How To Declutter For a Move
Just bought a home? it doesn't matter if it's your first one or your 7th one, (or even if you're still renting), moving is a pain. Packing up every single thing you own only to lug it all the way to a new place and unpack it all.
If you've lived in your old place for a few years, chances are good that you've accumulated more stuff than you'd even realized, a good chunk of which you either don't need or want.
So, what's the best way to declutter and minimize some of that unwanted stuff? Well, there's a few different methods and tips to consider.
1. Plan Ahead
Make sure you think about what you're going to need before you set your sights on decluttering. Have a think about the house you're going to be moving into, and think about the spaces that your stuff will occupy.
Are you downsizing? you might need to be more aggressive with your decluttering. A bigger space? Might be worth hanging onto some of the more ornamental stuff to help fill out space if you don't want an aggressively minimalist look.
Next, work out what kind of stuff you're going to need to help make decluttering a breeze. Chances are good you'll need more than a few garbage bags, and a few cardboard boxes. Getting rid of bigger items? It might not hurt to consider booking in for a skip or working out if you can take advantage of your local councils free rubbish removal program.
If you're planning on decluttering at the same time as you're packing, effectively killing two birds with one stone, make sure you've got everything there ready to pack with. OfficeWorks or Bunnings sell stacks of cardboard boxes or plastic containers for cheap that are perfect for moving.
2. Narrow your focus
As tempting as it is to say, "I'll start with the loungeroom", that's an easy way to get overwhelmed quickly. What you should do instead is to pick a room, and then pick a category to narrow it down further. The TV stand and gaming system first, then the bookcases, then everything piled up on your coffee table, then furniture. Breaking it down makes each section easier to navigate.
In the bathroom, start with medicine, then what's behind the mirror, then makeup/beauty products, then towels, and finally whatever's left over.
This technique works better in area's with lots of stuff, like the kitchen, garage or storage closet.
3. 3 box sorting system
Grab three big boxes (or bags) and take them with you wherever you go. Label them To Keep, Get Rid Of and finally Other.
The first two are self-explanatory; as you pull out items, take a good think about whether you want to lug it with you or not, and place it in the corresponding box. The to keep box can continually be taped up and sat aside once it's full to be ready for the move. Just grab another box and keep up the process. When you fill up this box, try and keep it relatively categorized, and write what's on top of the box lid as you go. Chances are good you'll have no clue what you just put in there once it's taped up.
Be as detailed here as possible, and list everything going in there. No one wants to move house and have to search through 10 boxes of "Kitchen" just to find some cups to have a drink out of once you're exhausted.
With your Get Rid Of box, repeat the previous step but now you have to decide what you're going to do with it. Does it warrant just throwing in the bin, or is it something that you can donate to charity? Conversely, if you've planned far enough ahead, could you hold a garage sale before hand?
Finally, your "Other" box is for everything that you can't make your mind up about. You need to be pretty careful here that this box doesn't become your substitute for the "Get Rid Of" box. Make sure you label what's inside these boxes on the side instead of on the lid, so you can still see what's inside when stacked up.
The idea with these boxes is that you can take them with you, stack them up in your spare room and still see what's in them. Then, leave them there for a month. Anything that you haven't taken out and used in that time is going to be thrown out.
4. Other important things to consider
When you're going through this process, make sure there are a few other things that you consider.
Getting rid of stuff is hard for a lot of people. A lot of people are still emotionally attached to seemingly ordinary objects, so if you're doing this with a partner, be aware of that.
The 80/20 rule. Most people only wear 20% of what's in there wardrobe regularly. We're not saying to throw out your special occasion clothing, like suits that only make an appearance at weddings, but maybe it's time to give up your "Color Run 2011" shirt that's stuffed in the back of the wardrobe you were convinced you had lost.
Get over your sunk costs. It sucks that you paid a small fortune for things you thought you were going to love, but there's no point hanging onto them just because they cost you more than you'd admit to your friends. Chances are good you'll still get a half decent price whatever it is (vintage clothes, some new-fangled kitchen gadget or that expensive get rich quick book hidden under your couch).
Make sure you really love whatever you're taking with you. If there's even the briefest glimmer of "maybe" in your heart, put it in the Other box.
If you've just bought a new place and want to be certain that your family is going to be safe, make sure that you have an independent building inspection undertaken.
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