There are a lot of hidden expenses with moving. These include breaking leases, transferring utilities, and, of course, physically relocating all of your worldly possessions.

That’s why cutting down on your possessions is an important process to undertake before your move. The less stuff you have, the easier it will be to get it to your new home!

Check out these decluttering tips to learn how to reduce what you own.

1. Answer These Questions

As you move from room to room look at all of your possessions. Be thorough and ask yourself:

• Is the item still useful?
• Is it broken?
• When was last time I used it?
• Does it have sentimental value?
• Will I miss it if it’s gone?
• Can it be given away or sold?
• Is there room for it in my new home?

2. Cut Down on Clothes

Did you know that most people only wear 20% of the clothes in their wardrobe? It’s true. No matter how many shirts you own, people tend to keep going back to the same ones.

To declutter, go through your clothes, and be honest about what you wear and what you don’t. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn an article of clothing in a year, chances are you aren’t going to miss it if you get rid of it.

3. Clear Away Knick Knacks

Let’s face it: we all like to buy little odds and ends when we travel, but in the end, most of these items just end up collecting dust.

Go through your cabinets, bookshelves, your side tables, and your junk drawers. If you have 25 mismatched mugs and 75 pens, chances are you can part with some of them.

4. Go Through Your Pantry

Did you go a little crazy the last time there was a buy-one-get-one sale at the grocery store? There’s nothing wrong with having some extra food in the pantry, but it’s essential to go through it every once in a while and make sure you get rid of items that you probably won’t eat.

Start by discarding anything that has expired. Then, look for nonperishable items that are still in date, but that you’ve had for a long time. These items can be donated to local food pantries.

5. Evaluate Your Furniture

Moving is a great time to take a look at your furniture and decide if it’s worth moving. If your couch has seen better days, it might be easier to simply replace it when you get to your new home. This is especially true if you are moving a considerable distance.

6. Put Items in Storage

If you have a small space, you may struggle to find room for big items that you don’t need every day. These could include seasonal items like Christmas decorations, or sporting items like kayaks or bikes.

A good solution to free up space in your home can be putting these items into a storage unit. This way, you can still hold on to the items without needing to clear space for them in your home.

Put These Decluttering Tips Into Action Today

With these decluttering tips in hand, you will be able to decrease the number of possessions you have. This will make your move easier and less stressful.

Need help getting your move underway? Contact us today for a free quote!