We've all moved locations at one point or another, and the process of doing so always involves taking stock of what possessions are most important to us. While this can turn into a bit of an existential exercise, most of the time it's related to our physical objects. Over time we tend to collect a lot of items that may or may not hold value to us all the time, and when we move we're forced to make some hard decisions. To keep, or not to keep? Take the process of moving as an opportunity to rid...
Tip #1: Start Early
How long do you have until you move? A few weeks? A few months? You should start decluttering right now. If you wait until the last minute, then it can be too easy to toss everything into a box or throw too much stuff away. Even if you're sure that you'll have plenty of time, life is still going to happen in the meantime, and unforeseen events may come up. Being prepared will not only help you make better decisions overall but will also put your mind at ease. The more you can get rid of beforehand, the easier it will be to move.
Tip #2: Be Organized
One excellent way to figure out what is necessary is to take stock of what kind of space you’ll have in your new place. The goal is to downsize, so even if you're trading up to a mini-mansion, you still don't want any unnecessary clutter. To do this, you'll want to divide items by room and then by importance. If you want to take it a step further, you can break them down into “must have,” “like to have,” and “don’t really need.” The more organized you are and the more thought you put into your plan of action, the better chance you have of successfully decluttering your space.
Tip #3: Donate, Don’t Sell
It’s natural to think that you might be able to make some money by having a garage sale before your big move. However, the fact is that you will earn less than you hoped for and will have to put a lot more work into a garage sale than you might like. In the end, it’s much easier for you to donate or toss the clutter. If you do have some priceless items that are guaranteed to sell, then use sites like Craigslist or a selling app, so you can focus more of your attention on packing and moving rather than trying to get a good price.
Tip #4: Learn to Let Go
This can be the hardest thing for some people, while for others, it's a breeze. On the one hand, it may be liberating to get rid of everything you own (except the bare essentials) and start over with a clean slate. However, if you're planning on buying similar things in the future then why put yourself at a disadvantage? Unless you have to purge all of your belongings for some reason, you need to put a practical spin on your clutter removal. One way you can figure out what to let go is to ask yourself this question: “If everything I own was lost in a fire, what would I replace?” When it comes...
Tip #5: Limit Your Packing Potential
If you have an unlimited amount of boxes and storage space at your disposal, then you will most likely keep more than you need. In this case, what you can do is place limitations on how much room you will have in the moving truck or storage unit so that you can figure out what needs to be donated. For example, limiting yourself to only two large boxes for each bedroom can force you to leave behind unnecessary items. By holding yourself to these limitations, you'll invariably get a better idea of what can go and what can be donated. If you want to declutter your house, then you need to come at...
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Jason founded On The Go Moving & Storage in Redmond, WA in 2009 and has personally overseen more than 25,000 moves across Greater Seattle. He holds a Washington State Household Goods Mover license (HG-064180) and writes from direct, hands-on experience in the moving industry.
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