It is almost inevitable to attend college and not have roommates at least once. It is also unavoidable that a few strangers moving in together (or even friends trying to live together for the first time) disagree on something, even if it's minor. In the worst situations, some roommates get into avoidable arguments or altercations. Your dorm or apartment is your home for the time being, and it is important to feel comfortable and safe in your space.

Here are five tips to consider to avoid roommate drama.

1. Set Dorm/Apartment Norms on or Before Move-In Day

It is important to set norms for the household as soon as possible so there is no room for misunderstanding. Even if you already know your roommates, living together will be different. People are raised differently and may have grown up with varying household expectations. What one roommate may think is cool may make another feel uncomfortable. With as many as four people coexisting in the same space, adapting to rotating turns for the bathroom and kitchen while having more trash and dishes to take care of can cause tension. Establish early on how to divide household chores and how each person feels about sharing.

2. Always Maneuver Respectfully

Once you all have established house rules, it is important to respect each person's wishes. With any action you take, move respectfully to avoid conflict and misunderstandings. An example of respectful behavior includes becoming familiar with each other's schedules. If your roommate has an early class or a test coming up, instead of blasting music on a speaker, replace it with headphones. Also, make sure to ask before borrowing items or taking snacks.

3. Honor Each Other's Wishes

Honoring your roommate's wishes shows that you care about how they feel and understand that you all share a home. Everything cannot be tailored to one person's liking. Instead, a compromise of wants and needs makes everyone comfortable. When your roommate tells you their preference, try to follow it. Honoring wishes can relate to stuff that does not directly impact your roommate but may make them unhappy. For example, if your roommate tells you they would prefer not to share items or are not comfortable with your guest sleeping on the couch since it is their stuff and home, you should honor their wishes to avoid conflict. At the same time, while respecting your roommate's wishes, make sure others meet yours too.

4. Get Acquainted; Be Friendly

Knowing your roommate will help you learn more about them, making it easier to live authentically in your home. There are cases where roommates talk about how they do not say hello or never hang out. While becoming best friends is not required, it will make for a more positive environment by speaking when you see each other. Caring about small aspects of a roommate's life can also form a connection. This will help avoid conflict because friendliness makes the environment a comfortable place to voice concerns and be nice to the people you have to see daily.

5. Resolve Any Conflict Immediately, Don't Wait

Sometimes conflict is inevitable. When a conflict arises, try to address any issues as soon as possible and directly. Consider taking a cool-off period if emotions are particularly intense. Not seeking a resolution to a problem causes uneasy feelings when maneuvering around the home. It can also lead to other unavoidable drama. Talking to roommates or friends about the incident instead of talking with the person about an issue can lead to messy friendships and affect the home's entire dynamic. Just because conflict arises does not mean it's the end of the world. Finding a resolution and applying these aforementioned tips can keep conflict from reoccurring.

Is rooming with friends really the way to go?

On the surface, the easiest way to avoid roommate drama may be to live with people with whom you have existing friendships. This usually seems cool at first but then goes left, hurting the friendship. Often, friends are comfortable with each other, which leads to overstepping boundaries. Friends should follow the same tips above if living together.

For example, when your friend group hangs out, it's never been an issue to borrow a comb or share a snack. While your friend is in class and can't respond to a text, you may think it may be okay to go ahead and borrow something, but in reality, it isn't. Living together does not allow space between your friend group if you already hang out a lot.

If you choose to live with friends, be extra mindful of each other's personal space to avoid unnecessary conflict. Remain open-minded about living with new people since your friends are near campus anyway.