If you are like most people, you have too much stuff. Most homes are filled to bursting with items that rarely get used and most of us don’t even think about all the different things we have laying around. Until, of course, it’s time to move. If you find yourself in this boat, then you want to keep reading to learn how to declutter before moving. It will save you time and money down the line.
Think of moving as the chance for a fresh start, for both you and your staff. You finally have the excuse you’ve been waiting for to clear out the clutter and get rid of items you simply don’t want or need anymore.
How to declutter before moving:
Accept that parting with some things will be hard
One of the biggest reasons so many people put off decluttering is that they don’t want to go through the emotional turmoil that can sometimes be involved. This could be due to sentimental reasons or simply a feeling of safety you get from having all those extra things around.
Acknowledge that your stuff isn’t always just stuff and you will be better set to deal with letting it go.
Determine what is clutter and what is to keep
Set rules for what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of before you start the sorting process and then stick to them.
Marie Kondo in her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up says that you should get rid of anything that does not “spark joy” inside of you but you might want to keep some more practical considerations in the mix as well.
If you have items that are made to be used regularly and you haven’t even touched them in six months, scrap them. Throw them away, give them away, or donate them. The same holds true for clothes that don’t fit anymore or that you don’t like.
Remember the more you have on moving day the more it costs
A helpful thing to remember when you are having trouble parting with your items is that the more stuff you have, the more you will have to pay the movers. This should help encourage you to really work hard at decluttering before moving.
Start with the easy items
One of the easiest places to start is with old clothing and things like old documents that you don’t need anymore. You could cut your moving day load by many boxes just by clearing out these types of clutter.
It’s also a good idea to start the process long before your actual moving day arrives. This way you won’t feel overwhelmed at all and you can take your time and make sure you make the decisions that you won’t feel bad about later on.
Keep these tips in mind when you are looking to declutter before moving and you will find the process is a lot cheaper than you thought, not to mention easier and less stressful.
If you haven’t yet hired professional Toronto movers, give us a call today, and we can help!
