Top Tips for Decluttering Your Family Home Before Moving

Decluttering is often a crucial first step in the moving process and for many, it can even help to save money. However, whilst a powerful tool, decluttering can sometimes be overlooked due to the length of time it takes and the lack of understanding as to how much it can help. Creating space by discarding your unwanted items can not only save a ton of money when it comes to moving but it can also create a sense of a fresh beginning and help you to prioritise what matters most to you. Shock horror; it’s probably not that bread maker you got in 2017 and have used only once. So, put your best foot forward in the moving process and get your Marie Kondo on with some of our top tips on decluttering before a move. 

The Three Pile Rule 

Decluttering is pretty straightforward, as long as you know how to go about it. One of the first rules you want to apply to all future declutters is the three-pile rule. What this means is that every item that belongs to you needs to be split into three piles; donate, store, and sell. Clearing before moving often requires you to be a little more cut-throat than your average spring clean declutter, to avoid taking too much excess stuff to your new home. Therefore, having three clear piles gives clarity to where your belongings are going and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed with what to do with everything. When you begin separating your items into piles, make sure you are picking strategically for each piece. For example, items that go into the sell pile need to be worth the time, effort and outgoing costs of selling them, so try to avoid anything that will make less than 10 dollars. By sticking to these piles you should reduce the amount of time it takes to organise your belongings. 

Pick Reliable Storage 

For items that may not have space in your new home, but are too precious to give away or sell, then storage is a great middle ground to keeping belongings safe but out of the way. The key to success when it comes to storing your belongings is to invest in a safe and reputable storage company that can provide you with clear security measures and a trustworthy service. Look for companies that offer 24-hour security and comprehensive insurance options that provide that extra level of reassurance even when accidents happen. To make life that bit easier, choosing mobile storage can also give you time back, as the storage unit can be brought to your door, where it’s loaded and then transferred to the warehouse. As well as making your storage more convenient, this also reduces double-handling which minimises the risk of damage. 

Involve Children in the Process 

If you’re soon to be moving house with kids, then deciphering where to get them involved and what to take care of without them can be a constant battle. The perfect opportunity, however, to get all hands on deck is when it comes to decluttering. Take this as a chance to give them some responsibility for their belongings and let them decipher what they think can go and stay (don’t worry you can throw out the excess once they’re done). Decluttering is a perfect opportunity for children to learn about where their donated toys/clothes go and who they could be helping by giving them over to charity. Alternatively, you could also take them to visit the storage warehouse so they can see where some of their memorabilia is kept and how it’s transported to spur on their excitement for the moving process. 

Take it Room by Room 

Whilst you may have the overwhelming urge to tackle all the clutter in one coffee-fuelled hit, when it comes to decluttering, slow and steady really does win the race. To avoid getting overworked by the amount that needs to be tackled and surrounded by piles everywhere, working room by room can effectively manage that stress. Start with rooms that are least used such as lofts or play rooms and work your way through each room one by one, leaving the kitchen to the end as it can be the trickiest to tackle. Try to give yourself as much time as possible whilst doing this, so that you can give thought to what to keep and what to get rid of. This way you can move forward with your decisions knowing that you have given careful consideration to each one. 

Get Help Where You Can

Although only you can decide where your belongings need to go in the process of decluttering, there are many other areas in the moving process that professionals can help with. For one, hiring professional movers can also be a great weight lifted off your shoulders. Providing services like packing and unpacking, as well as rubbish removal for decluttering, removalists can make the whole process much more straightforward and stress-free. Professional cleaning services can also be extremely useful, as they can prep and clean your home before you have moved in, meaning that there is one less thing to think about in the build-up to moving day. Of course, not all help has to be professional either and now is the perfect time to cash in all those times you’ve offered to babysit or help build DIY furniture with friends. So, rally friends where you can and have professional movers take care of the key parts but most importantly get all hands on deck because when it comes to moving it really does take a village. 

Decluttering can often feel like a mammoth task but when approached methodically rather than in frantic panic, it can become extremely rewarding both mentally and financially. By conquering one room at a time with a structured plan and calling in the help of professionals, you can transform an overwhelming project into a victory for everyone involved.