When a platonic friendship turns into a sexual relationship, it can often blur the lines of what your relationship is. It could be a casual fling or something more serious. Whatever it develops into, there is no doubt dating your best friends comes with a number of challenges.

It can either go one of two ways. You end up in a long-term loving relationship that sees you get married and have kids, living the American dream. Or things take a turn for the worse and it ends in a messy breakup and you are forced to see your ex at every function organized by your friends for the next 40 years.

Before jumping in the deep end and letting your feelings be known, there are several things you should consider first. Below are a number of factors to think about before engaging in a relationship with your best friend, along with some tips to make the partnership work.

Are You Really That Interested?

Before you even mention you are keen on your best friend to anyone, you have to make sure you are 100% certain this is what you want. Once you cross that line and your friendship becomes an intimate relationship, there is no turning back. Take into account the change in the dynamic that will occur between you and your friend and how this will impact your friendship group. Make sure you are really interested in them as a person and it isn’t just physical attraction. This will only end in tears.

Dating expert and host of the millennial dating podcast We Met at Acne Lindsey Metselaar told The Washington Post, “You should make sure this person is someone that you would want to date regardless of your friendship. You should be positive that they have the qualities you would look for in a partner, and that you aren’t considering them just because of the history between you.” In other words, if they are everything you have ever wanted in a partner and tick all the boxes, then you should probably go for it. Just be prepared for things to go pear shaped if they don’t feel the same.