One of the scariest and most exciting things about becoming an adult, is finding your own place to live. It's great to fantasize about finally having a place to yourself, but it's extremely unlikely nowadays for any daring young person to rent their own place. Most of us end up living with a roommate or two... or six. This is totally normal and fine.

It make sense to move in with friends. You know each other's habits and you've developed some level of trust in each other. It seems like a reasonable and safe decision.

However, apartment hunting with friends can turn from the thing you dreamed about while playing MASH at recess, to a complete nightmare. As much as you believe you know a person, you will learn exponentially more about them each day that you live together. Relationship dynamics can become very different when spending time together is no longer a choice.

Sure, plenty of people have moved in with friends and lived the dream. I'm sure lots of besties got along with the rent always on time, the dishes always clean, and not a single argument about which way the toilet paper roll should be put in the holder.

I would just like to say that alternatively, from my own experience, moving in with strangers can be really great. It's different from being thrown into an assigned room in a dorm with people you don't know, but I believe it's a wise thing to do by choice.

First off, it's pretty difficult to even find people to live with. In my first quest, I went through five potential roommates and at least twenty potential apartments in less than two months before finally going rogue and hunting on my own.

You will realize rather quickly that it will be impossible to satisfy all members of your party. You might find the perfect home, except one bedroom has huge windows and a private bathroom, while the other is comparable to Harry's closet under the stairs on Privet Drive. Do you put up with the inequality for the sake of a great kitchen? Who gets the better room? Should you split the rent differently depending on who gets the bigger/better space?

Someone, (usually everyone) will likely make sacrifices and compromises. Still, the struggle for a happy home does not end once the lease is signed.

Things can get weird when you have to start talking money with your pals. The absolute last thing that you ever want to fight over with your friends is money. The first big issue will be how the rent is split/paid. Then you will have to sort out utilities, furniture... And then, somehow, little things become big, and people say mean things because "It's HER turn to buy toilet paper!"

I have witnessed a handful of relationships go swampy because of petty arguments that turned into feuds once they lived together. We should all be mature adults with communication skills and the glimmering ability to forgive, but yet, we are all human with our flaws that only seem amplified when confined to a small space.

For some reason, it seems to me that we are more rational in handling tiffs with people we don't know so well. If you've fought with a friend, you know that you both know how to really dig into the other. That's not so much the case with strangers. When every disagreement doesn't feel so personal, fights and grudges are less likely. Or at least if they happen, they do less damage.

Also, if you can find a place with new people, the whole rent situation will often be sorted for you. A lot of landlords, especially in major cities, know that single renters are searching for shares. So, they create separate leases per room. Nobody has to worry about what the others pay. Nobody has to hunt down their roomies to get rent in on time. Everyone is held separately accountable. It. Is. Great.

There are even some services that will meet you and work to match you with ideal roommates for a situation like this. I found my current apartment through one called Roomeze, and I must say, they did a solid job.

Also, sometimes it's hard to ask a friend to change. You don't want to hurt them, but maybe they just need to dry their daang feet before they get out of the shower and leave a wet trail. It's a strange phenomenon, but it seems that we have an easier time giving advice/criticism to people we don't know so well, as well as heeding it without taking it as personal attack. Once again, those silly fights will be much less likely.

Overall, moving in with strangers is a really great opportunity to grow. You will see very different ways that people live, learn how to communicate and adapt, and learn how to set your own boundaries. It is extremely humbling and rewarding to create a home with people who are different from you. You might even (oh my gosh what?!) make new friends!

I believe it is necessary experience. At least in your first apartment. It will teach you so much. Most of all, you will learn exactly what you really want in future roommates, as well as how to be a better roommate yourself.