The Great Apartment Shower Share

October 9th, 2008 by Matt DiChiara| Posted in Roommates | 11 Comments »

After examining our internal search data, we discovered a 20 percent increase in the percentage of renters looking for 3 bedroom apartments between Q1 and Q2 this year. We fully expect this number to increase in the coming months, as renters start looking for ways to cut costs as the economic crisis accelerates towards uncharted territory.

As renters move out of studios and 1 bedroom apartments and into 3 bedroom apartments and homes for rent, one question to be considered is how many bathrooms you will need to accommodate the morning routines of residents.

Most apartments that have at least 3 bedrooms have at least 1 full bathroom and one half bathroom. This is usually adequate for 3-4 people at most times of the day, but in the morning, things can get pretty busy, especially if there is only one shower available and everyone has to be at work around the same time.

It’s usually stressful enough waking up in the morning and dealing with the treacheries of the morning commute, be they waiting for intermittent buses, crowded subways, excruciating traffic or bad weather for those who rely on our legs to get to work. Everything must be perfectly timed to balance the maximization of available sleep with a timely work arrival.

These People All Share One Shower

Given the goal, or rather, necessity of an efficient at home morning routine, the ratio of bathrooms to renters is not as crucial as the ratio of showers per rent.

Taking this all into consideration, it is an absolute amazement that a San Francisco apartment with 5 permanent, employed residents are able to share only one shower and all manage to simultaneously remain hygienic and punctual in the mornings.

Not only do these 5 permanent residents share one shower, but their apartment typically hosts a wide variety of “friends in transition,” which of course can also mean lovable scamp or delightful vagabond. This apartment has been known to house up to 8 people simultaneously, all during the working week.

How is all this even possible? Perhaps they have all lived in hostels and are accustomed to communal living. If I had to share one shower with my three other roommates, riding the bus would be an absolute pleasure compared to the shower line. There would also probably be upwards of 25 bottles of what appear to be the same thing in one shower.

What are your experiences with the shower to bedroom ratio and the morning routine?

Would you move into an apartment with 3 or more bedrooms with only one shower?