Here are some simple tips about how to declutter before moving. Getting rid of stuff you don’t need saves you time and money.
Moving to a new house is an exciting time. Before you even sign your name on the dotted line, you daydream about decorating and the amazing life you’ll have in your new home.
But, once reality sets in, you remember all the stuff you have crammed into your current house that you need to move.
Before you even begin to fill up those cardboard boxes, you should do one crucial thing — declutter.
Getting rid of stuff you don’t need before a move is so important. Why?
Decluttering before moving:
- Saves you time. Why take the time to box up stuff you won’t use anyway?
- Saves money because the less stuff you have to take with you, the less you have to pay for transportation costs or even packing supplies.
- Gives you more storage space in the new house.
- Decreases your stress because you don’t have to pack all that crap up and figure out how to get it to the new place.
- Makes it that much easier to stage the house for sale, if you’re selling your home.
I don’t know about you but all of those sound like amazing reasons to get rid of stuff before moving. So, if you’ve been wondering, “How do you declutter when moving?”, here are some tips you should keep in mind.
10 Tips for Decluttering Before a Move
1. Get A Head Start
You always think you have more time than you really do. Am I right?
So, when you find out you’ll be moving, you really should start decluttering as soon as possible. That way, you don’t leave it until the last possible second and then end up stressing yourself out because you have so much to do.
If you have the luxury of time, that is, the move isn’t a last-minute thing, start going through your things months in advance.
Make the task a priority and schedule it on your calendar. Doing this means you’ll actually make time for it. Even a few minutes a day can make a big impact over a few months.
2. Set up Your Decluttering Station
Before you start clearing out the clutter, grab two boxes and some trash bags. Label one box “Keep” and the other “Donate/ Sell”. The trash bags are for… well, trash.
Put the boxes and bags close to the area you’ll be decluttering so they’re easy to access. Once you’ve finished with that space, relocate the boxes and bags to the next area, if there’s still room inside them. If not, grab some new ones.
3. Tackle One Room or Category at a Time
To prevent yourself from getting completely overwhelmed, declutter room by room or by category.
What I mean by that is, clear out the clutter in your bathroom, for example, or go through all the bath towels in the house. You may need to collect all the towels from multiple spaces.
I personally find it easier to work according to room but do what suits you best.
4. What To Declutter Before Moving
Be ruthless when getting rid of stuff and only keep what you need. Think about the following:
- Have you used it in the last year? If you’ve spent a full year in your current home, you would’ve had ample opportunity to use your stuff including seasonal things. If Thanksgiving has come and gone and you haven’t pulled out your decorations or that amazing roasting pan you’ve been holding on to, it’s time to let them go.
- Is it expired? Check expiration dates of items like food, bath and beauty products and medications.
- Do you have more than one? Sometimes, you forget you own something and buy another item just like it or one that has a similar function. If you find multiples of something, think about how many you really need and use.
- Is it still useful? Items that may have been useful once upon a time, may not be now e.g. electronics and cables, toys your children have outgrown, etc.
- Is it broken and am I really going to fix it? We hold on to things that are broken thinking that we’ll get it repaired at some point. If you’ve had that item for several months and still haven’t fixed it, get rid of it.
- Will it fit the new house? Your new home might have a completely different style and color scheme. Is your old decor going to fit in there? Also, will it literally fit? The new house might be bigger or smaller and you’ll need furniture that suits the scale.
5. Declutter Your Closet Before A Move
Consider the following when purging clothes in your wardrobe:
- Do they still fit?
- Are they in good condition?
- Do you like and wear them?
- Are they still trendy?
In addition to those factors, consider whether the clothes in your closet will be suitable for the climate you’re moving to. The weather might be drastically different where your current home is located so you’ll need to update your wardrobe appropriately.
6. Sort out Your Paperwork
Paperwork can take over a house. Make sure you go through all the documents you have to see if you still need them. Shred anything you don’t want that has your personal information on it e.g. name, address, banking details.
Scan items you want but a physical copy isn’t required.
See if you can find digital copies of manuals online and save them. Then, discard the hard copy.
7. Involve Your Family
Of course, if you have very young children you’ll have to decide what to throw away and keep that belongs to them or help them through the process, if they’re old enough to have a say.
But, when decluttering items that belong to other people in your household — your husband for instance — make sure to ask permission before getting rid of their stuff.
Better yet, let them do it themselves. This is always the best option to avoid rising tensions.
8. Use Extras You Forgot You Had
While decluttering for your move, you’re bound to find stuff you purchased and never used. As long as these items haven’t expired and you still find them useful, make sure you use them.
Put them up front and center so you remember you have them on hand. That way, you don’t go out and buy more just like what you already own and you don’t have to pack them up either.
9. Leave Sentimental Items for Last
Decluttering sentimental items can be quite challenging. You have special memories attached to these so it’s best to leave them until you’ve cleared out everything else. That way, you don’t get burnt out before you even start.
10. Donate Stuff Unless It’s Valuable
It’s really tempting to want to make some of your money back when getting rid of stuff. You start seeing dollar signs and think about how much money you’re throwing away.
But, having garage sales or selling stuff online doesn’t usually make you as much money as you think it will. So, is it worth it?
If you have lots of time ahead of moving to your new house, then go ahead and have a sale if you want. However, if time is limited, save yourself the stress of having to advertise, lay all that stuff out and haggling with strangers who just want the best deal they can get. It’s much easier to donate items to charities or thrift stores instead. Here’s a list of amazing charities you can donate to.
If you have something that is truly valuable e.g. antiques or art, then you can list it online or take it to a specialty shop or dealer who is interested in buying whatever the item is.
I highly recommend you declutter before moving and hopefully now you can see why. It just makes life so much easier and it’ll save you time and money. What’s not to love about that?
Read this next: How To Pack For A Move — Brilliant Ways To Stay Organized