declutter now or after the move?

Glendarroch

We mainly sorted stuff as we packed - one side of the room was boxes, other side was stuff we were getting rid of. You can then sort through that stuff between rubbish dump/charity shop/ebay or similar. Although if there's one big area to declutter (eg wardrobes or drawers) doing it before you start packing can help, as then you can see what you've got left, it's not all in boxes

steve237

We're moving in about 5 weeks and have sold stacks of stuff on ebay.

We also asked our agent to pass our mobile number to our buyer and when he called, we offered him first chance to buy a load of stuff we didn't want to take with us (shed, mirrors, garden furniture, etc). He bought the lot and paid us cash!

PasturesNew

confusedroast wrote: »

also 5 bags of clothes to charity

I've never in my life even OWNED more than 3 bags of clothes (and that includes all the stuff I've kept 'in case' that didn't even fit me).

OP: declutter now. If you drag it to the new place it'll take time/money to get it there, then it'll only clutter up your shiny new place.

If in doubt, rent a small self-storage unit (I mean small at about 4'x4' and £5/week) for a month just to prove you don't need stuff.

PottyHouse_2

We were about to move house before Christmas - toys, books, kitchenware, crocks all packed away ready to go in the garage - piled to the ceiling nearly.

Apart from my George Foreman I have managed to do without the lot !!!

When we finally move will be like Christmas again with all the toys out !!!!

(You'll see you can actually do without a lot of things)

NEH

Declutter now. When we moved last September my husband was away with business and we weren't able to declutter much as i wouldn't have dared throw out a cd/dvd or precious item without asking him as a good bit of it was his stuff....I thought in the end i had decluttered but even when it came to the new house we still decluttered for about 2 months afterwards but that was a self move and not much furniture etc...

My stuff had been in storage for a year and i know people said if i could do without it that long i didn't need it but i made do rather than be without it completely and it has been like Christmas all over again having my cd's back and books and dvd's....We're going to put everything back into storage probably again and i really will miss everything again but i know it's make do only..

pimento

When you have moved, any boxes that are still unpacked after six months should be thrown away. If you didn't miss the contents for six months, you're never going to miss them.

mlz1413

I have rules about clutter:

1) if you don't know you have it - bin it or give it away it is clearly worthless to you or you wouldn't have forgotten it!

2) if you haven't used it for a year you don't need it. (this doesn't include sentimental items) Things like the ice-cream maker that has such much dust you could write the year in it.

So start now - anything in the loft will fit these rules, why people go to the effort of putting it up there just to bring it down and throw it away is beyond me!

Anything in the shed that is not gardening or outdoor use is also likely to fit the rules and need to go.

My down fall is paperwork - I hate throwing away receipts / bills / contracts but after filling many many recycling sacks with shredding after a 4 year period I realised that there is a limit to how long stuff is relevant for.

Freecycle is a god send - offer it and people come and collect - brilliant!

If you think it has a value get photographing for ebay or get everything together for a car boot.

dizziblonde

Declutter as you pack - that way you minimize the risk of having "that box" with you when you get to the new place. That box is one most people end up with that they never actually get round to unpacking - so obviously not stuff in there that you actually needed - so a waste of time taking it with you.

It also sits in the corner of the spare room looking menacing and intimidating for years.

getmore4less

Start packing and decluttering now.

If you leave it to you are closer to moving you won't have time.

you end up with three sorts of things

Stuff you throw out(thnk of the big stuff as well, furniture)
sell
freecycle
charity
tip.

Stuff you don't need now or immediately you move
Box and label so you can find things
If not used for 6 months think twice about keeping it

Stuff you use a lot(start packing some of this as you get nearer) .
Stuff used in the last week unpack on move in.
rest as and when same rule not use in 6 months

verytricky69

mlz1413 wrote: »

I have rules about clutter:


"My down fall is paperwork - I hate throwing away receipts / bills / contracts but after filling many many recycling sacks with shredding after a 4 year period I realised that there is a limit to how long stuff is relevant for.

Freecycle is a god send - offer it and people come and collect - brilliant!"



Me too- I'm dreading the paper work that lurks all over the place and the big file I have that desperately needs sorting!