It is always difficult to determine how long to date before moving in together. People have different opinions on this topic, and there is no right answer.
Moving in together is a big decision and can take some time to make. It’s important to be sure that you want to make this commitment before you do so, to make sure things don’t get messy.
Moving in together too soon can lead to problems down the line while waiting too long can end up feeling like a waste of time and energy.
3 Factors to consider before moving in together:
There are many factors to consider before moving in together. The type of relationship, who you are romantically interested in, and how long you have been dating; can all play a role in determining when or if you should move in together.
However, there are 3 main things to think about:
1) What do you expect from the relationship:
As mentioned, there are many factors that go into deciding when it is time to move in with one another. However, one of the most important factors is whether or not the person you are dating understands what they want out of a relationship.
Dating for a long while before jumping into the deep end of potential commitment or living under the same roof, can help you figure out what your relationship is about. This isn’t always easy as everyone has different expectations, but it’s worth it to keep both sides of the equation in mind.
If you and your partner want the same things out of the relationship, then you may be compatible and have to learn to live with one another at some point. For instance, if you both envisage getting married and starting a family one day then it could be great to test the waters and get a taste of how possible it is to tolerate each other and live under one roof.
However, if you are on different pages about the future of the relationship and one of you is just having fun while the other is under the impression that it is a very serious commitment, then problems could arise.
2) Have a plan about how it will work out:
People move in together for a variety of reasons such as better financial stability, companionship, and shared interests.
However, before you move in together, make sure you both of you have a clear understanding of the duties of each one of you, on all levels including; the financial one.
Moving in together is not always the right decision to make. However, with the right information and support, deciding when to move in with your significant other can be easier. This is why you should ensure that you know very well what each one of you will be doing and who will be responsible for paying for what or doing what for the other.
Indeed, moving in with someone should be considered carefully because there are many things that come with it such as long-term commitment and financial investment. You both need to agree on the “must”s before considering moving together.
3) Make sure you know the other person very well:
The first and foremost thing is that you should know each other very well.
Here are a few factors to take into consideration before moving in together and you must be aware of them.
First, it is important to know your partner’s family history. Second, do they have any medical conditions? What about their financial status? Third, what about the pets in the house – do you both agree on them?
Fourth, where is each one of you going to sleep? Fifth; are you both comfortable with that? Who will do the laundry, cleaning, dishwashing, cooking, buying food and groceries? Sixth; who will come to visit each one of you and how often? Seventh; if you sleep in the same room do you keep the light on or off at night?
Also, think about your routines and what each one of you like doing during a day off spent at home, and how the other one will feel about it.
If you want to make sure everything works out well with your partner, these are all questions that need answers before signing a lease agreement or committing yourself to live together.
Bottom line:
In a long-term relationship, most people will want to move in with their significant other sooner rather than later. With that said, the length of time it takes for these two people will depend on what the individual wants out of the relationship.
If one party does not want to live together and be committed at first, then it would be best to date for at least 6 months to be safe, before trying to convince them to make such an important decision.
Either way, if you move in and it doesn’t work out, then you can always check our article about how you can smoothly move out with a breakup or conflict.