How To Declutter Your Home Before You Move

Whether you’re traveling a few miles away or across the country, moving is a momentous undertaking fraught with stress, headaches, and potential problems. To ease the pain of packing up your entire life and moving it to a new, strange place, there are things you can do, such as decluttering, to reduce the stress of moving.

Here are a few ways you can declutter your home to make moving easier.

Why Declutter?

The best reason to declutter is to make moving more manageable, but getting rid of things you don’t want or need is a great way to save money because you might be able to rent a smaller truck. 

Also, if you’re using a local moving company, you’ll save money on time it takes them to load and unload your belongings. Lastly, decluttering is a great way to get some extra cash in your pocket by selling unwanted items either through a garage sale or online.

Begin Early

If you have the luxury of time, it’s best to begin decluttering as early as possible, so you’re not under the gun in the days before you move.

Try to begin a month or two out from moving day and set aside time whenever you can to go room to room and separate the things you want to take from the things you can get rid of.

Break Items Into Categories

Instead of going into each room and trying to gather up everything to separate, consider decluttering your home by category. 

For example, take an afternoon to go through your books to decide which ones you want to take and which ones you can donate or throw away; then, do the same for clothing, appliances, mementos, and so on. 

It will help the process seem much more manageable. 

Tackle Heavy Items Early

Getting rid of heavy or bulky items like furniture sometimes takes longer because throwing out a couch isn’t as easy as throwing away old clothes. 

Also, many charities won’t take used furniture, so getting rid of those items is a chore, which is why it’s advised to start as early as possible to decide which pieces of furniture need to go and which ones you want to take.

Separate Items Into Piles

As you move through each category of item, it’s helpful to separate them into piles designated as things you want to keep, things you want to donate or sell, and things you want to trash.

For items you want to sell, it’s helpful to take photos so you can list them online if you decide to go that route. Recycling sites are nice for getting rid of some clutter doing things like exchanging old iPads and Apple accessories online. Pack items you want to take with you now and set the boxes aside, so you don’t have to do it all in one or two days. 

The more you can pack now, the less work you have to do later.

Ask The Right Questions

When moving, many people ask the question, “Do I want to get rid of this?” However, we suggest a better question to ask is, “Do I want to pack this and move it into my new, clean home?” 

You’ll often find it’s easier to part with items if you think about the hassle that comes with moving. Remember that the less stuff you have to move, the easier the process will be. 

However, it’s almost important to not get rid of those items you will immediately replace just because you didn’t want to deal with the hassle of moving it to your new home. 

Get Help If You’re A Keeper

Most of us are attached to our belongings, but some are more so than others and find it difficult getting rid of anything. If you’re one of those people that find it tough to part with even the smallest trinket, it’s helpful to get help from someone who isn’t sentimental about your belongings.

Maybe you have guilt about getting rid of a particular item, or maybe you’re one of those people who think they’ll be able to use that nest of cables that’s been sitting in a drawer for 15 years someday. 

Either way, a person who doesn’t have the same attachment to your belongings can offer you some perspective and help you get rid of some of the clutter, so you don’t have to move it.

Prepare To Declutter

As you declutter, it’s wise to have everything you need in each room before you begin. Gather things like boxes, packing material, tape, and places for trash in the room in which you’re working. Having everything in one place makes it easier and saves time from having to do all of that stuff later.

Go Through The Kitchen

Another helpful way to declutter is to go through your kitchen and throw out any expired products such as cereal, canned goods, and even spices. Also, consider getting rid of old cookbooks you never use anymore and all of those kitchen gadgets you’ve never used.

Decluttering is essential for making your moving experience less stressful and more comfortable. The key is to start early and be patient. If you follow the steps mentioned above your home will be decluttered in no time and you’ll be prepared to handle the inevitable stresses of moving like a pro.