Given how expensive moving house can be, you don't want to pack loads of boxes only to leave them unpacked in the garage as you don't need their contents. That's why decluttering before moving house is paramount. To help you ace this otherwise challenging task, we've put together seven tips to declutter when moving house.
Let's go straight to tip #1
First things first. You need supplies for the job at hand. So as you turn and toss your house, you can pack along the way. Some of the supplies you need include packing boxes, bin liners, packing tape, labels and marker pens, bubble wraps and packing papers. This list is not exhaustive. You can add other materials that will make your work easier.
The goal is to pack the items you've decluttered into the boxes as you go along instead of having heaps on the floor. You'll pack everything appropriately and label them when done decluttering the different spaces in your house.
This may seem like a lot of work, but it isn't. In the long term, it will make your work easier. Everything you are keeping will be ready to move after the declutter process.
The next step is to be ruthless. Leave no stone unturned. The decluttering process can be hectic. And you'll be drained to the core, but that's the time to go even harder. Start with the things you no longer need. That may be a lot of stuff. So, have a plan on where to start. The most common strategy is to declutter by room. But even then, you'll have to decide which part of the chosen room you are starting with.
The key is breaking your tasks into small manageable chunks that don't make you feel overwhelmed. Block specific times of the day when you'll be organizing your belongings. Again, have a deadline on when everything should be done. This will keep you on your toes and give you a target to work towards. With a deadline, there's no room to slack.
When sorting through your items, the rule of thumb is to separate your belongings into four.
Keep it:These are the stuff you are moving with to your new house. They include items you use daily. They may also be items with sentimental value. The tricky part about "Keep It" is the clothes. Our kind advice is that don't keep anything you've not worn in the past year. Other items that you may be attached to are the books you've already read. If you will not read the book again, there's no need to carry it along.
Sell it:As you sort through your belongings, there may be items in great shape, but you are not interested in keeping them. With such items, you can organize a boot sale. There's also the option of online sale where you can take a picture of the items you want to sell and post on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Vinted or eBay.
Donate it:Apart from selling, you can also donate some of your belongings to the local freecycle group, charity organizations, or family and friends who may need them. Only donate items that still have life in them.
Throw it:This is the last category. Old items that are simply not useful but are occupying space should be thrown out. You can choose tip services, local council household waste collection services or civic amenity sites. Suppose you have hazardous items. It will be best to consult a rubbish removal company on the best disposal mechanism. You can also hire a rubbish removal company to reduce your workload.
The next tip for decluttering when moving house is to check the expiry date of food items, toiletries, medicine and even makeup. You don’t want to pack up only to realize half of the spices expired one month ago. So, go through your cupboard hunting for all the items past the expiry date. Dispose of them. The less you carry with you, the better.
Sentimental items can drag the whole decluttering process if you are not careful, as there are high chances you’ll be torn about what to dispose of and what to keep. It will be nearly impossible to let go because you have an emotional connection to these items.
For that reason, don’t waste time bargaining about whether you should dispose of or keep a sentimental item. If you are not sure, set it aside. You’ll cycle back to it once you are done with everything else.
Papers accumulate at a staggering rate. Within no time, you’ll have piles of newspapers, magazines, brochures, catalogues, and old books, spewing on the floor. To sort through the paperwork, you may need a whole day.
Gather all the papers and go through them one by one. You want to make sure that you only keep what you need. In this day and age, much of the information in the catalogues and user manuals are readily available online. You can also read magazines and newspapers online. In case of documents that you feel you may need later, scan them on your computer and have a backup. From there, get rid of as much of the paper materials as possible.
Make sure you shred any documents with your details before you dispose of them. This is to prevent identity theft.
The 30 day declutter challenge is a great way to keep the same spirit you started with to the end. In this challenge, you’ll handle one task a day. You can sign up for the challenge online and receive an email with the daily decluttering task.
You can also opt to create your own 30-day decluttering timetable and follow through to the last day. This challenge makes your sorting process straightforward. There is no guesswork.
When all is done and dusted, it’s time to hire a rubbish removal company to remove the items in the throw-away category. Take your time to look for rubbish removal companies that are licensed and registered. This way, you can be sure they’ll dispose of the waste in the right way. Otherwise, you risk being fined in the unfortunate event that they dispose of your junk improperly.
We are more than ready to help. At 1 Van 1 Man Removals, we offer a wide range of rubbish removal services, from full overhauls to waste disposal. We can help with your junk in a matter of minutes. Call us today!