Downsizing before removal is a smart strategy for simplifying the packing process and reducing the clutter in your new home.
In addition, you might even make some savings from the final moving-out bill, including the moving company fees, end-of-lease cleaning services, etc. To downsize effectively, you need to assess your needs and evaluate what items are essential and what can be discarded.
Feel free to read our pack of helpful and practical decluttering tips below.
Take Inventory to Simplify the Procedure
There are many benefits to putting the inventory task before getting your belongings packed, decluttering and leaving the property. Naturally, it will help you move in hassle-freely in a smaller living space without feeling imprisoned by your personal belongings.
If you take inventory in advance, you can also see the big picture before starting to sort out the things you want to keep and those you don’t.
Many people admit that the inventory lets them understand how much they need to downsize. Having a glance at the huge pile of cosmetics you have without using it at all, for instance, can help you get rid of unnecessary items and save an extra cardboard box purchase.
Start Packing Early Not to Miss Anything
Moving out can be quite overwhelming. To reduce stress, making your baggage less is the key. But considering the amount of time you need precisely is another critical factor.
But how to save some extra hours for packing and downsizing when you still go to work, and those kids at home still need to eat and be taken care of?
Simply start packing as early as possible. This is the only way to steal an extra hour in the morning and invest in de-cluttering your underwear drawer or the enormous cabinet with kid toys.
Focus on One Room at a Time
Functional organisation is the key. There’s nothing more critical among all the expert-approved packing tips than moving from one room to another whole, decluttering and downsizing.
You can avoid the chaos in the procedure up to three times if you start tidying up a new premise right after the 100% completed packing process in the previous one.
This advice will help you later when you move in because you will have each storage unit full of personal belongings for a concrete room.
Keep a Sell, Donate, and Throw Away Piles
Ok, let’s consider you’ve reached some good starting points for your downsizing mission.
Right now, you might have a whole pile of things you deny taking to the new home place but don’t what to do with them. This is the most straightforward part of the downsizing routine before calling the man and van.
Here are some suggestions you can rely on as a start:
- Throw a sale in your home yard or near the garage. Get some more cash to fortify your removal budget by selling still presentable, functional and usable things.
- Donation is awesome! Don’t give up on this idea because the truth is that everyone feels pleasant and peaceful after doing good to somebody in need. You can donate clothes, pieces of furniture, books and even musical instruments to the local kindergartens, schools, libraries, social homes, hospitals, and you name it.
- There are things you should better move straight to the trash bin. Just face and deal with it. They don’t look or work the right way anymore. It’s not ok to make a present or to try to get cash for them.
Consider Your New Lifestyle and Changes You Want to Make
Downsizing and reconciling with the fact that some of your belongings won’t make the journey to your next home. Think about how you want to live from now on. Remember that physical items don’t bring happiness, but memories and emotions do.
Now, let’s move to the practical part of this tip:
- You might not need some of your old formal shirts and dresses if you change your job occupation;
- If you move into a new home, because it’s more kid-friendly and you are expecting right now, you might not need a lot of dangerous items for children;
- If you change your residential region from cold to hot, you might not need the ski equipment anymore.
Get Rid of Non-Essential Items Once and For All
Marie Kondo – the queen of neatness – shares that the clearer a room is, the more focus on what’s worth you get. She also adds that one of the most critical causes of the chaos in a living space is piling non-essential items over and over again.
What’s worse is getting that pile with you when you decide to move out. All the non-essential items should be removed once and for all if you wish for a new beginning in your life.
Get Help If Needed. It’s Not a Sin
De-cluttering, downsizing and packing are frustrating, energy-consuming and highly irritating tasks from the removal process.
We admire people who make it deal with all of them alone. But we are also sincerely sorry for them! It’s so stressful to go through all of these on your own, especially when being one step closer to changing so many things in your lifestyle.
Our hot recommendation is not to try to be some kind of a hero. No one will reward you with anything for your hard work. No one will even know you’ve done it. It’s not a sin, expensive or shameful to get help from:
- Moving company;
- Cleaning specialists;
- All your family members;
- Colleagues, neighbours, relatives, etc.;
- De-cluttering consultants;
- And whoever comes to your mind as a good helper.
Change Your Buying Habits From Now On
While you de-clutter, pack, donate and throw away things, you will eventually come to the most logical conclusion: you tend to possess too many items you don’t need and can live without.
Now try to calculate all the expenses you’ve made for them. A lot of cash, isn’t it? Wasn’t it better to spend them on something else? Wasn’t it better to invest them in emotions and adventures rather in non-sense items? By all means, yes! Though, what’s spent is spent. Now you can only do everything possible to avoid further similar expenses and purchases.
Try these tested and practical ideas:
- Stop overstocking;
- Avoid buying things you don’t need just because they are on sale right now;
- Don’t forget that usually, the cheap is expensive (and requires you to buy more prototypes of the same functional thing eventually);
- Make reasonable rather than emotional purchases;
- Discuss your purchases with your spouse.
Conclusion
A simple life is a beautiful life. It’s a happier life. To reach it closer, start with downsizing and stop with overconsumption.
Moving into a new house is a fantastic phase of your life, so embrace this esteemed change by ensuring you don’t get cluttered with unnecessary items again.
