Preparing to move is stressful enough, especially when you have mountains of stuff to move. We’ve all been there. You can alleviate some of that stress simply by decluttering your home prior to the big move. Decluttering allows you to pack more quickly and can save you money if you’re using a reliable moving company or if you’re moving yourself. NYC movers will help make your moving easy.
In this article, we give you a few tips on how to declutter your home to prepare better for a move and ensure the process runs more smoothly.
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Get An Early Start
According to a moving company in Dallas, the best way to declutter your home is to begin as early as you can. If time allows, start a few months before you have to move so you’re not rushing. Find time each week to declutter an area of your home so you don’t find yourself putting it off until the last minute. That would only add stress to an already hectic time.
Take Baby Steps
Looking at your home, all of the stuff you own may begin to overwhelm you. So, to paraphrase an old proverb, “Don’t try to move the mountain at once; move a stone at a time.”
Start with one room at a time. Begin by focusing on a rarely used room and work your way up to your bedroom and bathroom.
If doing a whole room in one day cranks up your anxiety, consider focusing on just a closet or drawer. The more you can break down the task of decluttering into small, easy to manage chunks, the better it is for you.
Get Enough Supplies
Decluttering won’t be easy if you don’t have enough boxes and trash bags to properly sort and dispose of your items. Think about making separate piles of items you want to keep, what you want to throw away, and what you can donate as a good place to start.
Break It Down
The easiest way to declutter is to break down your belongings into organized stacks – what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of. Now is the time to be tough and get rid of things that don’t fit or that you don’t use anymore.
Consider donating to a charity or church good clothes and items that you no longer wear or use. Or, if you want some extra cash to help with your moving expenses, have a yard sale or sell your stuff on Facebook.
Be Honest
Most of us have trouble separating with our personal belongings. They bring up special memories or we keep meaning to wear it, but never quite get around to it. If you’re not sure whether or not you should keep something, be honest and ask yourself when was the last time you used it or wore it? If it’s been a long time, then it’s time to part ways with it. Chances are you won’t be using it in your new location either.
Get Rid of Expired Items
If you go through your medicine cabinet or kitchen, there’s a good chance many of the items are expired. Check medicines and canned goods and chuck anything that’s past its prime. There’s no need to move that.
Ask for Help
Lastly, don’t be afraid to recruit friends and family to help you declutter your home. Tell them you’ll spring for a few pizzas to sweeten the deal, and offer to give them first dibs on items you don’t want to pack.
With a little planning, and starting as early, you can declutter your home and make moving day a breeze. Starting early means you won’t have to exhaust yourself by unpacking all that stuff you don’t need when you arrive at your new digs. We hope you’ve found these decluttering tips helpful when it comes time for your next move.
