When you are facing a move, the first thing that comes to your mind is how you can transfer all your household stuff. Did you know that you can make your move less difficult if you will limit the things that you will take with you?
Yes, de-cluttering should be the first thing that you need to consider. Actually, a move is your best opportunity to de-clutter your home. So, look at it in a positive way – moving is an effective way to make a fresh start.
By de-cluttering your home, you will be leaving behind all your unnecessary weights and baggage. And that will result in monetary savings too, because you will have less weight to transfer. That means savings in moving fees that you will pay a professional mover like Lowe’s or Budget.
Here are some suggestions on how you can de-clutter your home before you move to a new location.
1. Prepare ahead of time
The more time you have, the less stressful your move will be. About two weeks before your move, set aside a couple of hours each day to determine which items you can do without in each room.
Even if you have a big house with so many fixtures and furniture to transfer, you can make it easy by dividing the task into smaller and more manageable chunks of work.
2. Set aside a box for the essentials
This box of essentials should include all the things that you will need in the day of your move. The box should contain a hammer, several nails of various sizes, a roll of toilet paper, and a box cutter. Label the box distinctly and bring it along on your moving day so you can find these necessities easily. You won’t have to search all of the boxes just to find them.
3. Eliminate the excess
If you are used to stockpiling foods, toiletries, soaps, shampoos and the like, start to use the excess. It is not wise to bring them along because you will pay for the spaces that they will take inside the moving truck. It is very easy anyway to buy them when you arrive in your new home.
4. Use Three Boxes
Bring three boxes in each room that you are de-cluttering. One is for the stuff that you want to keep, the second box for the things that you can throw away, and a third one for items that you can donate to a charity or others you know who are in need.
As you go through the room and its closet, drop each item into one of the appropriate box.
5. Consider your mementos last
It is difficult to get rid of mementos even if you’re not using them because they have sentimental value. Therefore, don’t make any decision yet on whether to lose them or keep them. Don’t let your indecision get you frustrated in de-cluttering your things.
You will be in a better position to decide when all the necessities have been packed and all the unnecessary items have been ditched away. The available space in the truck will tell you what to do.
6. Expiration dates are your clue
There are probably items in your pantry and your bathroom which are nearing their expiry dates. Therefore, it is a good practice to check the dates on the back of these items to check that they are already near or past their prime.
There are also items that are not yet expired but have lost their effectiveness. For instance, spices are known to last for years but lose potency after they are just in storage for more than six months.
A lot of mascaras and make ups usually expire after one year. Although they may not harm your skin, if you have not used them, just throw them away. This will reduce the total weight of the items you are going to transport.
7. Be practical in your decision making
In de-cluttering, you will eventually find yourself dilly dallying in your decision whether to keep or throw certain stuff. What you need to do is to be practical. Ask yourself whether you will use a certain item or not. Be completely honest with yourself.
If you haven’t worn a certain dress, or haven’t used a particular item for a long time, there is no chance that you will use it again. So it is better for you to leave it behind. Apply this for all the items you go through in de-cluttering your home and you will be able to reduce your moving costs.
8. Sell or give away
When you have finished de-cluttering every room in your house, you now have the items that you can do without. You can now either sell them or give them away. The important thing is that you have eliminated the things that you don’t really need. This will reduce the time and cost of your move.
