Tips From the Professional on How To Declutter Before a Move
It is reported that around twenty-two million people moved in the US in 2021. A move is a move whether it is across town or in the US. When moving, it is always a good idea to declutter before packing and moving your home.
This can become very important when hiring movers because movers will charge by weight. You want to size down the amount of stuff you are moving to your new home. Here are steps to take before backing your moving boxes.
1. Plan ahead
Everyone accumulates stuff over their lifetime. This includes kitchenware, linens, photos, tools, and much much more. “If you start early, you can take it slow. Physically, it’s hard work but it’s also emotionally exhausting. It’s the equivalent of your life flashing before your eyes,” comments Jennifer Dwight, a Hawaii-based professional organizer with Ideal Organizing + Design. Decluttering will take some time so set several weeks or longer aside to do this.
2. Go room by room
By going room by room, you are taking a more organized approach. While many of us will want to declutter some in the kitchen, then move on to a closet and then to the garage, this is not productive. “The benefit of tackling one room at a time is that you can better evaluate completion,” organizer Nicole Gabai, the founder of B. Organized says. “You can clearly look around that one room and double-check that you have gotten rid of everything you possibly can from that one room before moving on to the next.”
3. Make easy decisions first
Treasured items are harder to declutter because of the memories and emotions that are linked to them. This can make the process seem very overwhelming. Start with simple things that are easy decisions such as expired food, old utility bills, or clothes that don’t fit. “This is the ‘first pass,’ ” Gabai says. “You’ll go through that same room one or two more times to honestly assess how much you need to bring to your next home.”
4. Skip the ‘maybe’ pile
Do not have a maybe pile, there can be no gray areas. You should have a keep, donate, sell, or toss pile. “Always, the maybe pile is the biggest pile — and all you’re doing is putting off a hard decision,” Mary Kay Buysse, co-executive director of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers explains. “Be brutal with yourself and make those decisions.”
5. Get a floor plan
Before you move into your new home, get a copy of the floor plan. This way you can plan out the space and see what fits and looks good. This is a great way to be able to determine what to donate, toss or sell.
6. Get your Kids involved
In this day in age, a lot of things are not handed down like they used to be. “Up until the last generation, it was always a given that things were going to be handed down,” says Dwight. When decluttering get your kids’ input on what they would like to keep or toss.
Remember decluttering can be a hard and arduous task. There are professionals that you can hire. “When it all becomes too overwhelming, it might be time to bring in a professional organizer who specializes in move management,” says Gabai. “It can help you create a timeline with achievable goals to prepare you for the move day. They will hold you accountable and help you evaluate what to keep and what to toss or donate.”
