Moving is not something that you should take lightly, especially if you have a lot of possessions to move. You can lighten the load and save some money by decluttering your home before you move. However, decluttering itself can be a very time-consuming task. If you do not have a good system in place, you might end up getting rid of the things you need and keeping the things that you do not need.
Mentally Prepare For Your Move
Almost every item that you have had for a long time likely has some sentimental value attached to it. If you are not mentally prepared, you will find it hard to get rid of them. Once you have decided to declutter your home, you must detach yourself from each item and look at it objectively. Otherwise, you will find your new home cluttered from day one.
Start Early
Decluttering can take a lot of time. Ideally, you should start decluttering six weeks before the move. If you don’t start early, you may be left with a lot of things that you don’t know what to do with and end up taking them to your new home.
Sort Out Your Possessions Into Four Categories
Separate your items into four categories: items to be kept, thrown away, donated, or sold. If you don’t separate them, you may mix them up. So, designate four different areas in your house to keep the different categories of items organized.
Get Rid of Unwanted Items As Soon As You Can
Try not to let the unwanted items gather dust until the day of moving. Get rid of them as soon as you sort them out. Pack the things you have deemed useless and throw them away. Find a charity or a recipient for the things that you have decided to donate or give away. Have a garage sale, advertise online or find a buyer for the things you are going to sell.
Ask For Help
When decluttering, you may feel overwhelmed due to the variety of things you may have forgotten you have. If sorting through your things are just too much for you to handle, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask your relatives, friends or neighbors for help.
Check out our blog post on “How to Simplify Your Home Office Move” for additional information on decluttering before you move.
