Packing and moving unnecessary clutter you accumulated over the years only to throw it away once you get to your new place doesn’t make sense. Add to that equation the cost of a moving company, and it will be clear that it’s time to declutter!
And think about it — moving to an entirely new place should give you a fresh start. Maybe you also want to add a sprinkle of fresh decor. Holding onto old items you haven’t used for ages doesn’t do you any good. Plus, decluttering will also bring you down memory lane before leaping into a big transition period.
“But I don’t hoard…”
The thing is, even if you aren’t prone to hoarding, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of unnecessary stuff you could get rid of. Just wait until you start packing. I had multiple friends call me once they started moving; they were completely in awe at the jumble they had going on in their house without even realizing it.
Did you know that 25% of people with two-car garages don’t use them because of a lack of room, and 32% only have room for one vehicle? Accumulating stuff year over year is easier than you think, but getting rid of it is more challenging.
Here are four ways to help you properly declutter before moving.
Give Yourself Time
Decluttering ends up taking a lot longer than you might imagine, especially for people in larger homes. It’s a long process, so don’t try to do it a few days before moving — or even a week before. Little things accumulate over time that go unnoticed and sorting those out will likely take time. It’s a good idea to start decluttering a few months or weeks before your move — it depends on the number of things you own.
Take it lightly, one box at a time. That way, you will have a clear perspective on the amount of stuff you will need to move and the amount of clutter you will need to get rid of.
When you start early, you’ll also allow yourself to mull things over and take time to make any hard decisions.
Declutter Strategically
Having a strategic plan is the best way to declutter. Take it room by room and have boxes and trash bags handy.
Start small with drawers and cubbies, and work your way up to dressers and closets. When you start small, you’ll feel more accomplished by tackling tiny spaces and marking them as done.
If you’re getting rid of larger items like couches or dressers, keep in mind that you’ll need to schedule a donation pickup or enlist the help of a friend with a truck to help you move them.
To get a good overview of your belongings, try dividing them into different categories — you can sort them by their fragility, by their size, or by the rooms they go into. The best practice is to combine a few.
Donate, Sell or Keep
When going through and packing up your belongings, sort everything into three different boxes: donate, keep, and sell. Sorting like this will make it easy to see how much stuff you’ve accumulated and where it’s going once you move.
If time is your friend, you could also throw a garage sale. This way, you can sell the items you find more valuable to add a little cash to your bank account and donate the rest if it’s in usable condition.
According to this moving company in Dallas, it’s a best practice to get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year. This, of course, doesn’t include sentimental items like cards from grandparents who have passed or a family heirloom dish set that only gets used every few years.
Even minimalists would forgive keeping a sentimental item here and there. But keep in mind that not every item has an emotional attachment either — don’t fall into the trap of labeling too many items “sentimental” so you can keep them.
Another great tip you can take comes from Marie Kondo. When holding and looking at an item, does it spark joy? If not, get rid of it.
Decluttering Before a Move
Decluttering before a move can help you save time and moving costs while giving you a refreshed feeling when you start in your new home. Few material items can replace the joy and freedom you will feel after getting rid of all the junk cluttering your living space.
Good luck. If you stay calm, plan, and stay open to letting go, decluttering will be a breeze — and the fulfillment from releasing unnecessary jumble will be overpowering.
My family and I have been doing this all summer, with everyone working from home that’s what they should be doing. And you should have your house organized that if you need to move in one week it would be easy. It’s amazing how many people have their attics stuffed with so much all garbage, basements packed garage loaded they can’t even put a bicycle in ridiculous.
Send the kids out to clean up.