How to declutter before moving
1. Plan ahead.
To truly make decluttering work for you and your move, you need to plan ahead. Just as you shouldn’t leave packing all your boxes to the night before, you need to declutter days, if not weeks, in advance.
To save time, you can also combine decluttering and packing into one activity. For instance, approach each room with a two-box system. Have a box for packing what you want to keep and another for what you intend to get rid of.
2. Set some goals.
You can probably find a way to justify keeping just about anything if you really set your mind to it. To keep yourself accountable, set some concrete goals for how much you want to get rid of and then stick to them. You can set goals by item—say, getting rid of a third of your clothes—or by amount—for instance filling up one extra-large box with donations. Setting goals helps turn minimalism into less of a chore and more of a game, with the reward for achieving your objective that you have fewer things to carry around with you.
3 . Begin with the bulky items.
One of the quickest “wins” when decluttering before moving house is to get rid of excess furniture and bulky items that you no longer need. Taking measurements of your new property is really important so you avoid moving items which won’t fit.
4. Be practical
As you work through your possessions, it’s important to be ruthless. Otherwise, you’re unlikely to throw much away at all. To get you started try asking these two questions:
- When did I last use this?
- Does it have a use anymore?
5. Label, label, label!
Use sticky notes, masking tape, painters tape or other inexpensive labelling products to make note of any items that have been packed or zones you have created. This will not only help you to remember where to stash things but will allow others to help you out.
This also makes it much easier to unpack when you arrive at your new home.
In conclusion….
Decluttering when you are preparing to move is an excellent opportunity to look through your home and decide which items matter and those that you have been holding on to for too long for no good reason. It may feel overwhelming at first however once done you will feel lighter, happier, more organized and ready for your new home.
Good luck with the move!
