Refinery29.com recently posted a cautionary tale about cohabitation, and it sure gave us a reality check on the cons of moving in together way too quickly. Sure, it sounds fun (and you can also split expenses with your partner), but playing house is no small matter. According to a study conducted by Rent.com, couples who've decided to take a jump in having their own place discourage other couples to do so-- only 7% of the respondents gave a cohabitation a go-signal within the first six months of the relationship.

So why were they against it? Several issues cropped up, such as household chores (let's face it, some people are okay with clutter and some just aren't), lack of clear communication lines, and reduced me-time, among others. Only 11% of respondents said they talked about household chores before moving in, while a whopping 63% admitted that they don't usually go out with their friends without their partner.

No doubt, moving in together is a big step in any relationship, so it's important that couples cover all bases first before looking for a space. Rules and expectations should be discussed clearly before making the move, otherwise, your romance might fizzle out as soon as reality kicks in.

(Photo courtesy of Epsos.De via Flickr Creative Commons)