The process of moving can be stressful when you consider the amount of stuff you’ve accumulated in your home over the years. While hiring professional movers to box everything up is one way to reduce stress, imagine if you had fewer items to pack up in the first place. There’s no better time to take inventory of your belongings than when you have to wrap them up and pack them away.

Anxious to get rid of extra clutter, but don’t know where to start? Follow these tips from the professional movers at Allegiance Van Lines, LLC.

Decluttering 101

There are multiple ways to clear out your belongings; you just need to find the one that works best for you. Here are a few methods to get started:

Start Small

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that one home can hold. Don’t try to tackle it all at once; start small with just one room at a time. Depending on the amount of stuff, you can organize the task so you conquer one room per day or even one room per week. For example, set one day aside for decluttering just the bathrooms. Or perhaps just the medicine cabinet in one bathroom. The next day, move to the downstairs closets, and then the upstairs closets.

Bigger areas of the house, such as the kitchen, can be broken down into parts. Start with the cupboards one day, and the pantry on another day. Keep a box for items you no longer want, and marvel at the extra space those items leave behind.

Create A Capsule Wardrobe

What started as a viral social media challenge is actually a practical way to make use of clothing you already own whenever you feel tempted to buy new ones. A “capsule wardrobe” is a few items of clothing and accessories that can be mixed and matched to wear in different ways. You can get days worth of outfits by combining these items in different ways. This can help you see what you actually wear on a daily basis, and what clothing items can be donated or sold on thrift apps such as Poshmark.

Pick A Number

The actual number may vary depending on the amount of stuff you own, but the idea is to pick a number – let’s say 12 – and throw away, put away, or donate that number of items each day. This allows you to work with a manageable number of items, making space in a realistic time frame.

Try “Something In, Something Out”

This is a method that will work best after you’ve already settled in your new space, to keep your new home from getting cluttered once again. Any time you purchase something new (something that’s not a household staple), consider donating or selling something old. This principle is best applied to items that are “nice to have” rather than “need to have,” such as specialty clothing or collector’s items.

Use The “Five-Second Rule”

It’s not just for dropped food! The “five-second rule” essentially forces you to make a quick decision based on your first instincts. If you hold up an item and only have five seconds to decide whether it stays or goes, pay attention to your feelings: does it evoke strong, happy memories? Or is it just “meh,” nothing special? Depending on how you feel, some items will be easier to get rid of than others. You’ll know instinctively what you love and can’t bear to part with. Keep “not sure” items in a separate pile, and repeat the exercise later.

Create A Vision In Your Head

Packing up for a move is a time for envisioning what your new home will look like. You can do this by considering what your current belongings will look like in a new room: where will they go? How do you want them to look? Picture your new closets, your new shelves. If something doesn’t seem to “fit,” set it aside. Perhaps one home has built-in shelves, while the other does not. The items that fit neatly into that space may not look right in another.

Photograph The “Before” And After”

Visual people may benefit from taking photos of a space before it’s organized and after. This method can help you remember how gratifying it feels to declutter during the moments when your energy is winding down. Look at these photos when you need the motivation to take on a different closet, drawer, or room. Without the pictures, it can be more difficult to remember what the previous mess looked like.

What To Do With The Extra Clutter

You’ve done it: you’ve successfully decluttered, and now the amount of items to pack up for moving is a lot less intimidating. But what should you do with all the items you’ve decided not to keep? Though it may be tempting to haul it all to the curb, there are other ways to get them out of your home without adding more to a landfill.

Consider getting rid of stuff in the following ways:

• Post in a “buy nothing” group: These groups can be found all over the country by city. If you’re on Facebook, simply search “[City name] buy nothing” to find yours. People give away items they don’t want for “nothing.” Your clutter can go to someone who will consider it a treasure.
• Sell it on Marketplace or a thrift app: Another Facebook feature, Marketplace allows you to sell unwanted items to gain space and a profit. Thrift apps, such as Poshmark or Mercari, allow you to reach a wider audience with your stuff.
• Have a garage sale: A time-honored way to get rid of unwanted stuff that never gets old. See if your neighbors want to make it a community event.

Professional Movers In South Florida

Hiring professional movers is a great way to both reduce the stress of relocating and protect your belongings from damage. Allegiance Van Lines, LLC uses a variety of tools to protect furniture from bumping against corners, scratching the walls, or getting bumped in the truck. We assist with both local and nationwide moves, and always treat your valuables with the same care as we do our own.

For questions or to receive a quote, call today at 561-210-5120.