17 Tips: How to Declutter Before Moving House

Declutter Before Moving House: Make Your House Move Easier!

They say that moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do in life (and I have to agree!). The key to a successful and stress-free move lies in proper preparation, and one essential step is decluttering your home before you pack up your home and relocate to a new place. In this quick and easy guide, I’ll share how to declutter before moving house, offering 17 practical tips and tricks to make the task enjoyable and efficient (as much as it can be!).

Why Declutter Before Moving House?

Before we dive into the tips, let’s explore why decluttering is crucial before embarking on your moving journey:

1. Create Space: Decluttering creates more physical space in your current home, making it easier to organize your belongings for packing and ensuring that everything doesn’t have to be packed at once.
2. Simplify Packing: Fewer items to pack mean less time spent on packing, fewer packing supplies needed, and reduced moving costs.
3. Reduce Stress: A clutter-free home is a more peaceful one. By eliminating excess stuff, you’ll make your moving process smoother and less stressful.
4. Save Time and Money: Moving fewer items can save time and money on moving expenses, such as hiring movers or renting a larger truck.

Now, let’s get into the fun part: decluttering your home before your big move!

1. Start Decluttering Early

Don’t wait until the last minute to start decluttering your home. If you give yourself enough time, then you’ll be able to go through everything more slowly and thoughtfully. Plus, this will also give you time to get rid of any unwanted items before packing them up. Start to declutter gradually a month before you move, taking a little and often approach. This will help to stop the process feeling overwhelming and you won’t feel rushed into making decisions.

2. Make A Plan

Don’t just start decluttering randomly, have a plan in place. This will help you stay focused and make sure that everything gets done. Make a list of the rooms and work your way through them one by one.

3. Start With The Easy Stuff

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then start with the easy stuff. Tackle one room at a time or focus on one type of item (like clothes, books, or kitchen stuff). You don’t have to do everything at once.

4. Get Rid Of Duplicates And Triplicates

Do you really need 3 sets of towels? 4 pairs of black jeans? 4 sets of dinner plates? Probably not! If you’re having a hard time deciding what should be kept and what can go, an easy decluttering win is to start by getting rid of the items that you own more than one of.

5. Say Goodbye To The Past

If something doesn’t bring you joy anymore, then it’s time to say goodbye! If there are items in your home that hold onto memories, even bad ones, then get rid of them as well. They’ll just be a distraction from moving forward. Sometimes getting rid of things that remind us of the past can be a cathartic process, but this is one to take time over and don’t rush.

6. Focus On What You Need

Before making any decisions, think about your needs. What do you absolutely need to have in your new home? Get rid of everything else! You can always purchase more when the time comes. Take a look at the The 20/20 Rule of Decluttering: Game Changing Decluttering Hack!

7. Find Someone Who Will Take Items Off Your Hands

If there are items in your home that you don’t want or need anymore, then find someone who will take them off your hands. This is a good way to avoid throwing things away and also help out others in the process! Use Facebook marketplace or Freecycle/Freegle and gift your unwanted items. People will come and collect from you, saving you a trip out.

8. Have A Garage Sale

If you have a lot of stuff, then having a garage sale is the perfect way to get rid of it. You can set up your own or find someone who will do it for you! This is a great way to earn some extra cash from your clutter too!

9. Set Up A Donations Pile

If there are items that you don’t need anymore but they still have some life left to them, then set up a donation pile. You can give these items away to someone who will use them, or take them to a charity shop.

10. Set Up A Sell Pile

If there are items in your home that you don’t want anymore, but they’re also in good condition and someone else might be able to use them, then set up a sales pile. You can post these things on local selling sites or even put them out at the curb with a sign!

11. Get Rid Of Anything Broken

Broken items serve no purpose in your home, and there’s no point in storing and transporting them to your new home. If there is something in your home that isn’t working, then get rid of it!

12. Stick With What You Love

You should only keep things in your home if you really love it. If you don’t, then donate or sell the item so someone else can enjoy it.

‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be beautiful or believe to be useful‘

William Morris

13. Don’t Keep Anything Out Of Obligation

Don’t feel obligated to keep something just because you spent your hard-earned money on it – if you don’t use or like an item, then get rid of it! The same rule applies if someone gave you the item – my gran is always giving me things and gets quite offended when I refuse, so I just take the item and send it to the charity shop on our next trip. This way at least someone will like it!

14. Clear Out Your Closet

Closets can become a hiding place for old, ill fitting clothes. Take everything out of your closet before you start the decluttering process. This will help you see everything that you have and make decisions easier. You might like How to Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes: A Step-by-Step Guide

15. Lofts and Basements

If you have a loft or basement, then this is another great place to start decluttering. These tend to be dumping grounds for all sorts of unnecessary items so by starting the decluttering process here, you’ll be able to make inroads without causing chaos in the rest of the house. Start with the stuff that’s been sitting in these spaces for years and take it away!

16. Label Everything

If you’re having a hard time keeping track of boxes and items in your home, then label everything! This way it’s easy to tell what belongs where and when. Labelling boxes using a Sharpie is a simple way of remembering what’s in what box.

17. Break the Decluttering Process Up Into Different Days

Don’t try to declutter the entire house at once – this will overwhelm you and could lead to you giving up. Instead, break things up into different days and tackle one task at a time. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done if you break down the declutter before moving house!

Don’t wait until the last minute to start decluttering your home. This will help you get organised, stay focused, and avoid overwhelming yourself. Remember, start with the easy stuff first and end on a high note! You will soon be in your new home that is clutter free!

Meta Description: Are you moving soon and dreading the thought of dealing with all your stuff? These tips will help you declutter your home quickly and easily!

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