So, the time has come. The house is on the market, and the dates for potential buyers to arrive in their hoards and walk through your living room snapping off photos, has been set. There is only one problem: it still looks like you have just moved in, with things you’ve long forgotten about still packed in boxes that tower crookedly in the attic, threatening to tumble at any minute.
It is about this time that your mind is telling you that if you just stack everything outside and set it one fire, life would be so much easier. While it’s true that it would be easier, it wouldn’t necessarily solve the problem.
Another issue is that if you do not take that extra bit of time to pack only the things you really need, you will find yourself paying more for your removal company to move the mass of ” who knows what’s in there?” boxes. If, instead, you just sort through it all you will find that you no longer need that broken frying pan that hasn’t seen the light of day since it’s arrival at the back of the kitchen cupboard.
Now, don’t get us wrong. We know all about the hard work that goes into packing and moving homes, but with this experience we have been able to come up with a few tips and tricks that will make your life easier when it comes to you and your belongings in transit.
Tips to Declutter Before You Move
Tip #1: Make a List
We know what you are thinking: a list is the last thing you need when there is so much that needs to be done. But by writing down everything that you have before you pack it, you will be able to develop a comprehensive inventory of all of the “not so essential” things that you really don’t need to pack. An added bonus is that you’ll know what you have and have not packed, meaning you’ll no longer chuck in just one more pan due to a lack of memory about packing the other five before it.
Tip #2: Pack Smart
Boxes are not always the answer. In some cases, we have found it easier to pack the drawers with unbreakable items such as socks, towels, and other clothes, before locking them up or wrapping them tight with bubble wrap to keep them closed and safe from scuff marks. Using the otherwise-empty spaces in your chest of drawers or bedside table, means that you’re cleverly turning furniture into packaging without any additional cost.
Tip #3: Focus
Focus on one room at a time. Not only does this give you a sense of accomplishment once the room is complete, but it allows you to clearly mark all of the boxes from that room – including a short inventory of what they contain-, meaning that your job will be easier when it comes time to unpack. As movers of households and offices on a daily basis, we can testify to just how much easier it can make a move when you’re aware of which box you need to look in to find the kettle for that well-deserved, post-move cup of tea.
