How to Declutter Your Home Before a Move
Moving out of your home is stressful and even more so during a pandemic. And if you’ve lived in your home for more than five years, chances are you have many belongings. The bigger the home, the bigger the clutter.
Packing everything in boxes and taking it with you sounds simple, but it’s not recommended. This is your chance to minimize and consider what you really need and what possessions you can live without. To help you along the way, we listed a few tips below on how to declutter your home before your big move.
Decide What You Need, And What You Don't
Moving is expensive, so you’re likely to reduce cost with less boxes. Go through each room in the house, starting with the room with the most items. Begin sorting out the biggest pieces first, everything from furniture, appliances, and electronics. Then you can move on to smaller belongings such as toiletries, clothing and books.
Mark all of your unwanted items, and guard your valuables such as jewelry, antiques, sentimental belongings and expensive electronics.
You’ll save time, headaches and possibly costs by sorting months or even weeks ahead of your move.
Make a Plan For Unwanted Items
Whether you want to toss things out as soon as possible, or make a profit with items you no longer need, there are many options to choose from.
Consider selling your unwanted items online and make a profit to cover your moving expenses. You can have a traditional yard or garage sale – make sure to check with your district whether you’ll need a permit or not. If you decide to sell on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or Craigslist, make sure to take quality photos of your items and respond to inquiries in real-time.
You can also donate some of your materials to friends and family or charity. Search for non-profit organizations and community centers in your area that accept gently used furniture, clothing, electronics, and books. Donating might also be one of the fastest ways to get rid of your stuff.
If the pandemic is making donating difficult, consider recycling. Know what you can and cannot recycle by visiting your town’s official website. New Jersey residents can get tips on NJ.gov’s recycling information page.
