Start by getting rid of things you don’t want.

Begin by getting rid of things you don’t want.

• Don’t keep clothes you don’t wear, the equipment you don’t use, or books and CDs you never look at (or only look at to dust).
• Don’t keep things just because they might come in handy one day. If you haven’t got around to repairing that broken light fitting after a year, it could be time to throw it away.
• Don’t keep things because they have sentimental value. You can probably digitize old photographs and letters, reselling your old wedding dress will help pay for the new one.
• Don’t keep ill-fitting clothes even if they do make up a capsule wardrobe when mixed with other garments. A quick trip to the tailors is all than is needed for the perfect fit.

Have a garage sale before moving day.

Garage sales are a great opportunity to clear out clutter and earn some extra cash for your house moving expenses. If you are interested in having a garage sale, here is what you need to do:

• Get help from your friends and family by asking them to donate some of their unwanted items as well.
• Have enough change on hand (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollar coins), and make sure that you have the correct price tags on each item.
• Advertise in your local newspaper or put up flyers where they will be seen by others (grocery store bulletin boards).
• Pick a good day/time so that people can come to see what you have for sale – weekends are usually best but make sure it’s not raining or too hot outside! You may want to consider setting it up in advance if there’s inclement weather expected so that everyone knows where everything goes before the big day arrives! If possible try hosting multiple sales throughout different parts of town rather than one massive one-day event; this allows potential customers from all over town access to your wares without having them travel too far away from home themselves.

Set aside items to give away.

So, how do you separate the trash from the treasures? The easiest way is to simply ask yourself, “Will I use this again?” For example, my ex-boyfriend’s dusty hockey stick has been sitting in my closet for months on end. Not once have I even entertained the idea of picking it up and using it. It’s safe to say that if you haven’t used something in a long time, then you probably don’t need it anymore.

If you want to be more practical about decluttering your home before moving, think back on your sentimental items and ask yourself if you really need them. If they’re not too important or meaningful to donate or throw away, then maybe getting rid of these things would be beneficial for both your space and mind. Additionally, think back on when you gave away some clothes or shoes because they were too small… only to later find out that they actually still fit! Maybe there’s a reason that old pair of jeans kept finding their way back into your drawers? You might not want them now but don’t throw away the items that may still fit in the future.

Donate to charity.

There are two ways to donate goods to charity in the UK:

• Directly through a UK charity shop, or
• Through a national collection service that can be scheduled online. For example, Cancer Research UK will collect unwanted items from your home and deliver them directly to one of their shops.
• Note: if you have any doubt about the condition of an item you wish to donate, talk to the shop manager first before leaving it. It might be better for both parties for you just to throw away an item that’s broken or damaged.

Sort the rest into what you absolutely need and what you can do without.

Now that you’ve figured out your needs, it’s time to go through the rest of your belongings. Think about each item individually. If you haven’t used something for six months or more, do you really need it? Can the item be replaced later if necessary or does it have significant sentimental value? Do you have other items that can fulfill the same purpose? Also, keep in mind that moving a lot of stuff is expensive, so ask yourself if what you’re packing is worth the cost.

Once you’ve taken stock of all your belongings and sorted them into categories, it’s time to store and pack up what needs to be moved.

Pack according to priority.

• Pack the least essential first. These are the items that you won’t need until after you’ve moved and are thus the easiest to part with.
• Think about priorities. When packing, consider whether your item is a high priority or low priority item. High priority items should be stored as close to hand as possible so they can be accessed easily after your move, while lower priority items can be packed away and later unpacked when time allows. This will save you a lot of time in the long run and reduce stress on moving days.

Think about how much space you’ll have when you move into your new home.

Measuring is a great way to get a better idea of how much space you will have when you move into your new home, and it gives you an opportunity to figure out what furniture or possessions will fit nicely, and which ones need to go.

If you are moving to a smaller house or apartment, then chances are that some of your belongings won’t be able to stay. If you’re downsizing, measuring is essential, because it gives you the opportunity to see what items can and cannot come with you. Most people find themselves in this situation when they move from their family home into a small flat or when they decide to retire. You will definitely have to purge some things! However, if you are moving into a larger property, then measuring can help identify opportunities for clutter-free zones in addition to those areas where more items may be needed.

The more you get rid of, the easier your move will be

As simple as it sounds, the more you get rid of before moving day, the easier your move will be. You’ll spend less time packing and unpacking, which means less money spent on movers (if you hire any) or hours spent doing it yourself.

And there’s another benefit to decluttering ahead of your move: It makes cleaning a lot simpler. While packing up, throw out anything that’s broken or damaged. Once you’ve moved into your new home, you won’t have to spend nearly as much time cleaning if everything is out of the way!

Recommended Reading: Our Other Most-Read Guide

• 5 essentials that will make moving house 100x easier in London
• Moving house? Here’s what you need to do before you move out of your old home
• Moving house: 5 things you need to do
• 8 Packing Hacks That Will Help You Declutter and Get Organised
• 5 Smart Ways to Make Moving House As Efficient As Possible
• Moving Into a New House-When’s The Best Time to Start Planning?