Not every relationship was meant to be. It can be difficult to live with anyone, especially when they start getting on your nerves. If you and your roommate have reached a boiling point, it may be time to break it off. Breaking up with a roommate can be a messy, stressful situation. You may feel torn between the financial benefits of having someone to share the bills and someone who seems to make it their mission to annoy you. While some people’s roommate relationships end it screaming and turmoil, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a few mature and rational ways to approach it to end your cohabitation peacefully. BMS Moving & Storage is happy to offer some useful tips on how to break up with your roommate.
Remain Calm and Plan
It is important that you have a plan in place before speaking with your roommate. Whether you are moving out or asking them to, you want to remain calm and practical. It helps to have a plan clearly laid out so you can stick to your list of items to address. Don’t get personal. When you focus on specific events or issues that need to be addressed, your roommate is less likely to feel attacked.
Communicate Clearly
Before you scream and yell at your roommate or leave a nasty note on the door, think about why you are upset. Most of the time, a move-out plan can be made with a levelheaded conversation. If your roommate has specific behaviors that make you want to move on, sometimes they can be remedied after a friendly talk. Discuss the matter with your roommate and don’t be offended if they bring to the table some things you do to bring discord into the home. If your roommate wishes not to work on the issues you have discussed, you know it is time to move on.
Break the News
When you have made the decision to move out, you may be dreading the awkward conversation. While breaking the news may be hard, it doesn’t have to feel like an impossible task. Here are five tips on delivering the news as smoothly as possible:
- Answer the following before breaking the news: Who will leave, when, what you will do with the lease, dealing with shared belongings, and bills are all items you must think about.
- Give sufficient notice. Because moving out on a roommate or having one leave the home affects living arrangements, you do need to give them ample time to find a new place.
- Do it in person and keep it short. Nothing is worse than just leaving a voicemail or note. You also don’t need to drag it out.
- Be honest. There is no reason to tell lies, especially if you value the friendship.
- Let your roommate react. Listen to their feelings but try not to respond to them with a gut reaction. People sometimes strike out when they hear bad news, but that’s no reason to take what they say personally. Listen well, but don’t let your emotions overwhelm you.
After you have broken up with your roommate, you may be searching for a professional mover to assist you. BMS Moving & Storage is happy to help you move forward with the next chapter of your life. Call (877) 594-1187 to schedule your move with us!
