5 Things To Avoid When Decluttering Before a Move

Moving to a new town or neighborhood can be an exciting fresh start! Moving can also be extremely stressful.

Packing up your entire life into boxes is daunting for even the most organized person. Add in the extra belongings that every family and household seems to accumulate, and you have a recipe for anxiety and disorganization.

As you prepare for your move, you can reduce your stress by using decluttering strategies from the professional move managers at Potomac Concierge.

Here are five things you should not do when decluttering before a move.

Don’t Procrastinate

Decluttering your home before a move is a big job that can quickly become overwhelming, so don’t procrastinate.

Instead, start decluttering your home once you start looking for a new residence, or at least once you know your moving day. By starting immediately, you give yourself time to be strategic and systematic rather than haphazard and rushed.

The steady pace means you can break down your decluttering process into more manageable steps. You’ll feel calmer and more in control of your decisions.

Don’t Start Decluttering Without a Plan

It may be tempting to dive right in and start hauling everything out of your closets on day one. But you shouldn’t start decluttering without a plan!

Think about how your family uses each room and everything inside. Start in a seldom-used room and move to your most frequently used rooms. You can decide you need to complete one room each day, or it may be best to work for a certain number of hours each day instead.

Having a structured plan of action will help you:

• Declutter efficiently
• Accomplish your goals
• Avoid feeling overwhelmed

Don’t Get Distracted

A letterman jacket, an old photo album — many things can pull your attention once you start decluttering your home. Keep your goal in mind so you don’t get distracted.

To help you stay focused, create a sorting system that can let you make quick decisions. You need to have four piles:

• Keep
• Donate
• Trash
• Put away

Work to make quick decisions about which pile your items go into. Usually, your initial feelings about the item will tell you if it is important to you or if it’s time to let it go.

Don’t Keep Things “Just in Case”

As you declutter your home before a move, don’t keep things just in case. Part of wanting to keep items stems from the uncertainty of life in your new home.

Remember that if something you have isn’t serving you now, it is more than likely it will not serve you in your new home either. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used it in six months to a year, you should get rid of it.

Decluttering your home before a move is a great opportunity to be realistic about what you actually use — donate clothes that don’t fit anymore, seldom-used sports equipment, or accessories for hobbies you no longer have.

Don’t Take On Decluttering by Yourself

When you’re decluttering your home before a move, don’t take it on by yourself. There can be a lot of emotions that come to the surface that can make decluttering difficult. By relying on a professional organizer from Potomac Concierge, you have talented problem solvers with expertise to help you.

We understand how stressful moving can be, and they have the experience you need to ease your anxiety and get the job done. Our professional organizers and move managers help you with:

• Rightsizing
• Downsizing
• Upsizing
• Estate sales
• Unpacking and organizing
• And more!

Call (240) 200-4824 or contact us online today to speak with our specialists and learn more about our moving packages and a la carte solutions!