If you are thinking about moving into a new apartment, but you can’t afford the rent by yourself, you are likely considering getting a roommate. In most cases, roommates are a welcome addition to a household since they not only pay half the bills, but they usually help with cleaning and even cooking, but sometimes, conflicts arise and living with a roommate can be a hellish experience. One way that most people try to mitigate that problem is by choosing to live with someone they already know. Most times, choosing a roommate from someone you already know works better, but it can also be a friendship ender. Let’s look at both sides of the coin.

The main advantages of choosing a roommate from someone you know is that you know right off the bat that you will be compatible with that person. You likely already know that you both enjoy the same kind of music and the same kind of movies or television shows. You may already know if your friend is a night person or a morning person so there may be one less conflict in that department. In essence, choosing a roommate from someone you know is “going with the devil you know instead of the devil you don’t.”

On the flip side, you may realize that your friend isn’t all he or she is cracked up to be. They may end up having a whole host of annoying habits you don’t know about and you can see your friendship declining rapidly. It is a risk that many people take, and sometimes, it proves to be a big mistake.