Whether you have young adult children still trying to afford an apartment or older parents on a fixed income, multi-generational living is a frequent scenario for many Merritt Island renters. In effect, the number of multi-generational households in the United States is increasing. According to the Pew Research Center, one in five Americans currently live in multi-generational homes, a number that has risen quickly in the last few decades. Even though there are some advantages to different generations of family members sharing a home, a couple of challenges can make it stressful occasionally. To help keep things working well for everyone, below are some beneficial tips you can utilize right now.
Communication is Key
Sharing a house may mean a lot more time together. But it can also cause little everyday annoyances that can breed resentment if left neglected. Regardless of whether you’re living with parents, adult children, or both, it’s important to communicate routinely and frankly with each member of the household. You need to stay away from passive-aggressive “hints” or tactics – they seldom succeed. As another alternative, decide on having candid discussions about boundaries, personal habits, schedules, and anything else that will affect the entire family. It may seem unpleasant from the beginning, but the more you communicate, the better off everyone will be as time goes on.
Define Responsibilities
While combining households can help everyone save money, it’s still necessary 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, make sure you clearly define who is responsible for what. For example, everyone in the family should know who will pay for what and how much. The same method is applicable to cleaning and maintenance of the house. Each person in the house should have assigned responsibilities and tasks that help contribute to the smooth running of the home. It is advisable to utilize this list from AARP to make sure you’ve covered all the important topics. Once each member has a properly defined role and set of responsibilities, the daily activities will be much more enjoyable for the entire family members.
Protect Privacy
Living together in a home can make having appropriate privacy and personal space a burden for everyone. Yet, these factors are a big part of long-term happiness. No matter what size your current living situation may be, make sure to do everything you can to ensure that each family member has a way to create and enjoy a bit of private space. Even in shared rooms, you may hang curtains or use other dividers to offer greater privacy if asked. Then, if things start to seem too crowded, make a way to get out of the house and do stuff you really appreciate. Encourage your family members to do the same. A bit of time away could assist greatly in a tense situation.
Set Realistic Expectations
While you may love your parents and adult children, the probabilities are that it will take time and more patience to make a living together a pleasant experience for everyone. Families can grow together if given the support and compassion each person wants. Try not to dwell on small irritations, and rather, celebrate the little victories and good things about having your family under one roof. Eventually, you can cope with having good communication and peaceful coexistence that will make your multi-generational home a delightful place to live in.
If your present rental home is too small for your multi-generational family, now is the right opportunity to trade up! Call Real Property Management Brevard to hear what our professional Merritt Island property managers have to offer, or read 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.
