What to Get Rid of When Moving – A Definitive Decluttering Checklist

We’ll be honest and tell you right away that decluttering won’t be easy. And we don’t mean in terms of doing backbreaking work because if you start a few weeks early on and set your own pace, you’ll probably rid yourself of some anxiety about moving out. On the one hand, it will be hard to part with some things we’re used to having around, and on the other, the moment we start feeling how good it is to throw stuff away, it will be hard to stop. That’s why we’ve compiled a list that can steer you in the right direction.

Out With the Old! Why Is It Important to Do This Right Before We Move?

Relocations are considered the third most stressful event in our lives. But, how will decluttering help with this issue? According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, you will eliminate 40% of housework in the average home by purging unnecessary objects. Reading this statistic makes it a bit clearer why purging your home would be beneficial to your move, as it’s one of the best relocating hacks that will help you stay calm and focused. It means you’ll have less to work with when you enter the last phase before the move-out day, and it’s also the cheapest way to move out of state.

Marie Kondo’s Method Will Teach You What to Keep

Marie Kondo, the famous author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” said she sees it this way: “Identifying the things that make you happy: that is the work of tidying.” And Agency Sales Magazine says that 80% of the clutter in our homes comes as a result of disorganization, not lack of space, while there’s a shocking 80% of what we keep that we rarely even use. The KonMari Method helps us be organized by a simple motto: get rid of items that no longer have a purpose, and keep the things that spark joy. Above all, this is more than beneficial for our relocating budget, as we will have a lot fewer items on our household inventory list and make the price for long-distance moving services lower.

How Do You Minimize When Moving? Minimalism as a Way of Living

For those forced to go through a last-minute relocation, a minimalist approach may be what will save them. The philosophy of it says that we should value meaningful experiences over meaningless possessions. So, a relocation can help you adopt a minimalist approach, at least until you settle, but if you feel that it could be your new lifestyle, all the better. You can use the relocation as a chance to adopt a better way of living and thus deal with relocating stress to the fullest. You can find out how minimalism benefits your life in the video below.

What Is the First Thing to Do When Moving? Of Course, Make a Checklist

Every relocation starts with a checklist. Well, no, every relocation begins with a different reason for us to move, but the moment we decide or realize we’re going to move, we should sit down and make a checklist. The list should consist of every task that needs to be handled in the process, from hiring a long-distance moving company to packing a bag full of relocating essentials. But before we pick up the phone and contact cross-country movers, we should declutter. Reliable companies base their price on the list of the items, and if you have fewer things to move, it will do wonders for the cost of cross-country moving services, and that’s why decluttering should be one of the first tasks on the list

How to Decide What to Get Rid Of When Moving – or “I Have No Use for This Anymore” Stuff

Before you even start thinking about whether you should invest in auto shipping service or drive to the new address by yourself, as early as eight weeks ahead, gather your strength and onward with the purge. The one thing you have to decide now is which way to do it, by room or by category. We suggest you clear your way by spaces first and start with the least visited parts of your house. The stuff you have no use for anymore should be primarily located there, and it will make it easier if you were wondering how to decide what to get rid of when moving.

A Good Starting Point in Your House Is to Purge the Garage and the Attic

While we use our spare space for obvious reasons since the garage is the place to keep tools, stuffing things we don’t need at the moment is always aimed at these rooms. One of the common mistakes would be to completely disregard them and forget to pack them first – we should do quite the opposite. There are probably many broken things there, along with cans of dried paint, broken tools, and god-knows-what else you’ve been hoarding. These are all things to get rid of when moving, and as you make space, you can later place packed boxes that are ready for moving in there.

What Should I Throw Away Before I Move? The Best Way to Make Your Home Spacious

What items are not worth moving, you wonder. It’s easy to answer it. Everything that’s damaged or broken that you’ve never got around to repairing is bound to be thrown away. You have to be severely honest to yourself and avoid thinking in terms of “just in case.” Those items are never really used again and just keep making a mess out of your home. This “throwaway” step is also good when you’re preparing your home for sale to make it look more spacious and bigger.

Donate Old but Still Usable Things and Make Someone Else Happy

Once you’re done with getting rid of the items that found their way to the trash, there’s undoubtedly a lot of usable things that are in decent condition that you simply don’t want or require anymore. You can donate unwanted items to a charity and help someone in need while you declutter at the same time.

• If you were wondering how to get rid of furniture when moving, some charities would accept it. Google where to donate furniture before you move, and you may even be able to set a pick-up day.
• All the food that isn’t perishable, such as unopened cans, jelly, dried or canned soups, can also be donated. Feeding America can provide you with the necessary information about the food banks that are closest to you. Make sure you dispose of the food that has expired.
• There are probably piles of old toys stashed away somewhere that your children don’t play with anymore if you have kids. The Salvation Army and Goodwill accept toys as donations.
• We all tend to hoard clothing items that we wore once or twice and then completely forget about. Someone could really use the clothes you don’t want anymore, so set them aside for donating.
• Books are also more than welcoming items for donations too.
• Shoes and bags that aren’t worn out are perfect for donating.
• Set aside different types of linens, as well as towels that you can part with and give them away.

Donations are an excellent way to organize your move the right way, as you will declutter and help someone else at the same time.

Sell and Earn Money While You Make Room at the Same Time

If you’re thinking about how to get rid of stuff before moving in some other way and also try to reduce costs some more, throwing a garage sale is a perfect solution. There might be some stuff you weren’t able to donate but is still in excellent condition, so it would be a shame to throw it away. And you have to keep downsizing if you’re moving to a smaller home, and you don’t want it cluttered the moment you move in. Just make sure you advertise your sale well, and call your friends and family to help. The money you earn can be added to your relocation budget.

Contact a Cross-Country Moving Company and Get an Estimate

Now that you’ve got rid of most of your belongings that were unnecessary and only making a mess, you can contact your cross-country moving company to estimate the value of household goods and give you a quote. You’ll be surprised how much lower it is than what you initially thought it would be or what the movers have perhaps given you over the phone. You can choose to invest in a packing service because there are much fewer items to pack, and it will be less costly. Just don’t forget to take a photo inventory of the contents of each box.

Storing Items for a Certain Period Can Also Count as Decluttering

Large pieces of furniture can be a huge problem until you settle down in your new residence and figure out the arrangement in it. That’s why you can ask your movers to calculate storing some of your belongings in their storage units into the estimate. Some companies may even offer to store your things for free for the first 30 days.

The Non-Allowable Items Should Find Their Way to the Garbage Bin, Too

While the big date approaches, you can see some other moving day tips as valuable, too. The one that will help you move efficiently is to get rid of certain items long-distance movers won’t move. Every reliable company should provide you with a list of non-allowable things that can’t go on the moving truck, and it would be best to dispose of them on time so that you can avoid any inconveniences on the move-out day. Anything hazardous, flammable, and toxic won’t be allowed, as well as guns, perishable foods, and any other thing that could cause a hazard or simply ruin other belongings in transport. Your movers should provide you with a definite list.

In the End, Throw a Party and Use the Remaining Food

You’ve purged, and decluttered, and got rid of most of the things before your move. But there’s still food left in your refrigerator and freezer, and you’re wondering what to do with it. If you throw a party, prepare the food and invite your friends over, you’ll have a chance to say goodbye in the best possible way while you use up what’s left in the kitchen. And because you have been so good at thorough decluttering, you’ll have less stuff to unpack after a move and more time to settle in and enjoy the next chapter of your life.