![How to get tid of things when moving](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/clutter.jpg)
Highlights
- It’s a very bad idea to move to another home with too many useless items.
- But first things first: what to get rid of when moving for an easier and cheaper move?
- Read on to find out how to get rid of stuff when moving – the 5 great options you have to take only the things that are really worth the trouble.
If you’ve lived in the same home for many years, you will have certainly accumulated a large number of items.
Some of them will be of great practical, monetary, or sentimental value, others – absolutely worthless. There will be things you can’t do a day without, things you use very rarely or only on special occasions, and even things you have forgotten about.
If have enough space in your home and your possessions don’t create too much clutter, you may have kept a variety of items that are just enjoyable to look at or might be used again in the future, or you just don’t know what to do with, etc.
When the moment comes to move house, however, you may begin to have second thoughts about your accumulated “treasures”.
Trust me when I say this from personal experience – the more items you decide to move to your new home, the more difficult and more expensive your relocation is going to be. Why?
You’re going to need more packing supplies, packing, loading, and unloading will take more time and effort, your shipment will take up more space and will weigh more, etc.
So, you may come to the conclusion that it will be best to part with some of your belongings.
Once you make the decision to purge your possessions, however, you will be faced with two very difficult questions:
What to get rid of when moving?
and
How to get rid of stuff when moving?
Luckily for you, you can find the answers below.
What to get rid of when moving
The first thing to do when you start preparing for your move is to sort out your belongings.
Look into every cabinet, drawer, and closet in your home, scour the attic, the basement, and the garage, open up forgotten dusty boxes, check under the beds and over the uppermost shelves, and classify each and every item you find into one of the following categories:
Indispensable items
These are practical items you need on a daily basis or items of extreme sentimental value.
Needless to say, you will take all the items from this group to your new home.
Valuable items
Jewelry, artwork, expensive electronics, family heirlooms, keepsakes, collectibles, etc., including all your and your family members’ favorite belongings.
These things will, of course, go to your new home, as well;
Useful items
These are the practical household items – and practical personal items – you use often; anything that makes your home cozier, more comfortable, or more beautiful; anything that makes your life easier or more convenient.
You will certainly take most of these things with you, but you should carefully evaluate each and every item before packing it for moving to make sure it’s really worth relocating.
Enjoyable items
Books, games, toys, electronic gadgets, hobby materials, decorations, etc.
You (or your partner, or your children) will probably want to take all these items with you, but it’s advisable to sort them out and bring along only those of them that you really love and use frequently;
No longer needed items
![Sort out and evaluate your items to decide their fate.](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sorting.jpg)
Such items include but are not limited to
- outdated or outgrown items – clothes, shoes, toys, games, books, magazines, CDs, antiquated electronics, etc.;
- duplicate items;
- specialized equipment no one is interested in anymore – sports equipment, musical instruments, etc.;
- furniture pieces,
- appliances, and other household items you won’t be able to use in your new surroundings;
- knick-knacks that have no special meaning to you;
- gifts that have no practical or sentimental value;
- items that are not appropriate for the climatic conditions in your new area – or for your new lifestyle, etc.
There is no point in moving unneeded items to your new home – you should get rid of them before the relocation.
Items no one likes anymore
What else to get rid of when moving house? Anything you (and the other members of your family) don’t really like.
Such items should be sold or donated before the move;
Useless items
Anything that’s broken or too worn out to be used ever again.
These items should be recycled or thrown away before the relocation.
So, what to get rid of before moving? The answer is easy enough – damaged items and anything you don’t need or don’t like anymore.
Once you’ve made your final decision, be sure to make a detailed inventory of the items you’re going to move to your new home. Consider creating an inventory of all your unwanted items that are still in good condition too – it will come in very handy when selling or donating your stuff.
How to Make a Moving Inventory
Now that you know what to get rid of before you move, you need to find the best way to discard these things.
So, how to get rid of stuff before moving?
You have several options – take a closer look at them all and decide which one will work best for each of your unwanted items.
Giving to charity is a great idea. My family and I moved about three months ago. We decided to give some children’s clothes and toys that are in good shape and can be still used to charity. We relocate to a smaller house and it just felt right.
I liked that you said to get rid of souvenirs you don’t like anymore as well as special equipment. My girlfriend and I are moving to a bigger apartment and we have a lot of junk that is taking up room. We’ll have to figure out what we don’t need and get rid of it before moving.
Appreciate it for helping out, fantastic information.