A big move is a good opportunity to declutter your belongings. Decluttering your house before you move is a good idea, and is about more than just being organized. It can also give you some important peace of mind ahead of the move. 

People who have less stuff will have less to clean, maintain, and move. If you’re moving a long way, or cross country moving, a good declutter will make things a lot less stressful. 

Set A Date

Choose a date for the great decluttering. This should be about a month before you move, and it could take more than one day. Make sure you have no other plans or distractions, like guests coming over or children that need looking after. Most people are able to work more effectively on their own. 

Make A List

This helps to create a basic plan. Make this list as detailed or as simple as you want. You can list each room in the house, and write down what you want to get rid of. 

Set A Deadline

This approach might not suit everyone, but it can help some to have a hard deadline to get the decluttering done by. 

Do One Room At A Time

If you tackle multiple rooms, you’ll get confused, and overwhelmed. Go one room at a time. 

Get Everything Out

This saves time and gives you a clearer idea of what you have. Empty out everything so nothing gets missed. 

Decide What You Need

What do you really need? Ask yourself how often you use something. If you need something very rarely, ask yourself if you could manage without it. 

Start With Paper

Paper accumulates in most homes. It can take a whole day just to tackle documents, manuals, old schoolwork, and books. This can be a good place to start. Get rid of anything you don’t need or want anymore, and organise the rest. Having your important documents and manuals for your appliances in an easy-to-grab place will make things much easier when you arrive at your new home too and need your mortgage paperwork or can’t remember how to set up the washing machine!

Separate Questionable Items

This gives you a clear idea of what you need. Make some space and layout four old sheets. On one sheet, put things that have expired. On the second, put anything that is broken. The third sheet is for working items that are you aren’t sure if you need or will use. The fourth sheet is for things that are in good working order, but you think take up too much room. When you can see everything, you can make better decisions. 

Take Out The Junk

The first two sheets from this system should be thrown out. Make sure there’s nothing dangerous or hazardous in there, like old cell phones, batteries, or electronics. Find out how to safely dispose of these items. You could also use a trash removal service if you have bulky items to get rid of.