3 Tips on Decluttering for a Move

The summer of surprises threw lots of plans into the air. One of the unexpected fall-outs is the possibility of either renting out your home and/or renting another place yourself. Getting ready for that means cleaning out space at home. Even if you aren’t moving, you’re probably spending more time at home—and maximizing every inch. To get needed elbow room at home, we turned to the organizing pro Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing (horderly.com), which has locally based organizers who do work throughout Fairfield County. No matter the task, there’s an organizational method to sort it. We asked Hord about decluttering for a possible move or just for more “me space.”

1. Pre-Move Purge: “Whether you are downsizing or moving to a larger home – it’s a great time to declutter and evaluate the belongings that you live with. When decluttering before a move – or what we call a “pre-move purge” – make sure to work room-by-room. In each room, start with the largest items first, like furniture. Is the guest room bed coming with you? What about the nightstands? Once you’ve made decisions about the big-ticket items, declutter smaller areas and spaces like inside drawers, bookshelves, cabinets etc. When decluttering the smaller items, sort into piles of “likes with likes.” This will allow you to see all of your items out in the open, in piles, so you can determine which to keep and which to let go of. Once you’re done with one room, move on to another and go through the same pullout, sort and edit process with each space. Put trash in one bag and donates in another so you can easily get rid of them after this process is complete.“

2. Plan Ahead: “Decluttering your home can be a lengthy process that requires serious time and thought. It’s important to take the time to declutter in advance so you’re not scrambling to make big decisions days before move-in day. The more time you give yourself to declutter, the more thoughtful your decisions will be regarding which items you are taking to your new home. Decluttering in a rush can lead to items accidentally getting tossed or other necessary items being donated or lost. Getting to know your new space before you move will also help you make educated decisions on what to keep, toss or donate. Take measurements to see if certain items will or will not fit in your new space. Planning out rooms, layouts and decor in advance will help you plan ahead when decluttering.”

3. Packing and Labeling: “Packing strategically can make your life so much easier on move-in day. In your bedroom, file-fold clothes to maximize bin space and keep items from getting wrinkled – no one wants to have to iron or steam a bunch of clothes after unpacking all day! In your kitchen or other living areas, consider packing delicate items with the linens you’re planning to bring to your new home. Linens and towels provide extra support and cushion and limit cleanup of bubble wrap or packing tissue on moving day. Once all items are packed and ready to go, don’t forget to label all boxes, bins and furniture! Labeling not only makes unpacking easier, but it helps your movers easily figure out which room your belongings should be placed.”

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