Are you planning on moving soon?
You know how stressful moving can be as it is.
Now just imagine trying to pack up everything you own (you own ~300,000 things by the way).
Sound impossible?
It kinda is.
Here’s the issue…
Unless you are exceptionally organized, you’re likely going to wait until the last minute to go through everything.
But when you wait until the last minute to sort through your belongings, you just end up packing boxes full of junk you don’t even need.
Ugh. Just no.
That’s literally throwing money away and wasting so much of your time.
The good news is if you use these decluttering strategies before moving, you’ll save yourself a ton of time (and stress) when packing AND unpacking.
Let’s dig in…
Decluttering Strategies Before Moving
- Why You Should Declutter Before Moving Homes
- Method That Works: Decluttering Room-by-Room
- How To Know What To Throw Out and What To Keep
- Decluttering Tips Based On Item Type
- How To Make Unpacking Your New Home Easy
Why You Should Declutter Before Moving Homes
Guess what…
When you move your possessions using an international moving company, you get charged by weight and cubic footage.
That means the more crap you pack up, the more money you’ll pay.
When planning an international move, most international moving companies advise you declutter first to save money.
But did you know decluttering properly before moving home can save you so much more than money?
Time and stress.
Research found that over half of all Americans feel overwhelmed by their clutter.
When you’re moving home and need to pack up everything you own, guess what happens to that clutter?
It follows you to your new place whether you want it to or not.
But here’s the best part about decluttering before moving…
Not only will you save money on your move because you have less stuff.
You’ll also save…
- Time packing
- Time unpacking at your new home
- Stress about trying to figure out where everything will go in your new place.
Moving is chaotic enough.
Don’t make it harder on yourself by moving things you don’t need or want.
Method That Works: Decluttering Room-by-Room
The biggest mistake when it comes to decluttering before moving is this…
Trying to do it all at once.
DON’T.
Seriously. Don’t make that mistake.
The most successful method to declutter before moving is to do it room-by-room.
That way, you don’t get overwhelmed because you’re focusing on just one area of your home at a time.
Plus, it allows you to prioritize rooms.
Start with the rooms you use the least and work your way to the rooms you use most.
For example, start with guest bedrooms, spare closets, and the garage. The less you use these areas, the easier it will be to part with the things in them.
Once you’ve gone through everything in those areas, work towards the rooms you use daily.
Here’s how you can break it up…
Create a timeline to declutter your home before moving. If you have two months until your moving day, spend a weekend focusing on one room.
Don’t put all of the pressure on one weekend to declutter your entire house.
Take breaks!
Stay consistent when decluttering.
How To Know What To Throw Out and What To Keep
Here’s where most people slip up.
Picking up that old souvenir from Prague you received on your trip six years ago and deciding you need to keep it.
STOP.
Stop making moving more stressful by keeping junk you don’t need or want.
Here are three questions to ask yourself about every single item you own:
- Have I used this within the last year?
- Will I use this within the next year?
- Does this item have a purpose in my new home?
If you answered no to all of those questions, donate it. Seriously.
Throw it away.
There are professional organizers who swear by the “90/90 rule.” If you haven’t used something in 90 days and won’t use it in the next 90, toss it.
Sentimental items are always difficult. Here’s how to approach deciding whether to keep sentimental items or not.
Ask yourself why you’re keeping this item?
Is it because you love it or are you feeling guilty about throwing it away?
There’s a big difference.
Decluttering Tips Based On Item Type
Everyone knows closet clutter and junk drawers are the worst.
But those aren’t the only places clutter hides.
Here are a few tips when it comes to decluttering based on categories.
Clothing
If it doesn’t fit, if it’s damaged or if you haven’t worn it within the last year, gone.
There’s this trick where you turn all of your hangers backwards. Within a few months, you’ll clearly see what you wear and what you don’t.
Books & Media
Be honest with yourself. Will you really read that book again? Unlikely. Keep your favorites and donate the rest to your local library or secondhand store.
Kitchen
We all have duplicates of kitchen gadgets. That second set of measuring cups? Kids baking set you never use? That bread machine from 2015. Time to let go.
Paperwork
Scan what you can. Get a mini shredder and toss the rest. No you don’t need bank statements from 2012.
Memories
Take pictures of items you can’t part with physically. Keep the memory without the object taking up space.
How To Make Unpacking Your New Home Easy
Now that you know how to properly declutter before moving home, you should have a much easier time unpacking once you get to your new place.
However, there are some things you can do to make unpacking feel almost painless.
Label everything.
This cannot be stressed enough. Label ALL OF THE BOXES.
And not just with “kitchen” or “bedroom.”
Label them with what’s inside AND which room they belong in.
You’ll thank yourself later when you don’t have to dig through 20 boxes to find your coffee maker.
Try to use clear bins for items you’ll want to immediately access. Like toiletries, phone chargers, coffee maker, etc.
And prepare for your first night in your new home by packing a box with all the items you’ll need.
Include bedding, toilet paper, snacks, medication. You get the idea.
Keep this box with you instead of on the moving truck.
When you do start unpacking take your time.
Don’t try to unpack your entire home in one weekend.
Unpack room by room, just as you did when you decluttered.
And get each room “livable” before moving on to the next.
For example, unpack bedroom boxes until your bedroom is a place you can sleep and relax.
Once it’s set up, move to the next room.
Pro tip…
If you haven’t opened a box three months after moving to your new home, chances are you didn’t need it. Donate everything inside without even looking.
Wrapping It Up
Decluttering your home before moving doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming.
Sure, it’s going to take some time and effort on your end. But it will save you so much more time later.
Not only will you spend less moving your belongings since you own less stuff, but you’ll also spend way less time unpacking and searching for that one thing you need.
Here’s a quick recap of our decluttering tips for moving…
- Start early and use the room by room method
- Ask yourself the right questions when trying to part with your belongings
- Use specific decluttering tactics based on what you’re sorting through
- Pack strategically
- Unpack one room at a time
Your future self will thank you!