How to Declutter Before the Big Move

The summer months are quickly approaching, which means it’s almost time for the busiest moving season of the year here in Nashville! There are many steps to the moving process, but decluttering your home before moving day is one step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Reducing the number of objects you’re bringing with you from place to place can bring you peace of mind.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few helpful tips from our moving professionals when it comes to clearing your space.

Start Early

The sooner you can start decluttering, the better. Otherwise, you’ll be taking everything with you to your next home. Plus, you won’t feel pressed for time when moving day finally rolls around. Once a moving date has been set, it’s time to make a packing plan.

Start by asking yourself a few questions:

• How much space will you have in your new home?
• Is it bigger or smaller than your current place?
• Is there storage?
• Are you interested in selling/donating items?

Create a Sorting System

If you’re like us, you accumulate so much stuff every year, sometimes without even realizing it. Go through each room and decide what you’d like to do with each item. They should fall into 1 of 4 categories:

1. Keep – any items that are being used and still have a purpose. It’s easy to want to keep everything, so really think about how often you use things, where they will go in your new place, and if you love them or not.
2. Donate – anything used and in good shape but not worth selling.
3. Sell – any items in good or decent condition that can be sold at a garage sale or online. Be realistic with prices and make sure everything’s thoroughly cleaned.
4. Toss – any items that are worn or broken.

Tip: for any items you don’t want to keep, use heavy-duty trash bags. They’re easy to carry, and they can hold plenty of weight. Just be sure to keep the “toss” and “donate” bags far apart from each other to avoid confusion.

Check Expiration Dates

You’d be surprised how many expired items you have lurking around your home. In the kitchen, any perishable or nearly empty food items that are expiring before or close to your move can be tossed—unless you use them before then, of course!

The other spot you need to check dates is the bathroom, where makeup products and medicine might be past their prime. On top of the expiration dates, think back to when you bought the items and how often you use them. If you don’t remember when you bought it, or it’s barely used, consider tossing it.

Look Into Storage Facility Options

Once you’ve started sorting through things, you might find you don’t know what to do with some items. These items end up in a “maybe?” pile because you’re not sure if you want to commit to keeping them, but you can’t bring yourself to get rid of them.

This is where our Nashville storage facilities come in handy. Short- and long-term storage lets you hold onto those items while keeping them out of sight. If you find yourself in your new place not missing those items in storage, you can then decide whether you want to donate or sell them.

Whether you’re heading down the block or across the country, it’s never too early to start planning for the big move. Decluttering does take a bit of time, but it’s worth having a fresh start in your new home. If you’ve gotten through the decluttering and you need someone else to take care of the packing and moving, that’s where our professional movers can help. Get a free quote from Move On today!