Moving is stressful enough, but once you consider that you will probably be packing and moving more stuff than what you need, the whole process can become overwhelming. Getting rid of stuff can be difficult because your things have value to you. Making a concentrated effort to keep only those things that you will actually use or that truly matters will make moving to your new place much more enjoyable. To do this, you need to take a close look at everything in your home, and then decide what you want to keep and how you’re going to get rid of what you’re not keeping.
Identify and Sort
Some stuff is easy to identify, such as the clothes in the back of the closet that haven’t been worn since college. The next step is to sort out the excess. Categorize everything as you are sorting through, so you will be able to focus on what goes where. Categories should include things like clothing, gadgets, books, and games.
Go through each category separately and sort each item into one of four piles: keep, toss, sell or donate. Do not hesitate over anything; the longer you think about it, the more difficult it will be to let go of it. Be ruthless in this part of the process. When is the last time you used that VHS tape or the electric juicer? What are the odds that you will use it again in the future and is it worth keeping?
Keeping and Getting Rid Of
Now that you have identified what is being kept and what you are getting rid of, it’s time to take action:
- Keep: Pack all the items you are keeping in boxes, labeled and put aside until moving day.
- Donate: Do not donate anything that should be tossed. Pack all of the donated items in a cardboard box and clearly label it as donations. There are a few different ways to donate your items, such as dropping them off at the closest Goodwill or Salvation Army.
- Sell: If you are going to sell some of your stuff, the easiest places to list items is on Craigslist or eBay. Craigslist is the best place to sell items, such as furniture and other large items. You may want to consider selling electronics and other gadgets on Craigslist as well. eBay should be used for clothing, books, toys and other small items that will need to be shipped.
- Toss: As soon as you fill a trash bag, take it to the curb or throw it in the dumpster. Make sure you are safe when throwing things away. For example, old televisions and electronics should not be tossed in the regular trash. Instead, take these items to a recycling plant or check with sites like Gazelle that will sometimes take old technology devices.
You did it; you managed to get rid of all the clutter that you would’ve otherwise packed and moved only to be pushed in a closet at your new place. Once you settle into your new home, maintain your clutter-free life by only buying what you need and use.
Contact us today at True Friends Moving for any help you may need! We look forward to moving you into your new home.