Relationships are made up of a continuous number of tests that reveal whether or not two people are indeed right for one another. And one of those tests is undoubtedly that of moving in together.

Whether or not the time is right, there are always a few pointers to keep in mind when deciding to dive into the "living as though we're married" relationship.
Home Sweet Home
When two people move in together, this ususally means that they can live with each other (forgive the pun). This step in the relationship can make or break a couple that's looking for its identity.

A couple may ask themselves if they're ready to pack up and settle down under the same roof. There are three basic components of this venture: the bad, the good and the avoidable.
The Bad
Oftentimes, a man and woman may decide to settle in together because they see it as the natural next step in their relationship. But the problem is that they may not be ready for it. Only when its too late will the couple be able to realize that they moved too fast.

The important thing to remember is that when you and your lover cohabitate, you will ultimately see all the aspects of her personal life -- not just the pretty side -- when you are together.

You will be privy to all of her behavioral ups and downs, day in and day out. How would you react if she walked around the house with no underwear on? Although your initial reaction may be to jump for joy, think again.

Is this the sight you want to be exposed to while you are watching television? Once again, you may think that this sounds delightful, but this will eventually lose its sexual appeal because when something is always in your face, it no longer remains unattainable and, thus, becomes less desirable.

The point of sex is to enjoy something sacred that is not readily available at any time of the day. Once you are in the bedroom with your lady, you are simply imagining her vacuuming or washing the dishes in her "Eve" outfit. Not so appealing anymore, is it?
The Good
On the brighter side of things, this step into long-term companionship might actually bring the two of you closer together. This is at times the kind of launching pad that can solidify a couple. The man and woman may be fearful of spending every minute of their life with each other, especially if they were used to simply seeing each other every other day, at the most.

But to many couples' surprise, this living situation turns out to be great. You might actually enjoy watching your girlfriend dye her hair and give herself a manicure. For that matter, she might enjoy watching you shave or clip your toenails. If that's the case, then both of you are on the road to something good.

It's the little things that make a relationship last in the long run. Will she be able to care for you on Saturday morning when you wake up sick when she had a whole day of shopping planned with her girlfriends?


The Avoidable
The problem with sharing a home with your loved one is that the event might be premature and simply triggered by a coincidental turn of events. A good example might be that both of you were planning to move out of your parents' houses and decided to move in together to share the cost of living.

The main issue here is that couples should move in together as a natural transition in a relationship. Finances should not be the basis of the decision for an important step such as this.

Is it worth jeopardizing a solid relationship in order to save a few dollars? Some might say that it's a simple transition, but it isn't. This is not a decision that should be rushed or, for that matter, overlooked.
How To Prepare
A simple checklist can help the unprepared make the most of moving in together.

Make it your own place
Remember that the furniture and design of the place should involve a joint decision. A boyfriend can't just show up with the latest La-Z-boy, the same way that his woman shouldn't put her collection of dolls on display for all the guy's buddies to stare at during Monday Night Football.

Don't reveal everything at once
The idea here is for both of you to become comfortable with each other at a gradual pace. It is not wise to show your woman all your good and bad qualities at once. This might unnecessarily scare her away, or worse, repulse her.

Respect each other's space
Just because the two of you are living under the same roof, it doesn't mean that every second of every minute needs to be spent together.

Rather, find some personal spots that each of you can revert back to for some quiet time. This will also help when you need a timeout from each other.

Share the responsibility
Splitting up the chores should be second choice to alternating the tasks, so that both of you get your hands dirty. This will in turn allow both of you to put equal amounts of effort into the whole task of cleaning up.

Once again, what seems to be a gigantic step in a couple's life can be easily translated into simple points. So follow your instincts -- and my advice -- and have the best of times together.

And if your friends try to make you envy the benefits of living on your own, ask them if they have someone they care for and love at arm's length.