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5 Tips To Help You Declutter Before Your Move
Whether you’re planning on moving in a week, a month or a year, these decluttering tips will help you make sure you’re only moving the items that matter.
1. Plan Your Decluttering Timeline
If you have a move date, we’d recommend you start decluttering and organizing as soon as possible to decrease stress as your move approaches. When you pick one of the decluttering strategies below, create a calendar around it to know what you need to get done and when.
2. Pick a Decluttering Strategy
There are a few main ways you can tackle decluttering.
One option that’s popular is to go room by room.
Make a list of the rooms and spaces in your house you need to declutter and then put dates that you want that space done by. Writing it down in a list can make it less daunting than trying to tackle each area blindly! Plus, you’ll get great satisfaction when you check a room off the list.
Another way you can approach decluttering is by going through item types. Your list might look like this: Clothes, Shoes, Furniture, Decorations, Kitchen Supplies, Books, Holiday Decorations, Gardening Supplies, etc. You’ll do more room-hopping with this method, but you’ll then be looking at your items in that category as a whole as you sort through them.
You can also combine these two approaches. Create a calendar for the rooms you want to sort through, and then once you get into those rooms, go through each item type.
3. Use the Keep, Throw Away, Sell, Donate Strategy
As you approach each room or group of items, have four boxes or piles set aside to help you sort. The four piles are for these main areas: keep, throw away, donate, and sell. You might also decide to leave you ‘keep’ items where they are and have just three main piles instead.
By the time you’re through your room, you’ll have a better idea of where each item is going and what the next steps for those items are.
4. Have a Process for Handling Tough Decisions
Going through your items can be difficult, especially as you encounter sentimental items or gifts you receive that you no longer need or use. Rather than getting stuck on these objects, find a process to help you decide what to keep or give away.
One method you might have heard of is the Marie Kondo method. Marie Konda recommends you look at the item and ask, “Does this item speak to my heart? Does it bring me joy?” If the answer is no, then you give it away.
Another method you can use is visualizing your ideal life in your new home or cleaned space. Does this item fit in with that vision of yourself and your life? If not, find the appropriate pile (throw away, donate, or sell) and let go of the item.
5. Know How You’ll Get Your Unwanted Items Out of Your House
You’ve gone through a room, and now you have three piles that you’ll need out of your house: throw away, donate, and sell. It seems straightforward, but you should have a plan for how you’ll handle each of these areas!
Trash
Depending on your trash pile’s size, you might need to make arrangements with your trash provider to dispose of your items. If you have a large thing you need to throw away, like a broken dresser or something you cannot sell/donate, then you might need to pay to have the item taken with your regular trash. You could also see about visiting a landfill. Overall, just be aware that some things will not be able to be handled normally!
Donations
Depending on your city’s size, you might have multiple options when it comes to items you’re donating. Some popular donation places include Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
However, you might also search for local nonprofits looking for the items you’re trying to donate. For example, in Indianapolis (where we’re headquartered) you can donate gently used, near-new professional attire to Dress for Success, a nonprofit that empowers women to take charge of their lives.
Selling
It’s easier than ever to sell your items online. A few popular websites include:
- OfferUp
- Facebook Marketplace
- LetGo
- Poshmark (Clothes + Clothing Accessories)
Need Help With Your Move?
We’re here to help! As a Mayflower affiliate since 1927, we are experts in moving. Request a quote for your move by clicking the ‘Request a Quote’ button above or by clicking here.