may love your parents and adult children, the chances are that it will take time and a lot of patience to make a living together a pleasant experience for everyone. Families can grow together if given the support and compassion each person needs. Try not to dwell on small irritations, and instead, celebrate the little victories and good things about having your family under one roof. By stages, you can work on having good communication and peaceful coexistence that will make your multi-generational home a pleasant place to be.
If your current rental home is too small for your multi-generational family, it may be time to trade up! Contact Real Property Management Connection to see what our professional Spring Hill property managers have to offer, or view our listings online.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
