Decluttering before moving house in Lowestoft can make your move easier, quicker and, potentially, cheaper.
Because let's be honest: moving house is hard enough without paying to transport a collection of things you haven't used since the last time England won the World Cup.
That exercise bike you've used twice. The kitchen gadget that's still in its box. The clothes you've been meaning to fit back into since 2017.
Do you really want to pack them, carry them, load them into a van, unload them and then find somewhere to put them in your new home?
Probably not.
So, before you start packing for your move, it's worth having a proper clear-out.
Here's our guide to decluttering before moving house, with a few tips to help make moving day in Lowestoft that bit easier.
Why declutter before moving house?
The simple answer is: the less you have, the less you have to move.
Decluttering before your house move means:
- Fewer boxes to pack
- Less to load and unload
- More space in your new home
- Less time spent unpacking
- Less chance of discovering you've moved something you don't actually want
- Potentially lower moving costs
It also means you can start your new chapter without taking quite so much of the old one with you.
And that's never a bad thing.
When should you start decluttering before a house move?
As early as possible.
Don't leave decluttering until the week before moving day.
You've already got enough to think about: paperwork, removals, packing, cleaning, changing addresses and trying to remember which box contains the kettle.
Ideally, start decluttering several weeks before your move.
Work through the house one room at a time rather than attempting to empty the whole place in a single heroic afternoon.
You'll make much more progress without completely losing the will to live.
Use the four-pile method
A simple way to declutter before moving house is to divide everything into four categories:
1. Keep
Things you use, need or genuinely love.
These are coming with you.
2. Sell
Items that are in good condition and worth something.
Furniture, bikes, electrical items and other useful belongings could be sold before your move.
3. Donate
Things that are still useful but aren't worth the effort of selling.
Charities and local community organisations may be able to give them a new home.
4. Recycle or dispose
Broken, damaged or unusable items.
Just remember that some household items, including paint, chemicals and certain electrical goods, need specialist disposal.
Decluttering your kitchen before moving house
The kitchen is a dangerous place for anyone attempting to declutter.
Why?
Because apparently we all need 14 mugs, six wooden spoons and enough Tupperware to feed a football team.
Start with the cupboards.
Ask yourself:
Have I used this in the last year?
If not, do you genuinely expect to use it in your new home?
Pay particular attention to:
- Duplicate kitchen utensils
- Unused appliances
- Old cookware
- Chipped mugs and crockery
- Out-of-date food
- Containers without lids
- Lids without containers
If you haven't used that avocado slicer since the day you bought it, it's probably safe to let it go.
Declutter your wardrobe
Moving house is a great opportunity to sort through your clothes.
Take everything out and be honest.
If you haven't worn something for years, ask yourself why.
If it doesn't fit, isn't comfortable, isn't your style anymore or has been waiting for "the right occasion" since 2019, it might be time to say goodbye.
Good-quality clothing can be donated or sold.
And every bag you get rid of is one less bag to pack and move.
Don't ignore the loft
The loft is where perfectly sensible household belongings go to disappear.
It's also one of the best places to find things you no longer need.
Old toys. Christmas decorations. Suitcases. DIY materials. Furniture you're definitely going to restore one day.
Before moving house, go through everything.
If you've forgotten you owned it, haven't used it in years and can't imagine needing it in your new home, ask yourself whether it's really worth moving.
Because carrying it down from the loft just to put it into a removal van and then carry it back up into another loft seems like an unnecessarily complicated way of keeping something you don't need.
What about the garage and shed?
Don't forget the outside spaces when decluttering before moving house.
Garages and sheds often contain years' worth of accumulated belongings.
Sort through:
- Garden tools
- Old furniture
- DIY equipment
- Bikes
- Broken appliances
- Leftover building materials
- Paint and chemicals
- Gardening supplies
Some things may be worth selling.
Others could be donated or recycled.
And some items will need to be disposed of safely.
The important thing is to deal with them before moving day, rather than discovering three bags of mystery items while you're trying to get the last few boxes onto the van.
Sentimental items: what should you keep?
Decluttering doesn't mean getting rid of everything that doesn't have an obvious practical purpose.
Some things are worth keeping simply because they mean something to you.
Photographs, letters, children's artwork, family heirlooms and special gifts can all have genuine sentimental value.
The trick is to distinguish between sentimental belongings you genuinely treasure and things you're keeping because you feel guilty throwing them away.
You don't need to turn into a minimalist overnight.
Keep the things that matter.
Let go of the things that don't.
Should you sell things before moving?
If you've got unwanted furniture, electronics, bikes or other valuable belongings, selling them before your move can make sense.
Just don't leave it until moving week.
Give yourself time to:
- Take photographs.
- List the item.
- Answer messages from prospective buyers.
- Arrange collection.
- Accept that someone will probably still ask if you'll take half the asking price.
Anything that doesn't sell can potentially be donated or recycled.
The aim isn't to make a fortune.
It's to avoid paying to move something you don't want.
Don't fall into the "I might need it one day" trap
Ah, the famous decluttering phrase:
"I might need it one day."
Maybe you will.
But if you haven't needed it for five years, how likely is it that Tuesday 14th October 2031 will suddenly be the day you desperately require a broken printer?
Be realistic.
If something is inexpensive and easy to replace, you may not need to keep it "just in case".
Create an essentials box
Once you've finished decluttering and you're ready to start packing, make yourself an essentials box.
Put the things you'll need as soon as you arrive at your new home inside it.
For example:
- Kettle
- Tea and coffee
- Mugs
- Snacks
- Toilet roll
- Phone chargers
- Basic toiletries
- Cleaning products
- Important documents
- A change of clothes
Label it clearly:
OPEN FIRST.
Trust us.
After a full day of moving house, you don't want to open seventeen boxes labelled "Kitchen" just to find the kettle.
How decluttering can make moving day easier
One of the biggest advantages of decluttering before moving house is that your moving day becomes much more straightforward.
There's simply less stuff to deal with.
That means less packing, less lifting, less loading and less unpacking when you arrive.
And when you're using a professional removal company in Lowestoft, having your unwanted belongings already dealt with means the team can concentrate on moving the things you actually want to take with you.
Moving house in Lowestoft?
If you're planning a move in Lowestoft or the surrounding area, Move My Stuff Lowestoft can help take the strain out of moving day.
Whether you need help with the heavy lifting or would rather leave the packing to the professionals too, we're here to make moving your belongings from A to B as straightforward as possible.
After all, you've got enough to organise when moving house.
You don't need to be worrying about whether the removal van can fit through the narow driveway opening while simultaneously wondering where you've put the kettle.
Ready to make your move easier?
Start with the decluttering.
Keep what you need. Sell what you don't. Donate what someone else can use.
Then let Move My Stuff Lowestoft worry about getting the rest there safely.
Planning a house move in Lowestoft or need help with any form of house clearance? Get in touch with Move My Stuff on: 07811 140064 or email: