Moving is easier when you don’t have to pack boxes and boxes of items you will never use again in your new house. That is why it is advisable to purge before you start packing for a move. Downsizing makes a move less stressful and easier on your pockets. Here is a guide for downsizing ahead of a move.
Start in advance
Downsizing can take longer than you think, so start early to allow yourself enough time to make crucial decisions. Besides, it can be challenging to sort through your entire house in a single weekend or week, depending on how massive your home is. A moving company expert recommends taking it one room at a time when downsizing and allowing yourself enough time to sort through each room. You will find downsizing less stressful when you are not in a hurry.
Begin small
It can be tempting to start downsizing in your bedroom or garage, but you should avoid giving the most oversized rooms attention early on. Start sorting through the less-used rooms, such as the guest bedroom and the laundry room, where you have little emotional attachment.
Your garage, basement, and attic may be the most challenging rooms to tackle as they tend to accumulate a lot of clutter, toys, holiday accessories, and boxes with old stuff. You can tackle them in the end when you have sorted through the other rooms.
Purge rooms you won’t have in your new house.
It is best to eliminate all the items in the rooms you won’t have in your new house. For instance, if you are moving to an apartment, it might not have an office or garage space, so you should purge everything in these rooms. The best approach is to pick out the items you don’t need and then pack the rest.
Eliminate the duplicates
Duplicates are mostly found in the kitchen. For instance, get rid of several spatulas or oversized pots you don’t need. There is no need to hold on to that second roasting pan, and you only use it once a year. You can give it away to a family member or donate it to charity.
Make two piles
When going through your items, make a yes, and no pile. The yes pile includes the things you will carry to your new home, and the no pile consists of unwanted items. You must resist the urge to make another pile of the things you are unsure about because you will be doing zero work.
Resist the urge to say that you will deal with the items you are unsure about purging once you get to the new house. You won’t, and that will be part of the clutter in your new home.
Reminisce
When clearing your items, you will go through moments when you want to stop emptying the rooms and reminisce about the things you are purging. Do not be hard on yourself, and take your time to reflect on the old and once-prized possessions. You started purging early to allow yourself enough time to make these tough decisions.
Final word
Consider digitizing photos, movies, and CDs to save more space in your new house.
