Living with someone can complicate a relationship. Money issues can complicate it even further. My first roommate experience culminated in an explosive fight over money and unpaid utility bills. In order to avoid a disaster situation like mine, here are some tips to divide expenses between roommates so that money problems are never an issue.

Know your expenses
Before figuring out how you are going to divide up your expenses, you have to know what your expenses are. You’re most likely going to have utility bills, such as heat, electric, and cable. In addition to utility bills, think about shared household items such as paper towel, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies.

Start from the beginning
Part of the problem with my roommate situation was that we never discussed who was paying what and how we were going to go about dividing up the expenses of the apartment. When you move in, have a “family meeting” and discuss bills and expenses. My one roommate is in charge of all of the utility bills and my other roommates and I pay him at the end of the month. It’s an easy system that we have never had a problem with. I also have a friend who pays for the heat and electric bill and their roommate pays for the cable and Internet bill. Figure out the best system for you and your roommates and establish it early so each roommate knows where they stand and what they owe.

Have a communication system
If you’re the one in charge of the bills, ask your roommates early and often for their share of the bills so they have time to get you the money. Establish a communication system, such as a text message reminder at the end of the month or a calendar on the refrigerator or in a shared space to outline what everyone owes and when it’s due. Communication is key in any relationship and when money is involved, it’s best to be in constant communication so that no one is surprised.

What about rent?
The biggest shared expense for you and your roommates will be your rent. If one of your roommates is late with rent, it can affect your relationship with your landlord and can cause you to have to pay a late fee.  Look into paying your rent online. That way you won’t have to collect any rent from anyone at the end of the month. Your rent will just automatically be taken out of your account when it’s due.

Guest post by WilliamPaid.com. WilliamPaid lets renters & roomies pay rent online, automatically, with more flexibility and it’s FREE. Users can also build credit with each rent payment.

Here’s some great news if you’re looking to rent a Phoenix apartment: the average rent for an apartment is on the decline across the nation, and Phoenix is one of the cities leading the way in this trend.

According to an article in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the rent paid by tenants (which tends to be slightly lower than the rent asked by landlords due to haggling) fell by 1.5 percent, to an average of $967, when compared to similar data collected a year earlier.  The rent asked by landlords took a similar dip, decreasing by 1.6 percent to $1,027.

Another trend reported in the BusinessWeek article is the current rate of apartment vacancy, which has remained steady at 8 percent.  Still, this value represents the highest level of vacancy since such data began being tracked by Reis Inc., the supplier of all this data.

The twin developments of high apartment vacancy and falling rents can be attributed to a weakened economy.  However, it also represents a potential boon for those on the market to rent an apartment.  This holds even more true in cities like Phoenix, where these trends might be even more pronounced.

The other leaders in actual rent decline were, like Phoenix, metropolises of the West, with San Jose, Las Vegas, Seattle, and San Francisco all taking steeper dips.  Cities where rent increased the most, on the other hand, include Dayton, Colorado Springs, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio.

Phoenix is an indisputably great town, but no city is everybody’s cup of tea.  If you’re looking for an apartment for rent in a different place, you might want to try looking at Dallas apartments, Austin apartments, or Seattle apartments, all of which would situate you in a dynamic, growing city.  Of course, these are just a few of the locations you can browse using our apartment search tools.  Best of all, if you find a new apartment using our tool, you can earn up to $200 in apartment rewards.

Renting an Apartment Wisely

Apartment renting advice isn’t hard to find. Ask around, and we’re sure you’ll get a ton of great apartment renting tips. Everyone has stories, advice and “secrets” for apartment renting. And at the end of the year when a lot of people are at the end of their leases and trying to find an apartment for the new year, these renting tips can really come in handy.

Use Apartment Search Websites

There was an interesting article recently in the Denver Post that gave some tips for apartment renting. So what’s the number one tip on their list? They say, “Seek web help in picking apartment features.” They suggest using apartment finding websites for helping in renting the townhouse, condo or apartment complex that works for you. When using a site like ApartmentSearch.com, you can browse apartments for specific features, like number of bedrooms or laundry facilities. Following this apartment renting tip, says the article, is a great way to get an idea of how much you’ll be paying in rent and which neighborhoods may be a good fit for you.

Don’t Be Tricked into Renting by a Low Apartment Rent

Another helpful apartment renting tip from the Post is to avoid choosing an apartment based on perceived value. Basically, you don’t want to go renting an apartment just because it seems like a good deal without also considering location and features. For example, apartment renting in a dangerous neighborhood just because it has a low price might be a mistake.

Don’t Visit That Apartment – And Then Do

Calling an apartment manager before you stop by to check out an apartment complex is another useful renting tip from the Post. Their reasoning: Over the phone, you’ll be able to simply get a quote, without letting an apartment locator try to wow you by showing you around. You can compare this quote with what you found on the apartment search website you used too.

Of course, the Post also says that if it’s possible, make sure to visit prospective apartments yourself to get a feel for what you’d be renting. If you’re apartment renting for a long-distance corporate relocation or time is tight, you may find yourself renting an apartment blind.

Make Your Apartment Needs List Before Renting

One of our favorite apartment renting tips is to make a list of the features you’re looking for, the rent you can afford and where you’d like to live. As you look at apartments, take notes on what features each one offers so that when it comes time to go renting your new home, you’ll be able to reference which ones best fit what you’re looking for.

Following these apartment renting tips may mean a little more work, but the effort will really pay off when you find the perfect apartment for your needs!

In order to begin your apartment search, you will need to register at ApartmentSearch.com. This will allow you to see all of the apartments that fit your search criteria and take you one step closer to your new home.

Once You’ve Found the Perfect Apartment

The most important part of the Reward process is telling your apartment complex where you found them. Make sure you write down ApartmentSearch.com by CORT as the referral source on your rental application and you are on your way to a $200 Reward. At this point, you will want to let ApartmentSearch.com know that they helped you find your apartment. To do this, go onto www.ApartmentSearch.com and go to the ‚ “Claim Reward” tab, where you will find step by step instructions on how to claim your Reward.

How the Reward Works

You might be asking yourself, “What’s the catch?” Well, you will be pleased to know that there is no catch! When you source ApartmentSearch.com for finding your apartment, your apartment complex pays ApartmentSearch.com a referral fee. As a result, ApartmentSearch.com can provide you with a Reward as a thank you for using their site to find your apartment at no expense to you!

The Reward

The Reward is anywhere from $100 to $200. In most cases, you will get a $200 Reward, which consists of $100 in CORT Bucks and a $100 American Express card that you can use anywhere AMEX is accepted. You can use your CORT Bucks at any CORT Showroom nationwide to buy or rent furniture for your new apartment.

If you are in a city that offers a $100 Reward, that consists of $100 in CORT Bucks. The $150 Reward is $100 in CORT Bucks and a $50 AMEX card. Click for a list of cities and their corresponding rewards.

When Do I Receive My Reward?

Once ApartmentSearch.com has confirmed that you’ve signed your lease, they will send you your $100 CORT Bucks. This is convenient, so that you can get that last piece of furniture you need for your new place. You will receive your AMEX card once your apartment complex pays ApartmentSearch.com for the referral. Go ahead and allow around four to ten weeks to receive your AMEX card so that ApartmentSearch.com and your apartment complex can get all of the scores settled.

For more information, read the terms and conditions on claiming your reward and good luck finding your perfect place!