Decluttering Before You Move
Moving is hard. Decluttering is harder, but only if the approach is wrong. Selling your house and relocating is more common than you think. And when it’s done right, everyone involved in the transaction is happy.
A few weeks before the move, thoughts start to pour in about the “stuff”. Do I need all my belongings? Do I want to take the box of unused hats from my hat phase to the new place?
Everyone has their way of decluttering before moving, and that’s a great strategy. I organize my belongings by each room and decide what needs to go. And the packing is easier.
Decluttering before moving can be exhausting in a big house. A big house means more space for more things. So, plan.
Set Realistic Goals
Identifying achievable goals will ease decluttering. “When I moved out of my apartment into a townhouse, the goals were different. And when I moved from my parents’ mansion-sized home into a studio, the goals were different then, too.”
Upsizing or downsizing your home will determine the intensity of the declutter.
Devise A Plan
Devising a plan works. The idea here isn’t to stick to the plan, but rather to have a benchmark for yourself.
Several people plan to declutter daily, and others set weekly goals. It all depends on your situation. When Jon relocated to Philadelphia, it took him three weeks to sort through his belongings. And he sailed through with minor glitches, as was expected.
But planning helped.
Inventory
Take inventory. It seriously helps. What does inventorying entail, you ask?
- Is the item in good shape?
- Is it useful?
- Do I need this?
- Does this still fit?
- Do I even like it?
Categorizing your belongings according to need/requirement will help with decluttering. For belongings that are in decent condition but have no use for you, they could be recycled, sold, or donated.
Categorize by Priority
Jacky Fischer of 3 Men Movers recommends identifying items as “essential, “non-essential,” and “maybe.” This method allows for a more nuanced evaluation of your possessions.
Consider Storage Solution
If decluttering still leaves you with more possessions, the next option is storage. If you are downsizing, storage is the logical solution. In this way, you can hold onto items without creating chaos in your new space.
My friend’s apartment in Philadelphia offers a basement storage unit as part of the rental. He and his wife were able to move and store their non-essential belongings in an elevator ride down.
Be Proactive
Begin the decluttering at an appropriate time. I waited until the last minute, thinking that everything would be done on time, but it didn’t. A more proactive approach is appreciated when decluttering before moving.
Be more like Jon.
Can You Declutter?
Yes, you can declutter. Moving to Philadelphia involves several factors, and things don’t fall into place when we want them to.
And that’s the beauty of relocating. You get everything done at the right time.
