Why You Should Get Ready for Your Next Move Now

While some people will remain in the same home for decades, the average American relocates about a dozen times in a lifetime. And more than one out 10 of Americans move every year.

Moving can be a strenuous, stressful process, especially if you’re living with an overabundance of stuff. Decluttering your home now will streamline your next move. Even if you have no immediate plans to move, pretending that you do is a very effective strategy for decluttering your home. Following are some tips for getting started.

Reduce clutter daily

When the time comes to start packing boxes and to actively prepare for a pending relocation, dealing with excessive clutter can dramatically increase your stress level.

On a daily basis, spend some time decluttering.
Remove items from your home that you have not used in the last year or two and
that you do not plan to use soon. This includes clothing and shoes, sporting
equipment, books, video games, small appliances and more. Ask yourself if an
item is worth the time and effort to pack and unpack as well as the additional
expense to move.

In addition, avoid bringing new things into your
home that will not be used regularly. Remember that you can rent or borrow some
items rather than purchasing them. The less you need to move, the less you’ll
need to pay to move it, whether you’re renting a truck or hiring professional
movers.

Get – and stay – organized

In addition to reducing clutter in the home,
focus on organizing your belongings. When the items in your closets or other
storage areas are neatly contained in labeled bins or other units, packing and
unpacking during a move is significantly easier to do.

You can also take advantage of organization
features in the pantry, drawers, garage and other areas to keep your belongings
neat, organized and ready to load into the moving truck when the time arrives
to do so.

In keeping your home organized, neat, and free from clutter, an unanticipated move will go much smoother.  

Clean more frequently

An essential part of the move-out process
involves cleaning your home. This is true whether you rent or own your current
space.

So, in addition to weekly chores like vacuuming
and dusting, add deep cleaning chores to your monthly to-do list. This may
include cleaning the baseboards, wiping down the inside of your cabinets and
pantry, cleaning the fridge and more.

Decluttering your home, keeping it organized and clean will make it much quicker and easier to prepare for your next relocation. And you’ll be in a much better position to dive into the actual process of moving. 

And when you’re ready to make your next move…

The first step is to create a realistic budget – especially if you’re moving long distance. This will include costs for movers or a truck rental, boxes and other supplies, deposits, insurance and more. Investigate your options. Get multiple bids.

Make your arrangements as soon as possible so that you can properly pack and be ready to move on a specific date. Now is the time to make hard decisions about what to keep and what to sell or donate. It makes sense to remove items from your possession that will not be needed in your new space rather than pay to haul them to your new space. Factors like storage space in the new home, the dimension of rooms and more must be taken into consideration.

Gather essential supplies. If you regularly keep your belongings organized in labeled storage bins and other similar containers, you may be able to save money on moving supplies. However, you’ll still need to purchase some boxes, tape, protective material and other supplies. It’s much faster and easier to pack for your move if you have all of your supplies on hand. Remember to protect all of your belongings as you place them in boxes.

Bottom line: Whether you know you’re moving in
the near future or simply want to reduce the hassle of your next move, start
preparing now. It’s never too early to begin preparing for an easier
relocation.

Austin Winder is a public relations specialist, living in
Memphis, TN. He graduated with a business and marketing degree from the
University of Memphis.

The post Why You Should Get Ready for Your Next Move Now appeared first on Declutter Your Life with Donna Smallin Kuper.