Moving? It’s time to get started decluttering. While relocating to a new place is an exciting experience, it is also time-consuming and expensive. Moving is even more costly when you have a lot of stuff.

Decluttering before moving saves you time and money, allows you to start afresh, and streamlines the packing process. If you are considering moving to a new home, here are six tips for decluttering to improve your relocation experience. 

6 DIY Decluttering Tips

1. Start decluttering early

Do not wait until the moving day to start to declutter. Instead, start the process as soon as you decide to move. Starting the process early does not only reduce the stress of rushing. It also gives you time to go through your belongings carefully, enabling you to decide what to keep, dispose of, or donate. Partner with reliable donation services like Easy Donation Pickup for seamless and affordable pickups if you choose to part with some used items that you no longer need. 

2. Consider lifestyle and function

Before start to declutter, consider the activities you want your new home to support. Do you want a place to cook, dine, exercise, and watch movies? Or do you want your new location to feature a space for praying, meditating, and hosting overnight guests, to mention a few?

You should also think about the kind of lifestyle you want to adopt after moving. Consider whether you will be outdoors more often, traveling a lot, or staying outdoors. By knowing the function of the new place and your lifestyle, you will likely make more informed decisions on decluttering or downsizing. 

3. Employ the room-by-room approach

Decluttering the entire house at once is overwhelming and time-consuming. Consider employing an organized approach to make the process less stressful. This involves decluttering one area before moving to the next. By finishing one room before proceeding to another, you can confirm you have disposed of everything you can from the space. 

When using the room-by-room approach, avoid starting with spaces that require significant decluttering tasks. Instead, begin with rooms that are easy to tackle to boost productivity and motivation.

4. Avoid purchasing new items

It can be tempting to purchase stuff you think will be helpful to your new home before moving. However, buying new items does not only clutter your current space. It also increases the things you have to pack, move, and unpack. Be sure to use what you already have and hold off buying new things until you move to your new home.

5. Involve the whole family

The last thing you want when decluttering before moving is for your loved ones to resent you for getting rid of things they were not ready to lose. For this reason, if you live with other family members, consider involving them in the decluttering process. You could help them visualize their new spaces to help them decide whether or not keeping some of their items is ideal. 

6. Seek professional help

If you do not have enough time to declutter or are unsure what to keep, toss, or donate, consider bringing in professional organizers. Professional organizers can help you evaluate what to keep and dispose of. They can also help you pack and move, keeping you within your relocation timeline and budget. 

Endnote

Decluttering before moving can be overwhelming and tedious. Start decluttering early, use the room-by-room approach, involve the whole family, or seek professional help to make the process more manageable.