10 Tips for Decluttering Your Home Before a Move

Moving can be a stressful process, but starting with a decluttered, organized space can make the transition smoother and save you both time and money. At TJ’s Clean-Out Services, we’re Connecticut’s local experts in junk removal, making the pre-move decluttering process a breeze. Follow our top 10 decluttering tips, and you’ll be ready for moving day in no time!

1. Start Decluttering Early

When it comes to decluttering, timing is everything. Avoid leaving this task to the last minute, as you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that’s accumulated over the years. Starting the process early allows you to tackle each area of your home in a relaxed, systematic way, reducing the need to rush through and make hasty decisions. This not only results in a more thoughtful decluttering process but also ensures you won’t be overwhelmed as the moving day approaches.

Another advantage of starting early is that it gives you ample time to plan and schedule a junk removal service with TJ’s Clean-Out Services if necessary. Our team can help with the items you no longer want to keep, including bulky furniture and old appliances, making it easier for you to clear out the things you don’t need without having to worry about disposal logistics at the last minute.

2. Sort Items by Category

Sorting items by category can bring order and efficiency to your decluttering process. Begin by creating categories such as Keep, Donate, Sell, and Trash, and label boxes or bags accordingly. This will not only keep you organized but also give you a clear view of how much you plan to bring to your new home. Additionally, seeing the volume of items designated for donation or sale may motivate you to part with even more items, lightening your load further.

For items that are too large to transport yourself, such as furniture or large appliances, TJ’s Clean-Out Services is available to assist. By using a junk removal service, you can focus on your move without worrying about how to dispose of bulky items. This way, you can complete the sorting process with ease, knowing you have a streamlined plan in place.

3. Focus on Essentials First

As you prepare to move, it’s the perfect opportunity to consider what you truly need. Start by setting aside items that are essential to your daily life, labeling them as “must-keeps.” This can include things like kitchen utensils, everyday clothes, and personal care items. Once you’ve identified your essentials, it’s easier to recognize what’s less critical and therefore easier to let go of. If an item hasn’t been used in over six months, it might be a sign that you can live without it.

Minimizing your belongings now can lead to significant savings down the line, as fewer items mean fewer packing materials and less moving space. This can also reduce moving costs, giving you an added financial benefit from your decluttering efforts. By focusing on the essentials first, you ensure you’re only bringing what you truly need into your new home.

4. Declutter Room by Room

Decluttering an entire home can be overwhelming, so breaking the process down room by room can help. Start with smaller, less sentimental areas like bathrooms or closets, where it’s often easier to identify what can stay and what should go. These smaller victories can give you a sense of accomplishment and build momentum, making it easier to move on to more challenging spaces later on.

Once you’ve worked through the smaller rooms, you’ll feel more prepared to tackle larger, cluttered areas like the basement, attic, or garage. These spaces often contain bulkier items that can be more challenging to sort and dispose of. Here, TJ’s Clean-Out Services can assist, handling the heavy lifting so you can focus on keeping only what truly matters.

5. Eliminate Paper Clutter

Paper clutter is one of the most insidious forms of mess because it accumulates quietly and can often go unnoticed until it forms sizable piles. Old bills, junk mail, magazines, and miscellaneous documents can quickly take up space and create a disorganized look. Start by sorting through all your paper stacks and keeping only essential documents, such as tax records, contracts, and personal identification files. Everything else can be discarded or recycled to make your moving load lighter and your new home less cluttered from the start.

If any documents contain sensitive information, consider using a shredding service to protect your privacy and prevent identity theft. For items you wish to keep but don’t necessarily need in hard copy, digitization can be a helpful solution, freeing up space while still allowing easy access to important files.

6. Streamline Your Kitchen Items

The kitchen is often one of the busiest rooms in the house, filled with a range of utensils, gadgets, and appliances, many of which may rarely see use. Go through your kitchen systematically, deciding which items are true necessities and which are taking up valuable space. Appliances you haven’t used in months and dishware you’ve rarely touched can be excellent candidates for donation. Unopened pantry items or canned goods that you won’t consume before the move can also be donated to local food banks, making it easy to do some good while lightening your load.

Expired items should be disposed of responsibly, and for larger, bulkier appliances, TJ’s Clean-Out Services is available to help. By trimming down your kitchen items, you’ll reduce the hassle of packing and unpacking, and enjoy a more organized kitchen in your new home.

7. Decide on Large Furniture and Appliances Early

Large furniture pieces and appliances take up the most space in moving trucks and can significantly impact your moving costs. Well before your move, evaluate each large item to decide if it’s worth transporting to your new home. For instance, bulky sofas, outdated refrigerators, or old washing machines may be better off sold or donated, as they often require considerable effort and expense to move.

If you decide to part ways with some of these items, TJ’s Clean-Out Services can handle the removal for you, ensuring you don’t have to deal with the logistics of disposing of oversized pieces. By planning early, you’ll not only save money on moving costs but also ensure that your new home doesn’t become overcrowded with unnecessary furniture and appliances.

8. Digitize Where You Can

One of the best ways to cut down on physical clutter is to digitize. Photos, important documents, and even collections of CDs or DVDs can now be easily stored online or on external drives. Not only does this make your move lighter, but it also ensures you won’t have to worry about organizing or storing bulky boxes of memories or files in your new space.

Digital storage offers a practical solution for preserving your memories and important information while freeing up physical space. Make it a point to back up all digital files to a cloud storage service or external drive, so you have peace of mind knowing these items are safe and accessible anytime, anywhere.

9. Sell or Donate Unwanted Items

Moving is the perfect excuse to clear out items you no longer want or need, and selling or donating them is a great way to give them a new purpose. A garage sale can help you clear out your home while making a bit of extra cash, and any unsold items can be donated to local charities, where they’ll be appreciated by others in need. This approach not only lightens your moving load but also ensures that your unwanted items don’t go to waste.

For items that don’t sell or donations that charities won’t accept, TJ’s Clean-Out Services can handle the removal and disposal. By turning decluttering into an opportunity to give back, you’ll feel good about parting with these items and move into your new home with only what you truly value.

10. Hire Professionals for the Heavy Lifting

Handling a significant amount of clutter or dealing with bulky, hazardous items can be challenging and potentially unsafe. For a large-scale decluttering project, consider hiring professional junk removal services like TJ’s Clean-Out Services. Professionals can efficiently handle everything from yard waste to old appliances, saving you time and energy. Their expertise ensures that items are removed safely and responsibly, giving you more freedom to focus on other aspects of your move.

Whether you’re clearing out an attic, managing an estate cleanout, or simply need assistance with heavy lifting, a professional team can provide the support needed for a smooth, stress-free decluttering process. By letting experts handle the job, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your items are being dealt with appropriately, and focus instead on getting comfortable in your new home.

Ready to Declutter and Move?

Decluttering before a move is the best way to reduce stress, save on moving costs, and start fresh in your new home. At TJ’s Clean-Out Services, we’re committed to making your pre-move decluttering as easy and efficient as possible. Call us today or book online for expert junk removal and a free estimate—get $20 off when you book online!