Fresh Start: Decluttering Tips Before Moving Into Your New Home by Chafin Communities

Let’s be real, we all need decluttering tips for our spaces. The actual moving process is not anyone’s favorite part of the home-buying journey. Packing every single item you own can be a daunting task. However, the long-term reward is worth the temporary strain. As you pack, you may begin to find knick-knacks you forgot about, tools you never use, and for lack of better words, junk. Decluttering before you pack can make packing quicker, cheaper, and less labor-intensive. But where do you even begin? 

Pick a Date

The moving process comes with many deadlines: a move-out date, a move-in date, etc. Give yourself a timeline for decluttering as well. The earlier, the better. The sooner you start minimizing your belongings, the less you have to worry about down the road. Along with setting a deadline, schedule time to steadily declutter leading up to that date. 

Work in Small Chunks 

The best advice is to avoid biting off more than you can chew. If you try to do everything in one day, the chances are that you will get burned out and abandon the project. Pick a room or section of your home to sort through one at a time. Set aside bins for items to sell, donate, throw away, and pack. Sort through your belongings, place them in the designated bin, and keep moving forward. 

Fresh Start, Fresh Space

You are getting a new home and some of your belongings should be moving on too. If you have a pile of items that you have decided to rehome you have options for where to send them. You may want to host a garage sale or yard sale to make extra money before the move. However, if that isn’t something that you are interested in, there are various ways to sell your stuff these days. There are online marketplaces, social media groups, and secondhand stores that may buy your items. If selling isn’t your priority, consider donating to thrift stores, local charities, or individuals in need.

Ask the Right Questions 

It is up to you and your judgement to determine whether your items are worth keeping. You can ask yourself some questions to make your decision more practical and less emotional. Ask yourself: 

• Have I used it within the last year? 
• Would I replace this item if it were to break?
• Do I own multiple? 
• Can I replace it in 20 minutes for under $20? 

Closet Cleanout 

For some people, the hardest part can be letting go of clothes. You might convince yourself that you wear certain items more often than you actually do. A simple trick to help you narrow down your wardrobe is the backwards hanger trick. Just turn all the hangers in your closet backwards. After you wear something and rehang it, turn the hanger back to the correct direction. Set a timeline at the very beginning, and once you reach that date, reassess your closet. Generally, about six months will allow for good judgement. Any hangers that are still reversed by then are most likely not staples in your wardrobe, and you could likely do without. 

Lookout for Dust 

Dust is a good indicator that you could let go of something. If it has sat in one place long enough to collect dust, it is likely not in heavy use. Of course, there may be a few exceptions to the rule, but it should really make you consider its worth. 

Lose the Paper Clutter 

A couple pieces of paper may not seem like a big deal, but all of the old bills, receipts, mail, etc. begin to pile up quickly. Comb through all the documents that you have accumulated and decide if they need to be recycled, shredded, or kept. Better yet, you can scan your documents and store them digitally to save physical space and stay organized.

Practice Saying “No” 

Letting go of your possessions is one thing, but resisting new purchases is another. Just because you’re downsizing doesn’t mean it’s time to start replacing items. The goal is to lighten your load. Buying new things while preparing to move only adds to what you’ll have to pack and transport. Try to hold off on purchasing clothes and other items until you’re settled in your new home.

Letting go isn’t easy, but you have a fresh start ahead. The less you have to pack, the less money you will spend on boxes, moving truck space, and moving labor. It may seem like a hassle now, but decluttering tips will help  with the preparation and can make the process less stressful and it also sets an organized foundation for your new home.  Read more: Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home.