If you already know the person that you’ll be moving into an apartment with, but you don’t already have an apartment, that means that the two of you can go apartment hunting together. While most people have things like rent and amenities at the top of their lists when it comes to deciding factors, health and safety should be an issue, too. Here are a few important things to look at when you go apartment hunting with your roommate.

First, make sure the doors and locks appear to be secure. Look for signs of forced entry on your door since it will likely be a telltale sign of past problems in that building. If your door leads directly outside and not into a hallway, make sure that there is more than just one lock on the door (things like a chain or a deadbolt) and ask if more security can be installed or if that can only be done by the building manager.

Second, check for signs of mold of mildew in the apartment. You most often find trace signs of mold or mildew in the bathroom, especially in and around the shower, as well as in the kitchen. Not only can mold or mildew problems cause serious health problems, they are unsightly, as well. If you only see a small amount of it, it could be a sign that there is a lot more on the other side of that wall, so you might want to think twice about renting from that particular complex.

While the laundry list of complaints that most people have about roommates covers everything from privacy to common decency, there are always a few big ones that are at or near top. Let’s take a look at a few common things you can do to keep your roommate tension down to a minimum.

Perhaps the biggest pet peeve many people have when it comes to roommates is picking up after yourself in common areas. No one is going to fault you for having a messy bedroom since that is your own private space, but you may get some flack for leaving clothes, shoes and belongings out in the living and dining room areas. It doesn’t take long to train yourself to not leave things everywhere and your roommate will thank you.

Another huge pet peeve many people have about roommates is not doing dirty dishes in a timely fashion. Not only do dirty dishes look unsightly, they can attract bugs and they often smell, as well. No one expects you do to your dishes instantly, but you should always make an effort to do them as soon as you can.

Finally, if you have been nibbling food that you didn’t buy or pay for, then you can expect serious problems with your roommate. You should have an easily identifiable system in place to designate whose food is whose so that mistakes never happen. If you are intentionally violating that agreement, expect your roommate arrangement to dissolve.

If you are a married couple or if you live alone, decorating can be a trial, but when you live with someone who likely has completely different taste than you do, than decorating can be an absolute nightmare. Here are a few basic decorating tips that you can keep in mind the next time you move into a new place with a roommate.

First, try to keep common rooms neutral as possible. Even if you have been living there longer, you need to respect the fact that this apartment isn’t only your home, but also the home of another person. See if you can find similar interests like sports or a particular kind of art that you can hang on the walls in common areas. Also, don’t try to dominate the furniture, either. Try to share what the other has so that one person doesn’t feel like they are living in your house.

It is also important to keep both of you involved in adding little touches around the apartment. We all have personal knick knacks to display at various spots in our homes, so make sure that both of you contribute, otherwise it can lead to feelings of alienation.

Finally, if you get any big decorating ideas, make sure you filter them through your roommate before you carry them out, even if you are positive your roommate might like it. Even if they do, the feeling of being left out of a major change in the place you call home can be hurtful.