One of the more daunting tasks on the to-do list before a house move is figuring out exactly what to do with all that stuff you’ve got hanging around. First you’ll be wondering exactly how many boxes you’ll need to transport it all, then you’ll be thinking of all the trips back and forth you’ll have to make to get everything settled. Then there’s also the problem of fitting everything into your new place once it’s all been moved.
The main question you’ll keep coming back to is ‘why do I have so much stuff in the first place?’ We’re all guilty of collecting an assortment of things over the years, some useful and others not so much, but moving home presents the perfect opportunity to cut down on the clutter and start afresh. In this article, we’re looking at some ways you can make space and declutter your home before the all-important moving day rolls around.
Step 1 – Get organised
A big task like this needs planning, so don’t just dive in head first. First you’ve got to figure out what is and isn’t classed as clutter. This will differ from person to person, but a good guideline to go by is if you haven’t used it in the past year or more, it’s clutter.
We often put things away telling ourselves ‘I’ll keep it around just in case I need it,’ but when it comes to clearing up for a move, we forget we even had the thing at all. Items like that are just taking up space, so be ruthless. Work from room to room and you’ll soon have your entire home feeling more spacious than ever.
Step 2 – Throw away broken or useless belongings
It’s best to get this over with as soon as possible. Much of the stress from decluttering comes from having to part with possessions you’ve had for a long while. Regardless of whether you use them or not, it’s easy to build up a sentimental attachment, but you need to recognise when something is holding you back or simply taking up valuable space.
Moving house is an exciting time and, for many, represents a brand new chapter in their lives, so shed the weight of old, worn out belongings and you’ll feel all the better for it.
Step 3 – Sell things you don’t need
Not all clutter is entirely worthless. Some of your old belongings might still fetch a handsome price, so if it isn’t broken or damaged you can look into making some money off of it. The internet is bursting with places to sell used goods, from eBay to Gumtree and even local selling pages on Facebook. You can also try car boot or garage sales to get rid of items en masse – but be prepared for haggling punters!
Remember, the main goal here is to free up space, so don’t put too fine a point on price; the important thing is to eliminate clutter, and any payment you get from this is a bonus!
Step 3 – How to handle clothes
Clothes can accumulate rapidly and by the time we’re looking to move home we can have a tidal wave of garments flooding from the wardrobe. Clothes can be an easy impulse buy, and a large percentage of potential attire is often left unworn after purchasing, especially when bought out of season. During your declutter, it will help to dedicate a few hours to meticulously sorting through all of your clothes and deciding realistically what you need and what you don’t.
A good tip is to hang a bin liner on a clothes hanger, and any clothes that don’t fit or don’t suit you anymore, put them in the bag. You can donate these to charity or pass them down to friends or family. It might be difficult at first, but you will feel better after getting rid of clothes that you’ll never wear again, and you’ll notice the difference on moving day when there aren’t a mountain of boxes marked ‘old clothes’ to deal with.
Step 4 – Consider storage
This is particularly useful if you’re downsizing. Self storage is one of the best ways to keep possession of important items without having to get rid of them altogether or squeeze them into your new home.
Awkward pieces of furniture, large sporting equipment, seasonal items or machinery, old keepsakes and even sensitive documents can all be stored away for as long as you desire.
Storage represents the best of both worlds. You can maintain ownership of old, meaningful belongings without them littering your home or annexing vital storage areas like the garage, shed or loft. The best thing is you can keep your possessions in storage for as long as you need, and can add and take items away as you please. That collection of old magazines you can’t bear to part with? Box them up and send them off to storage for complete peace of mind; you can always go and read through them later.
Use storage before the move to make packing and transporting items as simple as possible, and then you’re free to use your storage unit to keep secure hold of anything else you require. It’s a flexible arrangement that can bear much of the burden of decluttering, so keep this in mind when you come across something you don’t want to sell or throw away.
As the world’s fourth largest removals company, Two Men And A Truck® are proud to provide a comprehensive self storage service tailored to your requirements. Whether you need storage before, during or after a move, we are here to help you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today for more information.