Moving to a new home is the perfect opportunity to assess your belongings and decide your needs. Decluttering before a move not only makes packing easier but can also save you money on moving costs. Plus, starting fresh in your new space with only the essentials helps create a cleaner, more organized home from day one. Here’s a practical guide to help you declutter effectively before your move.

Start Early and Tackle One Room at a Time

The earlier you start decluttering, the better. Ideally, you should begin the process several weeks before your move to give yourself enough time to go through everything without feeling rushed. Breaking the job into smaller tasks makes it more manageable, so tackle one room or category at a time.

Start with rooms or spaces you use the least, such as the attic, garage, or guest room, before moving on to more heavily used areas like the kitchen and bedrooms. Sorting by category—clothes, books, kitchen items—can also help organize the process.

Set Clear Decluttering Criteria

It can be hard to decide what to keep and what to let go of, so set clear criteria for decluttering. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I use this item regularly?
  • Does it serve a purpose in my new home?
  • Is it in good condition, or is it worn out or broken?
  • Does it have sentimental value, or am I keeping it out of habit?

If you haven’t used an item in the past year, it’s probably time to let it go. Be honest with yourself—moving things you don’t need or want only adds to your stress and moving expenses.

Sort Items into Categories

As you go through your belongings, sort them into four categories: Keep, Donate, Sell, and Discard.

  • Keep: These are items you’ll need and use in your new home.
  • Donate: Gently used items that no longer serve you but could benefit someone else can be donated to local charities or shelters.
  • Sell: If you have valuable items you no longer need, consider selling them through online marketplaces, garage sales, or consignment shops.
  • Discard: Anything broken, damaged, or unusable should be thrown away or recycled responsibly.

This process reduces the number of items you need to move and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your unwanted belongings are going to good homes or being responsibly disposed of.

Focus on Big Items First

Decluttering larger items like furniture, appliances, and electronics can make a significant impact early in the process. Consider whether each piece of furniture will fit in your new home or if it’s something you’ve been meaning to replace. Bulky items can be expensive to move, so if it’s time to part with a large sofa or an outdated TV, now is the best time to do it.

Once you’ve made decisions on these more significant items, focusing on smaller categories, like clothes, books, and decor will be easier.

Digitize What You Can

Moving is a great time to let go of old paperwork, photos, and other documents cluttering up your home. Scan important documents and photos to create digital backups, and discard the physical copies you no longer need. This reduces paper clutter and gives you easy access to important files in the future.

Be sure to shred sensitive paperwork before discarding it to protect your personal information.

Plan for Donations and Disposals

Once you’ve sorted everything, plan to get rid of the items you aren’t taking with you. Arrange donation pickups with local charities or drop off items at donation centers. Some organizations offer free pickup services for large items, such as furniture or appliances.

Take clear photos of items you plan to sell and list them on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or local buy-and-sell groups. Be sure to price items fairly and allow enough time before your move to complete the sales.

If you have anything to throw away, rent a dumpster or schedule a bulk trash pickup to dispose of it responsibly.

Start Fresh in Your New Space

Decluttering before a move may feel like a big task, but it’s worth the effort. You’ll save time, money, and energy by only moving what you truly need and want in your new home. Plus, you’ll get the satisfaction of starting fresh in an organized space, free from clutter.

Declutter Now, Stress Less Later!

By decluttering before your move, you set yourself up for a smoother, more efficient moving experience. Less stuff to pack, move, and unpack means less stress overall—so get started today and enjoy the benefits of a clutter-free move!