Sort and Organize
Start going through each room of your house to sort and organize your belongings. Set aside the things you won’t need in your new home to either be thrown away, given away, or sold. Make a pile of these items, or put them into boxes.
For those things that you want to bring with you, organize and sort them as well. If you’re having a hard time keeping the giveaway items from the items you’ll keep, put the things you want to give away into the garage.
Start Downsizing
As soon as you can, start getting rid of those things you no longer need. Contact charities in your area to find out what they’ll accept. It’s better to give things away to people who need them than it is to throw things into the trash.
If you want to unload sentimental items, give them to friends and family. Whatever is left over, recycle. Contact your sanitation department to find out the best drop-off locations or ways to dispose of things that you cannot give away.
Have a Garage Sale
Start planning a garage sale for the coming year. This is a good way to get rid of excess things and make money for your move at the same time. Garage sales take a lot of time to plan, so get started now. Anything you find that you want to sell, put a price on it and stick it in a box.
Start talking to neighbors about holding a garage sale together. The more households that participate in your garage sale, the more people will be drawn to the sale and the more successful it will be.
Accumulate Boxes
Boxes are a critical part of many relocations. People who move spend lots of time running to the store to buy more boxes. Accumulating boxes in advance will help you be more productive when the time comes to actually start packing. Having boxes in your garage in large numbers will enable you start packing quickly and without taking breaks to get more supplies.
Get Rid of Old, Unwanted Furniture
You’re not likely to bring all of your furniture with you when you move. If you have pieces of furniture that you are unlikely to want in your new house, start getting rid of that furniture now. You may not be able to sell it, but you may be able to give it away through social media or online classified ads.
Giving away your old furniture is ideal because it costs no money, but it may take time. Take pictures of your furniture pieces and list them as soon as possible.
Get Rid of Unneeded Seasonal Things
As you go through your seasonal belongings, like holiday decorations, sweaters for winter, and other seasonal items, you may encounter seasonal things you haven’t used in a long time and probably won’t use again. Get rid of these things as you come upon them. This will lighten the load when the time comes to move.
Make a Timeline
Set packing goals and establish deadlines to ensure that you’ll be able to get your belongings packed by the time the move occurs. Mark your calendar with your goals to help you keep track. If you need help packing, assign different goals to different members of your family. This will ease the burden and help the work go more quickly.
Make a Budget
Moving is costly, so establish a budget to keep your efforts affordable. Call around to different movers to get an estimate for how much your move will cost. Once you know about how much to expect to spend, you can look at your savings and income and decide how best to pay for your relocation.
If the move is going to be too expensive, this is the time to start thinking about money-saving options. Sometimes moving at a different time of year or shopping around for different movers can help keep the move more affordable. Considering all these options is the best way to ensure that you will be able to afford the move when the time comes.
Contact Us for More Information
If you’re planning to relocate sometime in the next year, contact a residential moving expert to discuss strategies, planning, and how to make your move successful. At Wheaton World Wide Moving, we’re always happy to answer our customers’ questions about moving and relocating. For more information, contact us today.
