New home, new you! Moving into a new home warrants a fresh start to your lifestyle. It’s no secret that many of us have far more stuff than we need. One of the best ways to ensure a clean and organized move, along with a fresh start in your new home is to declutter your space before your big move. This is your opportunity to clear out unwanted items and part with the things that no longer serve your life. Here are 7 tips to help you declutter your home for your big move!
1) Give Yourself Time
Get started early! Don’t wait until the week before the movers arrive to decide what you want to take with you to your new home. Cleaning out your home and deciding what to keep and what to give away can take longer than you may think. So, begin planning at least a few months in advance. Dedicate a few hours a day to declutter the different rooms within your home, and trust us, the entire process will be a lot less stressful. Working ahead and decluttering in smaller chunks will give you plenty of time to give each item fair consideration on whether it still serves a purpose in your life. Best of all, you won’t be tempted to just throwing everything into boxes simply because you have run out of time.
2) Decide What Is and Isn’t Clutter
Sorting your belongings is an essential part of the moving process. Before you begin, you should decide on some ground rules for what stays and what goes.
The 3 Box Method: Have 3 piles for every room you work through – one for the stuff you want to keep, one for the stuff you want to throw away, and one for the stuff you want to donate or sell. As you go through your rooms, put each item into one of the three piles. This will ensure that your belongings have a set location and don’t just end up in a random box. When you are done sorting each room, give the piles a final look and see if you would like to make any changes. Once the piles have been finalized, pack them into their respective boxes, and there you go, you’ll be well on your way in decluttering your home.
The Practicality Test: If you are unsure on whether you want to keep or give something away, be honest with yourself – have you used it recently, and realistically, will you use it again? For instance, set a time limit for clothing; if you haven’t worn something in the last year or two, it is likely that you won’t wear it again, so put it in the donate pile. When it comes to sheets, toiletries, and kitchen utensils, check for duplicates. Although it may be nice to have extras; one or two should suffice.
The 3 Box Method and the Practicality Test will make decluttering your home as seamless as can be. After a few weeks of proceeding with these rules, you’ll be surprised by how much you can accomplish. Don’t forget to take your donation and throw away boxes to their respective locations as soon as possible to ensure the boxes don’t pile up in your home. You don’t want your clutter to become messy boxed clutter during your moving process.
3) Start with the Easy Stuff and Leave Mementos for Last
It’s a lot easier to throw away supplies than something of sentimental value, so work through the easy stuff and leave the harder decisions for last. Set your mementos aside and go through these items when you can dedicate more time to them. This will keep you from becoming frustrated when decluttering the rest of your home.
Remember, just because you received something as a gift, it doesn’t mean you have to keep it. If it is something you haven’t used in a while, it’s best to donate the item. To hold onto the sentimental value attached to these items, take photos of the items and write down the memories that go along with them. That way, it will be easier to give away, as well as to keep the memories that are attached to your mementos.
4) Use Up Your Extra Products
Many of us stock up on household supplies such as toiletries and perishable foods. Start using your excess items now, so you’ll have less to pack and bring with you to your new home. Using up the items that can be purchased as needed will take a load off your shoulders and allow you to focus on the bigger, more important items within your home.
5) Start a Necessities Box
Make a necessities box filled with the things you will need on moving day such as important documents, valuables and devices, a change of clothes, cooking essentials, tools, and essential toiletries, healthcare, and cleaning products. Mark the box and ensure it is easily accessible so you can dive right in without having to dig through a bunch of boxes to find what you need.
6) Recognize That More Stuff Equals More Time and Space
If you’re having a hard time parting with items that you haven’t used for some time now, think about the time commitment and space that those particular items will take up. These items require space in your room, closet, or wherever they are stored, along with the time needed to keep them maintained and now moved. Realistically, these items can take up your valuable time and space, so really consider whether they are worth the effort to keep. If they don’t add value or real satisfaction to your life, it may be time to let them go.
7) Realize That You’re Giving Your Stuff a New Life
Although some of your belongings may not be of important use to you anymore, don’t forget that they could make a world of a difference in someone else’s life. Wouldn’t you rather donate a piece of clothing or extra towels to someone in need than have it kept in your closet and left untouched? You may attach an emotional connection to these items or think they will be used in the future, but if they haven’t been touched in more than a year, they will be of better use to someone else. So, donate those extra items and give your old belongings a chance to make someone else happy.
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There’s a reason why we use the term baggage. You no longer need these items to make you happy or to help you proceed with your life. A clean start in your new home with the belongings that only add value to your life may be the cleanse you have been needing. So let go of your clutter, and have a successful start in your new home!
Want more moving tips and advice? Never hesitate to contact our team with any questions you might have about the moving process. Whether you’re moving across the street or to a brand new city, choosing Deluxe Moving & Storage for your next move is the best thing you can do to ensure a safe and healthy moving experience for you and your loved ones. Learn more about our moving services and packing services and don’t forget to fill out our FREE, no-obligation quote form. We can help make your move easier and safer. Leave the work to us!