HOW TO DECLUTTER BEFORE A MOVE

You’ve finally found your dream home and the offer you made has been accepted! Everything seems to be falling into place, which means it’s time to start the dreaded part of moving: the packing. There always seems to be more in your home than expected, so decluttering is crucial to your moving experience.

Be Consistent and Start Early

Whether you have 24 hours to move or several weeks, start as soon as you know the move is happening. Split up the decluttering process into smaller chunks, but make sure to be consistent with how often and how long you spend decluttering each day.

You also need to be sure you keep yourself motivated. Find little rewards for yourself, such as a chocolate bar or checking social media. However, make sure these motivators are keeping you accountable and on schedule, so you don’t fall behind. Avoiding major distractions that you know will slow you down, will help keep you accountable as well.

Ask the Right Question

When decluttering it’s all too common to simply ask, should I get rid of this item?  Or you might even tell yourself that you’ll use that item for a specific event in the next six months. While this might work if you were simply organizing your home you need to be more cutthroat as you get ready to move.

Instead, ask yourself do I want to pack this item, move this item, and then unpack it into my brand new home? If the answer is anything short of a resounding yes, then put it in the trash bag or in the donate pile!

Get Rid of It Now

After you’ve gone through different categories or rooms of your home, take the trash bag you’ve filled immediately to the garbage. Take the time each night or every few days to take the bags with donations from your home and to your local donation centre.  This will prevent you from going back through them or any of your little ones from taking little trinkets out.

This will also help you feel the momentum build as you continue to declutter and pack the rest of your house.  You want to know that your efforts are actually making a difference, so make sure you aren’t holding onto anything that isn’t packed.

While decluttering can be a pain and it may seem easier to simply pack everything up and bring it with you, remember how much easier your life will be if you have fewer boxes to pack, move, and unpack. You will also save time and space in the move and potentially even some cash.

*This post was written by Meghan Harris at Garage Guru. She enjoys spending time outside, reading a great book, and teacher her dogs’ new tricks.