Moving day is around the corner and you’re wondering “how did I accumulate so many things?” You’re debating on what should make the move and what should be thrown, donated, or sold. Here are some suggestions on what to take or leave behind.
Get Rid of Clutter
At some point, you may just want to sell everything, but there are a few things that can help offset moving costs, reduce clutter, and make moving easier. For everything that can be sold, plan a garage sale or yard sale. Another option is to sell your items online through Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or even Craigslist.
After you have attempted to sell items with no luck, donate. Gently used clothing, furniture, kitchen appliances, and equipment can still find a new home. These donations can serve families for years!
What Not to Pack
It can be difficult to choose what to keep, sell, donate, or throw. Here are some suggestions of things to cut down on:
- Clothing- Take the time to assess what you wear regularly and then donate or sell the rest.
- Papers- Of course, keep important documents with you. However, unnecessary papers just cause extra weight when moving.
- Appliances- A new home often means updated appliances. If this is the case, but you need to get rid of your old appliances, local charities are often happy to pick them up (if they are operational).
- Bathroom Items- Check out the expiration dates on all of your bathroom items.
- Garage Junk- Just like your bathroom, there are probably items in your garage that you will never use. Such as old paint, insect killer, fertilizer, boxes, or chemicals.
- Bedding- You may be switching to new mattresses and bedding which will create a lot more room in the moving truck.
- Household Items- Make note of what items in your home are sitting and collecting dust. Those would be the perfect items for the garage sale.
What to Pack
Here is a list of some items that you will want to have with you when you move:
- Personal Records- Of course, you will want to keep important documents with you when moving such as marriage license, birth certificates, financial records, or passports.
- First Night Bag- This allows you to find a quick change of clothes and means you aren’t digging through boxes to find your toothbrush or first-night necessities.
- Difficult to Replace Items- If there are special gifts, heirloom items or one-of-a-kind pieces, you may consider taking it with you.
This is a good start to help kickstart your packing process. But as you may know, moving and real estate transactions can often have a lot of gray areas. That is another reason to have a great Realtor® to help guide you through one of your largest life purchases!
