How To Declutter Your Home Before Moving
September 26, 2018
When moving home, one of the most important factors you need to consider is exactly how much you will have to shift.
Organising, packing and unpacking your belongings isn’t just a hassle; it can also be a big contributor to the overall cost of the move.
Most removal companies will want a good idea of what you will be bringing along:
Square footage - By measuring exactly how much you want transported, your removers will be able to gauge how large a vehicle they will need to provide. Keep in mind that jobs of a certain size may not be possible for smaller firms to manage in a single day
Speciality items - Any heavy, fragile or particularly valuable furniture may need additional insurance, vehicles, packaging or equipment to transport safely
Packaging - Your removal company will need to be able to calculate how much packaging they will need to contribute to moving house. Remember, you can always reduce this amount by getting your hands on some free moving boxes.
Remember, the more you have to take with you, the more your move will cost. As such, it can be an excellent idea to declutter your home in the run-up to the big day. Also if you’re selling your home, decluttering your home is a better way to welcome potential buyers into your home.
In other words, decluttering now will give you more freedom to get settled and enjoy your fresh start in your new home.
How can I declutter my house before moving?
Decluttering your house will seem like a daunting task. But, think of it as one room at a time to slim down the tasks. Luckily, there are a few proven methods which can help you out!
Set a moving date
This is actually a pretty crucial planning point, since knowing the date of your move will let you know exactly how long you have to get all of your planning and packing done. More importantly, knowing this date should give you a much-needed sense of urgency!
Remember, getting rid of your clutter could take several days or even weeks, so be sure to give yourself enough time. If necessary, you may need to book additional days off work
Make a moving checklist
Write a moving checklist of everything you own, including your electronics, furniture, clothes and home accessories. Next, sort these belongings into three groups:
- What you want to take - This one is obvious! You will need enough boxes and suitcases to pack all of this away, so try to only choose what you really cannot do without. Furniture may well seem like a natural casualty in this selection process, but if you have anything which can be disassembled and reassembled, it may be worth taking it along. Remember, knowing exactly how much you want to take with you will let your home removers decide what type of vehicle and insurance coverage your job will require
- What you can sell - If there is anything that you can get a reasonable price for on Amazon, eBay, Facebook or any other website, you could get some money to help cover the cost of your move
- What you need to get rid of - If there is anything that you can do without, you will find no shortage of ways to dispose of it. You can donate most things to charity, either via a shop or a collection service. You may also be able to find friends or family willing to take it off your hands. Failing that, you can always utilise a freecycling website such as Gumtree or Freegle. It could even be worth keeping your account in case you need anything for your new home
How to get rid of unwanted items
- Electronics - These in particular should be easy to find homes for. As long as what you are selling is not too old and is in decent condition, you should be able to at least get something for it. Items like kitchen accessories, speakers and game consoles could all fetch decent prices. If not, freecycling should do the trick!
- Clothes - When it comes to clothes, it can be easy to buy more than you need. Start by thinking about what you don’t wear anymore (or what is no longer in season). Next, look for anything which you or your family have grown out of. Charities are usually happy to take old clothes. You could even ask them to deliver a donation bag - all you will need to do it is fill it, then leave it outside your door to be picked up
- Furniture - While furniture is useful, it isn’t always as valuable as you think (especially with flat pack). If you have anything that will be awkward to move on the big day, it may be worth cutting your losses or accepting a lower selling price
Books, DVDs, games and CDs - Ah, the days before digital! While these items are easy to donate or sell, you should also think of it as an opportunity! Namely, it’s an opportunity to ditch physical copies and go digital (except for books, naturally), since this will save you a huge amount of space in the future - Food and cleaning stuff - While it may seem obvious to throw all of this stuff away, you should keep in mind that you will definitely need to replace it if you do. As such, it can be a good idea to keep anything non-perishable if you have the space. You could even get rid of your food by making a big lunch for the people helping with your move!
- Packaging - In general, it is good to pack your belongings into their original packaging if possible. If you have any other boxes which are in good condition, you can always reuse them for your move. This will save you having to buy more packaging later on. Everything else should be properly recycled