When you talk about moving in with your best friend you think it’ll be like an episode of Broad City. But usually, it’s a challenge a lot of friendships aren’t prepared for.

It doesn’t always end badly, but the reality is it can be incredibly hard living with your BFF. You really have to know what you’re getting into before you sign the lease. Here are five things we wish we knew before moving in with a friend.

It’s Not Like The Movies

Movies and TV shows are misleading. If you think it’s going to be like living in a studio flat in New York, hanging out all day and night with your roomie, sipping expensive wine while you cook a sophisticated meals, then you need to move back in with you ‘rents right now.

Because for one, once you move out you can’t afford expensive wine. And two, most of the time it’s a lot of passive aggressive hints about doing the dishes rather than it being a big happy sleepover. A bit of advice? Lower your expectations.

Your Friendship Will Be Tested

Think you know your friend? Think you’re good old pals? WELL THINK AGAIN. Because when their annoying habits start to show and as one of you starts fall behind with rent payments, things start to go south real quick.

If you and your friend regularly communicate with each other and sort out problems together, then you’ll probably be fine. But if you and your mate have never had an argument that isn’t what movie you should put on next then prepare to be tested.

It’s The Little Things

When you live with one person for a long time you start to notice the little habits that you never seemed to catch before. Maybe it’s playing loud music at 2am, maybe it’s eating the food you cooked for yourself or maybe you just don’t like the way they’re always happy in the morning. Odds are, there’ll be something that will stick and just bug you. The question is whether you want to put up with it for the unforeseeable future or not.

You Have To Learn How To Be Stern

It’s difficult to address problematic issues with you friends, especially when all you want to do is to keep the peace and make your digs a harmonious place to live. But sometimes you’ve just got to put your foot down. It may seem like a tiny thing and you won’t want to make a big deal out of it, but the longer you bottle up your frustrations, the worse it’ll get until you explode.

My advice would be to talk about things that bother you straight up so you won’t have to clench you teeth and hold your tongue every time your roomie leaves a dirty cup on the kitchen top. It can’t be all rainbows and sunshine!

It May Not Work Out

There’s a very real possibility that you’ll absolutely hate living with each other. You might learn that you still want to be friends, but you need that distance between you to function, or worst-case scenario, you might not be friends at all. Moving out is stressful and eye-opening at times and before packing your things you have to accept the risk that comes with having a friend for a roomie.

However, if you communicate, set some ground rules and respect each other’s space, there’s no reason why it can’t work. And hopefully, you’ll be stronger for it in the end.

Sophie is studying a bachelor of Arts majoring in creative writing. She is an aspiring writer, dog enthusiast and thrift shop fashion icon.

(Lead image: Friends/Warner Bros. Entertainment)