If you share your Columbia rental house with others, you know how problematic it can be to keep things immaculate. Whether living with roommates or family members, you’ll need everyone to pitch in and help to keep your house uncluttered. What is more, you’ll need to make sure that everyone in the house knows who is responsible for which chores and when those chores need to be done. This is where a chore chart can come in handy. By observing a few simple steps, you can assemble a chore chart that will keep your rental home in good shape at all times – something both you and your Columbia property manager will value.
Define “Clean”
First and foremost, the way to create an effective chore chart is to ensure that everyone doing chores has the same definition of “clean.” Several people may have very different ideas about what it means to clean different areas of the house. If you and a roommate or family member have different ideas about what “clean” is, that can lead to excessive friction in the home. To prevent tension, make sure you talk about expectations ahead of time.
Make a List
Next, it’s time to list each chore that must be made. It’s best to do this as a group and make an effort to make it as comprehensive a list as possible. Make sure first to agree that each person in the house is responsible for their belongings, bedroom, and private bathroom (if this relates). Then start making a list of chores for everything else. Include both indoor and outdoor tasks, and try to be as specific as possible. For example, instead of simply placing “clean the kitchen,” think about listing out the different elements that should be cleaned in the kitchen. This will help reduce confusion and resentment if certain things get overlooked.
Create Your Chart
With your list of chores in hand, it’s time to start creating your chore chart. You can purchase a whiteboard or corkboard to serve as your chart or use a large piece of paper or poster board. Make it as simple or as elaborate as you like, as long as you can see, and delegate tasks to each household member.
Assign Specific Chores
Once your chart is prepared, you can then assign tasks. One of the most excellent ways to begin is to encourage each person to volunteer to do chores they enjoy. Perhaps one roommate hates washing dishes but doesn’t mind vacuuming carpets. Another alternative is to divide tasks by room and have each person responsible for cleaning one room weekly. This may work for lighter cleaning, but deep cleaning might be easier to tackle if everyone helps out. You can separate the work in any way that makes sense for you and those living with you but ensure that it is fair and that each person’s chores are assigned.
Set Deadlines
An effective chore chart guarantees that tasks are completed on time. Along with assigning chores, it is important to set deadlines for when each assignment is to be completed. This can help hold each person accountable for their designated tasks and ensure that all the chores are done regularly.
Follow Up
Finally, it’s important to remember that no chore chart is ideal right out of the gate. Instead, collaborating on household chores is a process that will continue to evolve. Therefore, meeting regularly to discuss what’s working and address any problems that may have happened is important. Being proactive with your follow-up can help hold off arguing or bad feelings that may otherwise result.
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Originally Published on July 31, 2020
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