It's typical to have a lot of items you've accumulated over time. This task might be demanding and time-consuming. This procedure can be made simpler.
This guide will help you eliminate unnecessary items from your transition and ensure that only essentials are moved. A professional moving company can also reduce stress.
The essay will also cover the advantages of using a moving service before a move. Prepare for a less stressful, more efficient, and effective moving experience.
Table of Contents
Moving Service: Checklist to Keep Track of Everything
Many people are surprised by the amount of stuff they've accumulated. Decluttering your home before moving can help reduce stress and lower costs. You'll find a moving guide to help you eliminate things. It includes decluttering, making a list, selling or donating items.
These expert tips will help you transition to your new house and ease your adjustment when you arrive.
1. Assess Your Belongings
Moving to a new home can be an overwhelming experience, especially when deciding which items to keep and which to discard. Couples with children and pets should declutter their homes before moving.
A. Decide What You Need Versus What You Want
It would help if you determined first which possessions are necessities and which are wants or desires. If the item is purely decorative or takes up space without adding value, consider whether it has a use. Do you need three sets of dinnerware? You could get away with just one set of dishes.
B. Assess Items Based on Usage Frequency
It's important to consider how often you use your possessions when evaluating them. You will likely find items you last touched months or years ago.
- Clothing: Have you worn it in the past year? If you wore your clothing last year, consider donating it or selling it.
- Kitchen appliances: Are there kitchen appliances in your home that you rarely use and gather dust? It could be the perfect time to upgrade your gadgets.
- Toys: Does your child still play regularly with his toys? Donate toys to other children that you no longer use.
C. Check Expiration Dates & Condition of Items
Check the expiration date when going through household products like food, toiletries, and medicines. Expired items should be disposed of properly. If you discover that your items are damaged beyond repair or cannot be repaired, it's time to throw them out.
D. Consider Your New Space
Before making any decisions, take a moment to think about your new living space. Does the space you have available allow for all your possessions? Certain items may not fit into the new design. This information will help you decide which items to take.
You can determine which items should be left behind when assessing your possessions. This can help reduce the stress and time involved in moving.
Before moving, it is important to assess your possessions. You can then decide which items to keep and which should be donated. Make a list to help you remember what you need to do.
2. Create a Checklist
Create a detailed checklist before you begin decluttering. You will stay organized and focused throughout the whole process. Sort them according to importance. This will make you more efficient, and everything will be noticed.
A. The Room-by-Method
We recommend creating a room-by-room checklist to ensure you declutter your home thoroughly. List every room in your house, including living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and storage spaces such as garages and basements.
- Living Room: old magazines/newspapers, outdated electronics (e.g., DVD players), worn-out furniture or rugs.
- Kitchen: duplicate cookware, bakeware, dinnerware sets, glassware and lids. Expiring food products.
- Bathrooms: damaged towels/rugs/accessories/fixtures; cleaning supplies/organizers/storage solutions/decorations/etcetera.
- Bedrooms: Outgrown clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and toys.
- Pet Supplies: damaged toys, treats, grooming tools, leashes/collars/carriers/kennels/etcetera.
- Garage/Basement/Storage Spaces: Broken tools/equipment/sports gear/bicycles/lawn care items/paint cans/holiday decorations/craft supplies/etcetera;
Prioritize the items and rooms based on how often they are used. Then you can decide which rooms to start with and what items are most important.
B. Prioritizing Your Checklist
You can prioritize your items by considering the room size, the amount of clutter, and any upcoming occasions. Take into consideration sentimental or emotional values. Consider certain items' sentimental and emotional value when deciding what to eliminate.
- High Priority: Items that are not sentimental or of practical value, or rooms or areas used frequently by family or guests.
- Priority Moderate: rooms that are moderately cluttered but not used every day.
- Low priority: Items with strong sentimental attachment but limited functionality.
You can make moving cheaper and easier by creating a list of items to declutter and putting them in order. Moving is cheaper the less you have to move. Happy decluttering!
3. Donate or Sell
Decluttering is an excellent way to get a fresh start in a new home. Donating or selling items you no longer need can benefit others and help with moving expenses.
A. Decide What Can Be Donated
Donate gently used items such as furniture, clothing, household goods, toys, and other items in good condition. Donate items in good condition.
- You may wish to discard a damaged, stained, or beyond-repair item.
- Consider whether anyone else might if you do not want to use the item.
- Local charities, such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army, accept donations.
B. Hold a Garage Sale
Consider holding a yard or garage sale if you have many valuable items that don't fit your new home or lifestyle.
- Choose a date at least two weeks before the event to give yourself time to prepare. You can promote your event on social media sites like Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor.
- Group them to make it easier for buyers to find the desired items.
- Prices should reflect the condition and desirableness of each item. Remember that the goal is to reduce clutter, not make a big profit.
- Set up tables or clothing racks to organize your merchandise on your sales day.
C. Sell Items Online
- Sell valuable items online instead of holding a yard or garage sale.
- eBay – Unique collectibles and Antiques
- Facebook Marketplace is a local market that allows you to sell locally without shipping.
- Poshmark is an online store where pre-owned apparel and accessories are sold.
- OfferUp is a marketplace for larger household items and furniture.
Selling or donating unwanted items before moving can save you time and money when packing and provide other benefits, such as helping charities, earning extra cash, or making new friends within your community. These tips will help you start your new home clutter-free.
Donating or selling items is a great way to help reduce clutter while also helping those in need. When moving, it is important to get rid of any unwanted items.
4. Remove Unwanted Items
When you move, it is the ideal time to eliminate unwanted items taking up space at home. Properly disposing of unwanted goods can save money on moving and create more space in your new home for your new possessions. These tips will help you dispose of unwanted items responsibly and ethically.
A. Recycle Responsibly
Recycling is a better option than throwing away any item. Many items like glass bottles, plastic bottles, and paper products can be easily recycled at local recycling centers or curbside pick-up programs. You can check your local recycling guidelines for more information.
B. Hazardous Waste Disposal
Paint cans, batteries, and electronics (e-waste) are examples—also chemicals such as pesticides or cleaning products. Paint cans, batteries (e-waste), and chemicals like pesticides or cleaning agents are all examples. For information on hazardous waste disposal, contact your local waste management facility.
- Battery Recycling: You can use resources like the Call2Recycle locator to locate a recycling facility near you.
- E-Waste: Use the Sustainable Electronics Recycling International Directory (SERI) to locate an e-waste recycling event in your area or a company certified for electronics recycling.
- Paint Cans: Find out how to recycle paint using the PaintCare recycling locator.
- Chemical: Contact your local waste management facility to learn more about hazardous waste disposal.
C. Bulky Item Pick-up
If you have large items that cannot be disposed of by your regular waste collection, such as furniture or appliances, contact your local waste company and schedule a pick-up. Local governments offer this service for free or at a small charge. Hire a junk removal company.
Get rid of extra items to make moving easier. You can also donate these items to those in need. Early decluttering will allow you to move only the essentials. If you're downsizing, these moving tips will help you get started.
Moving is only complete once you get rid of all unwanted items. Packing is easy if you plan and are focused.
5. Pack What You Need
You can save time and effort by packing only what you need. This will also help to create an organized home for you and your family. Follow these steps to ensure that you pack efficiently:
A. Create an Inventory List
Before you begin packing, list all the items in each room. Inventory the items in each room to decide what can be thrown out or left behind.
B. Pack Essentials First
Label boxes to easily locate them when unpacking in your new home. After you unload, label your boxes so you can quickly locate everything.
C. Consider Your New Space
When deciding what furniture and appliances to bring, consider the size and layout of your new home. If you only need certain items in your new house or are useless, consider selling or donating them.
D. Pack Items That Are Used Less Frequently Last
- The holiday decorations are only used one time per year. You don't have to pack them away immediately.
- Pack your sports equipment last if it is not used by family members (e.g., during soccer season).
- Although they are entertaining, books and DVDs can be a nice addition to your home. Donate them to reduce clutter before moving.
E. Get Rid of Unnecessary Items
If you have items that don't fit the categories above, decide whether to donate, dispose of, or sell them. Less is more when moving. Reduce clutter and organize your home to create a better space for your family.
Follow these simple steps to save time. You can start fresh in your home by packing only what you need. If you're downsizing, this is the perfect time to organize and prepare for a new home. Pack early and keep in mind the moving costs. Enjoy your move.
Conclusion
Before moving, you must evaluate your possessions and list what to sell, donate, or keep. You can save money and time by making a list to determine what to donate, keep, sell, and throw out.
You can earn money by selling or donating excess items. This is a great way to give back to the community. Items that cannot be sold or donated properly should not be disposed of. This is for the safety and environment.
If you need professional help with your move, contact Karma Movers. Our experienced moving crews can pack and move your items safely locally or across the United States.
FAQs
How do you get rid of your stuff when moving house?
You can save money by removing clutter and unwanted items from your home and creating space. Start by following these tips for moving:
- List all items in your house and decide which ones to sell, donate, or keep. You can stay organized and focused during the decluttering process.
- Consider donating items in good shape to local organizations. Reduce waste and earn extra money to cover your moving expenses.
- If you cannot donate or sell a product, you should dispose of it responsibly. Check with your local waste company if they have drop-off and pick-up locations for large appliances or furniture.
- Packing is a delicate process. Pack only the items that you love or need. Only pack the things you need or love. Unpacking will be much easier, and you will save money.
What is the 20/20 Rule to Declutter?
Using the 20/20 rule when deciding what to keep or throw away is useful. It is okay to eliminate an item you can replace in less than 20 minutes and for less than $20. It reduces clutter and encourages people to keep the essentials at home.
How do you get rid of clutter and declutter the house?
Decluttering your home is easy if you follow these simple steps:
- Sort your items by category, such as “keep,” “donate,” or “sell.”
- Set deadlines for each room and work on it one at a time.
- For a more organized area, use storage solutions like shelves or bins.
- Decide what you're going to keep using the 20/20 rule.
- Avoid clutter by keeping your space tidy.
How do you organize your belongings when moving?
Follow these steps to organize all your belongings before moving:
- Take inventory of all your clothing, kitchenware, and electronics.
- Donate or Sell any unwanted Items.
- Buy packaging materials, including boxes, bubble wrap, tape, etc.
- To make unpacking simpler, label and organize things together.
- To save time on a moving day, draw up a floor plan to position your furniture in your new home.