We all know that moving is a big deal for everyone, especially if you move with a whole family. Moving can be stressful and hard whether you are moving locally, moving cross country or moving out of state. Whether you are moving a whole home, apartment or just your personal things, you need to determine which are the things you need to keep or to dispose of. Think about the cost of moving, professional moving companies near you, relocation costs, packing companies, moving trucks, moving help etc. To make your job easier, here are some tips on how to make your packing days more productive, and how not to get overwhelmed with all the unnecessary stuff.
Why is sorting out important?
If you decide to use professional movers when moving on a budget you should try out moving cost estimator to get a clearer view of your moving costs. To downsize your costs think about the things you don’t use or need anymore. You can dispose of things you don’t use, sell them in a yard sale, sell them online or donate to charity. Here are some useful tips and tricks on how to decide which things to keep, and separate them from other ones that you will not move to your new home.
Write everything down and take inventory
Making a list is the first step. While going through each room in your household take the time to put on paper which things you definitely need and which are not essential. If you move and pack by yourself think about how many boxes can fit in a moving truck. Packing companies are always there to help you but certain things are better to dispose of before you move.
Taking inventory will prevent you from losing things or packing the ones you have no use for.
Remember that taking inventory is time-consuming but it will pay off in a long run. While sorting out your clutter, think about the space in your new home. If you have already picked a new house or an apartment, make a plan in your head of the storage space and where would you like your things stored. In every room in your household, there is a space with extra stuff and you will need more time to sort it out – like closets, garage, basement or home office. Have that in mind while you prepare yourself for sorting through all that stuff. If you don’t know how to do it yourself or you need ideas you can find some answers here.
It’s good to have a home inventory list for insurance purposes. Especially when you use moving companies and moving assistance. When you take inventory of your household you will have a clearer picture of all your things and it will be easier to see which of those you don’t need.
Make disposing of things a part of cleaning routine
Have you ever wanted to clean that part of the house you rarely go to? Well, packing for a move is the right time for it! For a start, you can search for all the corners, shelves, and boxes in the rooms you use every day (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom…). You are very likely to find some things you think you lost or forgot to pack. Also, cleaning the space will reveal all the stuff you want to throw away. Give yourself a day or two worth of time to look for all the hidden things in your storage space, boxes you rarely open. Check the places you don’t clean on weekly basis like a garden (if you have one), basement or hallways.
Get rid of all the unnecessary and hazardous products and chemicals
Before packing for the move, think about two types of stuff you can sort out and maybe get rid of:
- Things for everyday use. Clothes, kitchen and bathroom supplies, personal documents and memories that you can sort out. Some of them you thought you needed in your life. But many of them end up in a box under few more boxes, so you never use them anyway. When moving to a new home, think about all the clothes you didn’t wear in last year. It might be too small, too big or just out of style. Sorting it out for packing can refresh the closet in your future home. The clothes you decide to keep you can pack in space bags. They have an air suctioning system so you can save space in your packing bags.
- Hazardous chemicals and materials. Mothballs, pesticides, led paint, gas tanks and other toxic material including cleaning products. When planning a move, it is highly recommended to get rid of these things. They can be not safe for transport or highly flammable. It will save you and your local movers some trouble by getting rid of it.
- Canned and stored food. You might think most of the food you keep on the shelves in your storage space is good to eat. There is a good chance that those products are expired. Even if some food is still good for eating, try to prepare it before the move. That way you don’t have to bring it with you.
- Old and damaged things you never use. Most of us have some stuff in our homes that we barely or never use. Even if you feel like you keep it as a memory or you plan to use it again, chances are you will not. Try to feel positive about your new home that you don’t want to bury with unuseful things. These things can be anything from old ripped shoes to used gym equipment.
Getting rid of old clothes can be a fresh start for the wardrobe in your new home
In the end, make a list of the essential house products you will need to buy once you move. That applies to cleaning products, new washing clothes, air fresheners etc… Make a good plan for moving and begin a fresh start in your new home!
