The first few weeks of living together set the tone for everything that follows. Most household problems aren't caused by bad people. They're caused by conversations that never happened and agreements that were never actually agreed on.
This is the checklist I wish I'd had. Broken into phases so you can tackle it in order without getting overwhelmed.
Before You Move
Week -2 The Conversations
- Discuss how you'll split rent (equal, by room size, by income)
- Agree on what counts as shared expenses vs. personal
- Talk about guests: overnight visitors, parties, frequency
- Discuss noise expectations (work-from-home hours, music, quiet hours)
- Talk about pets (current or future)
- Discuss cleanliness standards honestly ("clean" means very different things to different people, and this will come up
- Agree on smoking/vaping rules indoors
Week -1 The Logistics
- Set up utilities in agreed-upon names (electricity, gas, water, internet)
- Get renter's insurance (individual policies, even if you share a home)
- Document the apartment's condition with dated photos (for move-out disputes)
- Agree on who brings what furniture to avoid duplicates
- Set up a shared household app for expenses, lists, and chores
- Create a shared grocery list with pantry staples
- Exchange emergency contacts
Move-In Week
Day 1-3 Setting Up
- Unpack shared spaces first (kitchen, bathroom, living room)
- Do a joint grocery run for household basics
- Set up Wi-Fi and share the password
- Assign fridge/pantry shelf space
- Set up bathroom storage (shelves, baskets per person)
- Agree on thermostat settings (seriously, this causes more fights than you'd expect)
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
Day 4-7 The Systems
- Set up a chore rotation (start simple: kitchen, bathroom, common areas, trash)
- Log recurring bills and assign them in your expense tracker
- Set up a shared calendar for household events and bill due dates
- Agree on a regular settle-up cadence for expenses (weekly or monthly)
- Pick a day for the first household check-in (2 weeks out)
- Share spare keys or set up a lockbox
First Month
Week 2-4 Adjusting
- Hold the first household check-in: what's working, what isn't?
- Adjust chore assignments based on actual experience
- Address any issues early (don't let things fester)
- Stock up on things you keep running out of
- Set up autopay for recurring shared bills
- If applicable: discuss a household emergency fund
- Do something fun together (housemates who genuinely like each other fight less about the dishes)
Ongoing
Monthly Maintenance
- Settle up expenses
- Quick household check-in (5-10 minutes is enough)
- Restock household supplies (cleaning products, toilet paper, etc.)
- Review and adjust chore rotation if needed
- Check upcoming lease dates, bill changes, or maintenance needs
The Tools That Make It Easy
The one consistent thing about households that run smoothly: everything is visible and as much as possible is automated. A shared app for expenses, shopping, and chores eliminates most "who was supposed to..." arguments before they start. A shared calendar prevents double-bookings. And a regular check-in catches small issues while they're still small.
The best time to set up these systems is before you unpack. The second-best time is today.
Set up your household in 30 seconds
homie gives you expenses, shopping lists, chores, and a calendar from day one. Share an invite code and everyone's connected.
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