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"Dear Amy and Chambanamom: Thank you so much for writing to me and providing me with great suggestions before I jump in and take a renter into my home. The idea to think of this as a business deal set my head straight and helped me to see this potential situation through a different set of eyes. While I still haven&amp;#039;t quite decided whether or not to take this plunge (I&amp;#039;m leaning toward &amp;quot;yes&amp;quot;), if I were to do it, it would be a much more formal arrangement then I would have had it be initially. Chambanamom suggestion to sign a formal lease is a good one. Why not? It doesn&amp;#039;t have to be for a year; but maybe a short-term lease with both parties having the option to decease the agreement with a specific number of days notice. At least it will signify to both parties that this is a formal business deal, with a specified amount of rent and expectations that should be followed. It will also outline the &amp;quot;rules&amp;quot; that as someone who is allowing having another family into my home, would expect. They would include:  Rent being paid on the first of every month. No male overnight guests. (I do have children to think of.) Kitchen privileges are fine but she should keep her own food in her own refrigerator downstairs. She should use her own entrance to come and go. She will have her own designated parking &amp;quot;space.&amp;quot;  Other than that, I think that Amy pointing out that my electric bill will be sure to rise is important to note. I have lived in this home for eight years so I know pretty much exactly what the normal bills are during which months. I will have to discuss this with her and tell her that she will be responsible for the difference. I will still include the cable and telephone in the rent (my telephone plan includes all long-distance) so this should still save her a significant amount of money. Are there any other words of advice that you have for me? I love your suggestions! Keep them coming! "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/a42766/thank-you-my-rental-minded-readers-10798/>