Interstate moving can be stressful. Even if you’re only moving locally, you’ll still have a lot of things on your plate. There are several tasks involved in the process such as looking for a new home, hiring the best movers in the area and packing all of your valuables. These still don’t include the adjustments you’ll have to make the moment you arrive in the new location and the task of unpacking and rearranging your valuables. But before you roll up your sleeves and accomplish all of these tasks, first things first: you need to declutter your home. Doing this will allow you to effectively sort out which items you should bring or dispose of which can cut down your moving expenses.
Decluttering should be on top of your list whenever moving. But just like spring cleaning, decluttering is often disregarded because many homeowners believe that this is unnecessary and time-consuming. Some have survived moving from one location to another without the need to declutter so there’s really no reason to change their ways – or so they thought. Decluttering plays an important role in a move and here’s how you can easily accomplish this task:
1. Start as early as possible: Being all over the place because you don’t have enough time to organize, pack and transport all of your valuables is one of the last things you’d want to happen whenever moving. Time can make or break the success of the move (and can affect your stress levels) which is why it’s always best to start decluttering as early as possible. If you already have a moving date, start decluttering at least a month before.
- Before anything else, sort out all of your valuables and determine which of these aren’t needed urgently once you arrive in the new location. You don’t need to use your holiday decorations and outdoor gear right away so consider putting them in another box, separate from your kitchen utensils and clothes.
- During this process, you should prepare two boxes which will be used for valuables to be packed or donated. Take time to assess all of your valuables and decide in which box they should go. If you think your collection of marble jars will look good in the interiors of your new home, place these in the “to be packed” box. However, clothes which you haven’t worn for the last six months should definitely go to the “for disposal” box.
- After you’ve determined which valuables you should bring and leave, packing can be easier. You’ll save time and effort from packing junk, which can also add up to your moving expenses. But if you’re not interested to do the packing all by yourself, hire a moving company which provides this service. North American Van Lines, for example, lets you sit back and supervise while their team handles all the packing.
2. Neatly organize all of your moving boxes: No matter how much you want to, you can’t pack all of your valuables in one sitting. Most often than not, you’ll need to allocate weeks just for packing, especially if you own a lot of things. As a result, expect that you’ll see many moving boxes lying around in your home as moving day approaches. These moving boxes should be stored properly to avoid any slip and fall accidents and to maintain the organization in your home.
- Find a specific area in your house which can be used as temporary storage for your moving boxes. These boxes should be stacked up to save space. As you fill a moving box with your valuables, seal it with a tape, label properly, and place it on the stack. This technique will allow you to move freely in your house, even if you’re days away from the actual move.
- When labeling your boxes, make sure you leave space to underline or encircle the texts. In this way, anyone who’ll help in transporting your moving boxes will know which box goes where.
- Your labels shouldn’t only indicate what room your moving boxes should go; it should also detail the basics of what’s inside the box. No need to go into super specific details though. Listing pans, baking equipment and measuring cups under the “kitchen” moving box is enough.
3. Don’t have a garage sale: Usually, once a homeowner successfully declutters their home, having a garage sale always comes next. How else can someone make use of items which are still in good condition, right? However, if you want to utilize your time and effort better, it’s time to change your ways. Garage sales shouldn’t be part of your to-do list when you’re moving locally.
- There are many reasons why a garage sale isn’t necessary. For one, the time you spend on organizing, pricing and selling all of your valuables can be allocated to much more important tasks for the move. Having a garage sale is also very risky as it doesn’t guarantee any profit.
- If you’re hesitant in throwing away old clothes or furniture, use online platforms to sell. Not only is this very convenient but selling online doesn’t require too much time and effort from you. On the other hand, if you have no plans for making money from your old valuables, donate them to organizations and charities instead. As they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!”
Think About The Benefits
And while you can’t have any shortcuts when preparing for a move, you can surely change your ways on how things are done. If you don’t have any idea on how to look for a new home in your desired location, hire a real estate agent rather than doing everything by yourself. And while you’re at it, make use of the tips from this article so you can declutter easily. This task can significantly affect the money you can save throughout the move and the availability of space in your new home. Your next interstate move will be memorable for all the right reasons – all thanks to decluttering!
