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Decluttering Before A Home Move
Nothing is new about the fact that moving is a difficult task. However, did you realise that it is also quite confusing? How often have you held different items and pondered, "Should I simply throw them away or sell them to a thrift store?" And just as you are about to discard the useless items, a small voice whispers in your ear, "Wait. What if you require them?"
It is very tough to discard items we have grown accustomed to over many years. However, when relocating, you should choose your rationality over your sentimentality. In other words, you should be aware that the more possessions you have, the less tranquil your mind will be.
Hire the best removalists for your move house project, but don't forget that you're the only one who can get rid of clutter before packing. More than packing, decluttering your home consumes the majority of your time.
You may be tempted to toss unnecessary goods into your moving boxes, although you will likely never use them again. You must follow a decluttering strategy to make the process uncomplicated and straightforward. Let's get started.
Declutter Your Home Before Moving
Step One: Identify reasons for decluttering
There is always a rationale behind our actions. It is cancelled or left undone when you lack the proper motivation to complete a task. Understanding the aim of a task gives significance and motivates you to complete it more efficiently and effectively. In the event of a house move, decluttering is frequently viewed as an unneeded, time-consuming task.
However, decluttering is a money, time, and energy-saver in equal measure. Some of the reasons why you need to declutter your house are:
- First, it cuts down on the time it takes to pack and move because there are fewer things to pack.
- It also reduces your transportation and moving costs. The overall cargo weight will increase proportionally to the number of items transported. The outcome? You must pay an exorbitant removalist fee.
- More so, it is an opportunity to earn some money. You can make money by selling unwanted items which are in good condition. Ultimately, it will be financially beneficial for your relocation.
- Finally, it reduces your relocation stress. The most stressful component of moving is the overwhelming clutter. Investing more time and money in packing and transporting superfluous items is proportional to their quantity.
Step Two: Decide which items to toss
Now is the moment to examine which items have no place in your new residence. Let's keep things simple. Clothes and footwear you will never wear again: The wardrobe is the source of all the confusion.
So many of the outfits that no longer fit you or the shoes you purchased five years ago are so dated. Is it not pointless to move such items? For instance:
- Defective or worn items: Why should you pay to move things that you will replace within a few days, such as broken kitchen appliances, children's toys, shabby shoes or clothes, showpieces, and unwanted furniture? Instead, eliminate all broken and worn-out goods because they are no longer functional.
- Expired products: Expired medicines, cosmetics, or food products are hazardous to your health. Discard these immediately.
- Forgotten items: When you declutter your entire home, you will uncover objects that are "out of sight, out of mind." Things that are superfluous or strongly despised are typically eliminated. Consequently, the garage, basement, or attic becomes cluttered. Did you recall these products even once after so many years? If the answer is no, you will also forget them in the coming days.
- Duplicate products: Do you need six hair dryers with identical features? If you have ten bath towels, seven tablecloths, five palette knives, and three mixer grinders, you are in for the most challenging house move ever. In other words, donate or sell identical products with the same function and no use.
Even your home and office removals expert will appreciate your thoughtfulness! With fewer things to pack and transport, your transfer is already easier for you and your professional organisers.
Step Three: Use the three-box decluttering technique
The three-box decluttering tip will help you organise your possessions and lower the number of objects you move without effort. Want to make this complicated process simple and quick? Therefore, you have three boxes whose functions are described below:
- A Box (Items to Keep): As you declutter one area after another, examine the cupboards, drawers, closets, and so on with care. Rather than simply throwing it away, sell or donate it! What are all the items that will accompany you? Place them inside this box.
- B Box (Items for sale or donation): Have items that you no longer require but are still usable? Rather than simply throwing it away, sell or donate it! It may no longer serve your needs, but it may be of immense use to someone else.
- C Box (Items that should be discarded): There is no reason to relocate broken, worn, and expired objects. Visit a recycling centre to dispose of these items responsibly.
Step Four: Sell any excess items
Did we mention that relocation is also an opportunity to earn money? You should turn to the internet if you lack time to organise a garage sale or find a buyer for your used stuff. Before searching for potential buyers, prepare the products for online sale. Cleanse them thoroughly if necessary.
Remember that your objective is to easily sell the items, so overpricing them will not help. Now, take high-quality photographs of the items to be sold; buyers will base their purchasing decisions on the photos. Also, take close-up pictures of the areas that are giving you trouble and add them to the product description.
Make an exciting product description that tells the buyer everything they need to know. Mention the accepted payment methods and the shipping method. Finally, you are one website away from having your first online sale! Choose only trustworthy online marketplaces such as Amazon.com.au, MyDeal, eBay.com.au, and Trade Me.
Step Five: Apply the 12-month rule for decluttering
Regardless of how driven you are to save money, time, or energy, you will eventually face the "pack or not pack this item" conundrum. Whoever anticipates being a victim of this mentality should question themselves, "What use will it serve if I carry it with me?"
If you adhere to the "I'll take this since I might need it in the future" principle, moving on a budget will only grow more challenging. It is challenging to make such decisions, so your expert office and furniture removal companies would recommend employing the 12-month guideline.
If an item hasn't been used within a year, you don't need it now or in the future. Instead, selling, donating, or recycling unwanted items is the most effective way to lower your moving expenses. The 12-month decluttering rule is a basic test of utility to help you decide the fate of the contested items.
Strategies To Quicken Your Decluttering Process
Stop accumulating
The simplest way to avoid having to declutter is to avoid creating clutter! If you've already scheduled the move, now is the time to reduce, not expand, the number of items you need to transport! The only things that aren't included are packing boxes and tape, which you can get from experienced removalists if you plan to pack your items.
Decide on what stays and what gets trashed
This will determine the parameters for what you keep and discard. If you do not adhere to these guidelines, you will be unsuccessful at decluttering. For example, "If I haven't worn it in 18 months, throw it away," or "If I haven't even SEEN it in six months, throw it away."
Suppose you have had the opportunity to measure the fridge or furniture spaces in your new house. In that case, you may discover that certain items won't fit (or won't match the décor), so this is another option to reduce your belongings before your move.
Create a to-do list
Create a list of all the tasks you wish to complete, including decluttering, and organise them with a family member. Keep it visible at home and cross off tasks as you finish them so you can see how far you've come.
Start from the storage areas
In practice, decluttering storage areas will be easier because most items in storage areas are rarely used and may already be contained in boxes. Much of it will be easy to decide whether to keep or discard.
Before moving, we recommend decluttering and organising your attic, garage, or basement. Closets, cupboards, and pantries are the easiest to pack in all household areas.
Donate clothing and other items to worthy causes
Once you've decided to relocate your belongings, it might be challenging to know how to do it. We propose that before giving away certain products, you check with your family and friends to see whether they have a use for them. If not, numerous charities would accept them! Avoid moving business fraud and conduct your research on charitable organisations.
Ask for support
Sometimes one must simply concede. You can't declutter alone. You may need to persuade your friends and family with pizza and alcohol to assist you. So, get decluttering and have a smooth, easy, and quick move into your new home!
Hire Movers To Ease The Decluttering Process
Moving can be very strenuous. You must employ planning, proper time management, and project management skills to get it right. Decluttering as a vital part of the moving process can also be difficult, especially deciding what item will be moved, trashed, or given out.
If you don't have any skills or time for this activity, it may be strategic for you to seek movers' help. Many household and furniture removalists offer decluttering as part of their services. Give it a try!
