The honeymoon stage is a sweet period in any relationship. It’s marked by never-ending butterflies, flirty conversations and, most notably, considerably low stakes all around. Things can feel very light and fun when you are not locked into a lease together or splitting a cramped closet space when one person has more sports coats than anyone would ever need in a single lifetime.

But the honeymoon stage can’t and shouldn’t last forever, and with time and effort, new chapters of your life will likely unfurl, like moving in together. Now, to be clear, taking this next step in your relationship is an exciting milestone that should be celebrated and cherished, but it makes sense that moving in with someone else can trigger some pretty big feelings, both good and bad and everything in between. There are a host of questions that need to be answered. Whose space are we going to move into? Do we need another car? Where are we going to store our suitcases? Should we host Christmas at ours?

If this is your first time cohabitating with a partner, there is just likely a lot of stuff you don’t know you don’t know. This can test even the strongest relationships since it’s such a unique adjustment that it comes with no real manual. To better ease you through this transition, we have compiled a list of five need-to-know tips for this new chapter of co-habitation.

Discuss chores ahead of time.

One of the biggest adjustments that come with moving in with someone is chores. When you are clouded by the warm fuzzy feelings of love, it can be easy to assume you guys will just fall into a natural rhythm when it comes to chores. Unfortunately, this can set couples up for a lot of disappointment since there will undoubtedly be unmet expectations whenever there is a gap in communication. Being upfront about what chores you like to do or absolutely can’t stand sets expectations early, which is the best foundation to build upon when it comes to making sure no one feels taken advantage of.

Discover your joint aesthetic.

As a couple, you likely have some things in common. Leaning on these similarities should be a guiding principle for finding a joint aesthetic that represents both parties. Even though you are moving in together, neither person should feel compelled to wholly sacrifice their personal design style. It’s all about a collaborative effort.

Get ahead of furniture planning.

Converging home goods can be tricky if both parties are particularly fond of their belongings. A good way to navigate this is by creating an itemized list of every item you will need for your new space and comparing which partner’s item fits best with your collective aesthetic — not individualistic.

Have uncomfortable conversations about money ASAP.

When you have on your rose-colored lenses, the last thing that you want to disrupt is icky conversations about personal finances. But whether one person will be taking over all of the bills, y’all are doing a 50/50 split, or if you’re doing something in the middle, discussions surrounding personal spending habits and expectations should be had when you are both still enamored with each other rather than when tensions arise and emotions reach a fever pitch.

Make sure you are aligned on the purpose of moving in.

Perhaps one of the most important parts of moving in is making sure you and your partner are on the same page regarding timelines. Whether moving in together is a preamble to marriage or rooted in saving for a bigger purchase down the line like a house or land, don’t let the fun and fuzzy feelings stop you from adhering to your intentions.