7 Things You Want to Know Before Moving in With Your Partner
The number of unmarried individuals has increased over the years. Marriage may seem an outcome for some down the road, but many have cohabitated first before walking down the aisle. The decision to move in together is major as living together can also make or break your relationship. Before you share space together as a couple, the following tips can help in your transition.
Move-In Date
There’s no surefire secret to making your relationship work. But with the right combinations of faithfulness, hard work and communication, you can boost your chances. If you’re making plans, you should be past the honeymoon stage of your relationship. As reality begins to seep back in, you’ll be ready to make a better decision. Give yourself time to get to know your partner first, and their habits. Through the months, you may also take note of red flags that can alert you to a problem. If you feel pressure to cohabitate, take this as a sign to move on.
Future Expectations
Your expectations as a couple may be change as your relationship develops. Before you take your relationship to the next level, you want to discuss your future expectations. Go over financial responsibilities, debt, spending habits and career goals. You can also share personal information. Opinions on marriage, children and monogamy can divulge a lot about a person. It can also reveal whether you have the same ideals.
Sharing Property
Finding a place to live together is critical to a smooth transition. You can find a home together by purchasing something new or renting. You may even be planning updates and trying to apply for a renovation loan for your current home. Before you make any decisions, have a frank discussion on the costs involved. Unless you wish to foot the bill in case of a break up, you’ll want to ensure that both signatures are on your mortgage agreement or lease. If you go your separate ways, you won’t be left solely responsible to come up with the payments.
Splitting Expenses
Housing is just one of the expenses you’ll be expected to share when you move in together. You also want to discuss splitting expenses such as utilities, groceries and going out. Getting this decided before you make the move can alleviate problems later on. You can make this a legal agreement by having both parties sign off and have it notarized.
Responsibilities
No matter where you live, you’re going to have the upkeep of your dwelling. If you both work, you’ll want to set household duties well in advance. This includes grocery shopping, repairs, cleaning and outdoor chores. Check your partner’s current home or vehicle to get a better idea of their cleaning habits.
Financial Accounts
Until you’ve decided that you are willing to invest in your relationship long-term, you want to keep your accounts separate. This means debt from credit cards, checking, savings, 401k investments and other financial accounts. You don’t want to put your finances at a heightened risk until you’re ready.
Socializing
Some people love to have their friends over or meet them at a bar until the wee hours. Others require a set number of hours of sleep in order to function at work during the week. Before you start the move in process, you want to determine where you’ll entertain and how often. You may also need some alone time. Having a separate place in the house where you can regroup and do your own thing can be good for a couple. It can also strengthen your relationship.
