With a move on the horizon, you’re likely eyeing all that clutter you’re ready to part ways with. And when it comes down to it, all the stuff you’re holding on to can either make or break your move.
Key Takeaways
- Start by taking inventory of what you own
- Find the right place to sell items, either online or in garage sales, and donate the rest
- Throw away or recycle the rest of your unneeded or unwanted items
- Pack the rest of your items and keep an inventory
Trying to take care of all those unwanted belongings before moving can feel overwhelming. But decluttering is the first step to having a seamless move and starting your new life with a squeaky clean slate!
Keep reading, and we’ll let you know what you can do with all that extra stuff you have before you move.
See Related: Why Do I Feel Unsettled After Moving Into A New House?
#1. Take Inventory Of What You Own
Moving is one of the most challenging things you can do. Even if you’re just moving down the street, relocating can end up being exhausting, even if you’re plenty prepared.
One of the most essential parts of moving is deciding what to do with all your stuff. After all, you’re going to need to pack everything nicely into boxes so you can successfully transport them.
However, like most other people, you’ve likely accumulated lots of stuff that you’re not totally sure what to do with. But that’s why the decluttering process is so important to undergo.
Assessing Your Belongings
Moving to a new house is one of the most exciting things you can do. However, it can also be a pain.
Decluttering your items can ensure your move goes smoothly and everything happens as you intend it. But it might not be as simple as it first appears.
The first step in the decluttering process is taking inventory of what you own. If you want to truly eliminate unneeded possessions, you need to understand what you have to begin with.
It can be hard sometimes to know what you should give away and what you should hold on to. You don’t want to keep useless junk, but you also don’t want to unknowingly part ways with something you might actually need or want.
To begin, you need to take inventory of what you have and determine what is worth throwing out.
What Should I Declutter Before Moving?
There are a few things to keep in mind when assessing your belongings.
For starters, you should figure out what you need versus what you want. Oftentimes, people hold onto items with no practical purpose or value. And this can make your move much more challenging.
It’s natural to hold onto items with sentimental value or items that you use often enough. But some things you don’t truly need.
For example, let’s say you have six kitchen mixing bowls, and you don’t even cook that often. You would likely benefit from dropping a few and only taking one or two with you.
Here are a few common things you should get rid of or at least consider decluttering before your move:
- Expired food and sauce packets from the kitchen
- Old and unused cookware or utensils
- Unread books
- DVDs, CDs, and other old media
- Expired medicine
- Old cosmetics
- Clothes that no longer fit
- Unwanted jewelry, shoes, and accessories
- Old documents
- Broken or unwanted items
It would likely help to make a checklist of items room by room. Then you can prioritize rooms and take into account the items in them.
Keep in mind that as you’re taking inventory of what you have, you may need to give your moving company a detailed home inventory anyway. That way, your movers will be able to give you an accurate estimate.
Finding The Team To Make Your Move Successful
The best movers will make your packing and moving process much easier. And with The Movers Moving and Storage by your side, your move will be completely effortless and seamless to boot.
Our team of experienced professionals is able to handle anything that might be thrown their way. Whether you need help handling that heavy couch or just packing those breakable items, we can make all parts of your move seamless and easy!
Bonus: 7 Things You Should Know About Tampa, FL
#2. Donate Or Sell Unwanted Items
Now that you know what you have, you have to figure out what to do with it all. You don’t need to just toss everything you own in the trash!
How Do I Get Rid Of My Belongings When I Move?
Instead, if you want to get rid of stuff effectively and efficiently, you’ll need to start this journey well in advance. You can’t wait until the week before you move to declutter and pack.
The best way to get rid of stuff that you don’t want anymore is to donate or sell it. And you’ll need to consider the best way to get rid of particular items if you want to maximize their potential!
Host A Garage Sale
If you have a lot of household items that would be a challenge to sell one by one, a great idea is to host a yard or garage sale. A successful garage sale will allow you to get rid of lots of items quickly without much facilitation.
Be sure to advertise your sale online and set up signs around your neighborhood. Pick reasonable prices for items, and make sure that people can negotiate the price so you can part ways with as much stuff as possible.
Sell Items Online
Perhaps you don’t have enough to pull off a garage sale, or you want to sell some high-end items. In that case, you can try selling stuff online.
Make sure you take time to take quality photos of the items you want to sell. Pick reasonable prices and take into account shipping costs.
You can start by selling on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark.
For clothing in particular, you can post items on sites like ThredUp or Tradesy. Electronics can be sold on places like Gazelle, Amazon, or BuyBackWorld. As far as furniture, you’d be best off selling at places that allow people to pick it up.
Donate The Rest Of Your Items
You likely want to get whatever money you can from your items. But sometimes, you’d be better off donating your stuff.
Donating is much quicker and more efficient and will help to make your move much less of a hassle. The best items to donate will be large, bulky belongings or items that you don’t believe will end up selling for much.
You can donate items to local charities, Goodwill, or other thrift places. Donating furniture is a great way to part ways with those larger items that would be a pain to deal with otherwise.
When it comes to donating to charities, keep in mind that not all charities will accept everything you want to donate. Before you schedule your donation pickup, be sure to check their guidelines of what they will accept.
You may be able to also find a place to donate on Facebook. Check pages for your city or town to see if there is somewhere you can post items that you want to get rid of for free.
#3. Get Ready To Toss The Rest
Now that the majority of your things are either sold or donated, it’s time to part with the rest.
When it comes down to it, a vast amount of your stuff probably isn’t suitable for selling or donating. After all, plenty of unwanted items are likely rather used, worn, and torn.
In that case, you’re going to need to be prepared to toss things.
Dispose Of Items Responsibly
Before you start to fill your trash, check if items can be recycled. Many things like paper products, plastic containers, or glass can be recycled at your local recycling center instead of being tossed into the trash.
Be sure to check about any hazardous items you may have before tossing them. Things like batteries, paint cans, certain chemicals, and e-waste shouldn’t just be carelessly thrown into your trash can. Be sure to check on where and how you can dispose of this kind of stuff safely and responsibly.
Lastly, throw away anything that remains. If stuff is broken or totally worn down, tossing it will help free up more room as you pack.
#4. Pack What You Need
Now that you’ve narrowed down what you have, it’s time to actually pack what you are looking to take with you!
Start With What You Don’t Use Often
Start by creating an inventory of each room so you can keep track of what you have. When it comes to packing, start with the things you don’t use that often. Seasonal items, decor, and things you rarely use can be packed away first.
Make sure you pack your essentials last, so you can continue to use them until your moving date.
Wrapping Up
Now that you’ve decluttered and started packing for your move, you’re off to a perfect start. With your unwanted and unneeded items gone, you’re ready for the most seamless and enjoyable move of your life!
Keep Reading: 5 Tips For Moving In The Summer
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The Movers Moving & Storage has been a family-owned and operated moving company for 40 years and across three generations. Serving areas in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Spring Hill, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, and Clearwater in Florida, our simple approach to moving has not changed since the day we opened. We treat our customers like family and their belongings like our own. For more moving facts and information, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
