Before moving, here are some tips for getting rid of stuff
A home would be bare without furniture, furnishings, electric appliances, electronic equipment, and of course – your personal items that you cherish so much. Until circumstances force you to move to another home, often in a different city or state, everything is fine. There are times when you cannot take all your possessions with you when you move house. To put it another way, you can, but you shouldn’t.
Why don’t you just pack everything you own into boxes and finish the packing job in style? Not really.
Why it’s important to get rid of clutter before moving, and how to do it.
Here are some reasons why moving house will cost you less if you have less stuff. It takes just two facts to understand the concept behind sorting out your stuff before you move and then deciding what to get rid of before you move and what to take with you. You can save loads of money in the long run by following these two little pieces of factual wisdom:
- Moving house is generally an expensive endeavor! A moving company’s average intrastate cost is $2,300, while its average interstate cost is $4,300, according to the American Moving and Storage Association. It is important to note that the moving cost is calculated based on several factors, including how much there is to move and how far you have to move it. Since you now know why everyone is frantically searching for ways to reduce moving costs, you should definitely consider doing the same, based on what you just read.
- You simply have to take much less stuff when you move, in theory. It may prove to be one of the hardest things you’ll have to do until you reach the protection of your new home, however. But why should you get rid of unwanted household items?
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SAVE MONEY by decluttering your home before moving
Some household items were never meant to last as long as they do.
When you hire a professional moving company to move your furniture and other items to a new home, a moving expert from the company should visit your home and inspect the items you have for moving. In addition to risk assessment and danger evaluation, the in-house survey will provide you with a written estimate of moving costs.
Basically, the fewer items you decide to move, the lighter the shipment, and therefore the lower the quoted price. On moving day, when the weight is actually measured after all the items have been loaded onto the moving truck, you may have to pay even less if you keep that weight to the absolute minimum. You should be able to save a lot of money that way.
Some household items were never meant to last as long as they do.
When you hire a professional moving company to move your furniture and other items to a new home, a moving expert from the company should visit your home and inspect the items you have for moving. In addition to risk assessment and danger evaluation, the in-house survey will provide you with a written estimate of moving costs.
Basically, the fewer items you decide to move, the lighter the shipment, and therefore the lower the quoted price. On moving day, when the weight is actually measured after all the items have been loaded onto the moving truck, you may have to pay even less if you keep that weight to the absolute minimum. You should be able to save a lot of money that way.
Keeping more money in your bank account during that transitional period is great, but what could be even better is earning extra cash to help you with your own moving budget. You can get fresh cash flow by getting rid of unwanted items before your move. In what way?
If you sell the things you no longer need, either online or at a garage sale, you’ll make some much-needed cash and reduce transportation costs at the same time. Discover the benefits of moving sales in the following paragraphs.
SAVE TIME by clearing out clutter before you move
Selling, repurposing, donating, recycling, or throwing away all the unwanted items is one of the best ways to reduce moving costs. Furthermore, moving with fewer household items will save you valuable packing time as you won’t have to sort, inventory, prepare, and pack them.
SAVE SPACE by purging your stuff before moving
As you move unneeded items to the new place, you will need more storage space to store them somewhere safe. You’ll save valuable storage space in the new home when you move only the things you like and intend to use in the future, especially when you’re moving into a smaller home (downsizing).
Get rid of clutter before moving to reduce stress
Moving too much clutter is known to increase your stress levels during a move simply because you know that you will have to pay more to transport all those items of yours. You know packing up all those items will take more time and money, and you know storing those unwanted items is probably a struggle.
Decluttering your home before moving is a good way to declutter your mind.
Identifying the things to get rid of when moving is the next step after realizing the clear advantages of moving with fewer belongings. It’s called sorting /inventorying/, and it’s what you should do as soon as you have some extra time.
The following steps will help you complete the sorting process quickly so that you can focus on other equally important tasks. Before you move out, here’s how to get rid of clutter:
Step 1: Sort each room one by one, starting with the one that has the most items.
Step 2: Move on to the smaller items (books, clothes, bathroom products, etc.) after sorting out the bigger items (furniture, electric appliances, specialty items, etc.).
Step 3: To speed up the sorting process, devise a quick classification method.
You should have at least four major categories: must-take items, valuables, unwanted/unneeded items, and useless items.
Step 4: Decide which items are essential.
Make a note of the possessions you will definitely take with you while listing all your possessions. Your recently purchased flat-screen TV will come with you, as will the set of expensive soft furniture you bought for the living room. The bookcase in your new home will also look lovely with your rare collection of first-editions. The new address must be safe and sound for whatever indispensable items fall under this category.
Step 5: Make sure your valuables are protected.
A valuable item can mean a lot to you for a number of reasons – monetary value, sentimental value, and so on. It’s usually these things you can’t part with unless you decide it’s better to sell some of them (not the sentimental ones, of course) prior to the move to make money and save space – read on to find out how you can do it. Your main goal, however, is to set them apart: expensive electronic equipment, jewelry, heirlooms, antiques, emotional gifts, and of course – your child’s very first pair of shoes.
When someone throws away things that used to mean the world to them, it is sad.
Step 6: Make a list of everything you don’t need or want.
This is the category you need to pay attention to because you need to get rid of the stuff in it. Sorting and reducing the number of no longer needed items will allow you to redirect your financial resources to other essential relocation aspects that require them. So, what are the things you may no longer want or need?
Items such as outgrown shoes, clothes, and children’s toys;
- Duplicate items – do you really need three toasters and two microwave ovens? ;
- Forgotten items – when was the last time you used your tennis racket? Sports equipment, musical instruments, and other special-purpose things are just a small taste of what was once great and useful but is now forgotten and useless;
- Collector’s items you no longer care about. Maybe it’s time to cash out on a sizable collection that stopped giving you any joy a long time ago? Re-evaluate your options with the factors Money and Space in mind.
- Gifts you never really liked. No, you’re not supposed to sell or give away presents made by friends or family or relatives but that big and heavy bowling ball… you don’t even like bowling that much.
- Step 7. Useless stuff. Well, you know perfectly well what you should do with anything that is broken or damaged beyond repair, or worn out beyond any further usage. Or, if you’re still not sure, see the next section to see what options you have to get rid of unwanted items in your home.
How to get rid of stuff before moving
Once you have sorted out and categorized all of the items in your home, it will become much easier to actually do something about the stuff you will not take with you. At times, you are likely to face up some tough decisions as to whether to pay for the relocation of specific items or not. Don’t be surprised to experience difficulties with the Unwanted/Unneeded category because those will be the things you are supposed to optimize in the first place.
For now, let’s assume that you’ve made all the right decisions and your next task is to figure out how to get rid of your stuff when you move – that is, the things you’re not moving to your new residence. Luckily, you have a number of good options.
Option 1: Sell your unwanted things online
Believe it or not, selling your unwanted items online is the best way to purge stuff before moving. The truth is that you know WHY you should do it too – to earn additional money to cover your moving costs! And who could possibly say NO to that!
Here are the main points to consider when selling stuff online.
- Selling stuff online is convenient but few things can match the thrill of a good garage sale.
- Selling unwanted items online takes time, unless you’re offering hot items at low prices. Decide whether you’ll have enough time before Moving day by counting the days. You can always try to sell some items online after the move, but you will have already paid for their transportation, so the purpose will be defeated.
- Make sure the items you want to sell on the Internet look their best by cleaning them thoroughly or repairing them if necessary.
- Determine the value of your stuff and set reasonable prices that will sell quickly. Whenever you are unsure about a price tag, check out similar products on reputable websites. Be careful not to price your items too low or you’ll lose money.
- To sell things online successfully, take quality photos of the items and take close-ups of problematic areas.
- Make sure you include information about the products, their strengths, and why you’re selling them to attract potential customers – take your time to write a catchy ad that will attract them. People will try to figure out if there’s a catch, so don’t forget to say why you’re selling them.
- You will need to decide how your items will be shipped and what payment methods you will accept.
- You can sell things on Amazon, eBay, and Craigslist, which are the top-rated websites.
Option 2: Moving sales are a great way to get rid of your unwanted items
Prior to moving, organizing a moving sale can be a great way to get rid of unwanted items in your home. Whether you call it a garage sale or a yard sale, the point is to invite neighbors from nearby neighborhoods to your home to buy items from your yard and garage. When organizing a garage sale, here are the top 5 things to keep in mind:
Garage sales are most effective on Saturdays, but weekdays can also be successful, especially if you are targeting people who drive by your house on their way to or from work. It’s best to start the sale early (8 am) to take advantage of the morning traffic and have the entire day to close deals. You may need a special permit to hold a moving sale – some areas require it.
Garage sales require clever advertising and reasonable pricing, just like online sales. Keep the open sale safe for small children, make the entire area more attractive, and be ready to greet anyone with a friendly smile.
Option 3: Friends and family can use unwanted items
The logical place to dispose of things you no longer want or need is a recycling center. Are you still trying to find the best way to get rid of unwanted items? There is no need to search anymore! The satisfaction of making a close friend or family member happy by gifting them something of yours they need or want can’t be matched by earning some money from the items you aren’t taking with you. From furniture to clothing to shoes, the idea here is to keep your moving costs under control while making a friend’s day at the same time.
Option 4: Make a charitable donation
This option of getting rid of stuff before moving is certainly the right one. Think about how many people less fortunate than you could benefit from your generosity! The move of your household can be an opportunity to show your community that you care. Also, it’s the fastest way to get rid of things before moving – after all, you may not have enough time to organize a moving sale or sell your items online.
You can donate your unwanted items to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Move for Hunger, Habitat for Humanity, and Direct Relief, just to name a few. Find out who the various charities support and research them. Although most of them serve worthy causes, it is still important to make sure your belongings are in good hands.
Additionally, make sure the items you are donating are well-preserved (in good condition), clean, and still usable. Some local charities will pick up your donations from your home, while others may ask you to drop them off at their locations. Do your research before deciding how to proceed. Schools, libraries, daycare centers, nursery homes, and community centers may be willing to accept your thoughtful donation of books you won’t be moving. Old electronics, practical furniture, and unworn clothes are always welcome too.
Option 5: Get rid of useless items by recycling them
Lastly, if none of the options above work for you because of the overall condition of the things you’re leaving behind, you can simply throw them away for recycling. Therefore, it is important to recycle everything that can be safely recycled.
Find a recycling center near you and dispose of your unwanted or unneeded items environmentally friendly.
You just learned how to get rid of clutter before moving with the moving tips above. Additionally, moving experts recommend that you use an excellent decluttering rule before moving that will significantly reduce the amount of clutter in your home. When you’re deciding whether to move specific items, ask yourself if you’ve used them in the past 12 months.
The chances are high that you don’t need them; therefore, it’s best to get rid of the unused things in order to avoid paying for their transportation. If you haven’t used something for more than a year, why pay to move it
