Your Big Move Is the Perfect Time to Declutter

Moving is something that drains you of time, energy, and money, and you probably don't want to do any extra work if you don't have to. But hear me out: You should still use a big move as an opportunity to declutter. Here is your chance to assess every item you own and make decisions about what you really need. Who knows the next time you'll be able to handle every single possession, categorize everything, and make a truly meaningful dent in your clutter?

Why you should declutter right before you move

First of all, decluttering before a move can actually save you money.

"The biggest mistake we see people make time and time again is underestimating how much stuff they have and overestimating how easy it is to move," says Charles Chica, co-owner of CT Best Movers. "It's best to start by decluttering and getting rid of anything you don't use or need. This works wonders, saving time, space, and especially money."

Mindy Godding, President of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, and Shannon Beller, CEO and co-founder of Wall-Russ, agree, pointing out that if you don't pare down what you own before moving, you'll end up paying for the labor and transportation costs associated with moving stuff you don't need or use.

It also makes packing and unpacking easier. Adam Hamilton, CEO of REI Hub, says that the last time he moved, decluttering in the weeks leading up to the big day "really helped" because it got him organized, which made it much simpler to pack. Beyond that, with better organization and less stuff to unpack, the process of settling into the new place was more seamless, too.

Start the decluttering early

A few weeks before your move, start to get into a decluttering mindset. Godding suggests scheduling time to declutter your space before you even start to pack. Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove, says that packing always takes longer than expected, so the earlier you start with the pre-packing, the easier it's all going to go. He recommends paying special attention to seasonal items and things you don't use daily.

Obviously, this is a little tricky, especially if you aren't familiar with decluttering. Here is a list of my favorite decluttering methods—any of these would work well as a template to follow. Some of the techniques do work better as you're boxing things up, though. For instance, the "packing party" is a decluttering method that involves putting everything from a room into boxes, then only pulling out what you immediately need as you need it for 21 days. After those three weeks, you're supposed to get rid of everything you didn't reach for. It could be worth it to pack everything up three weeks before your move, use the packing party guidelines until that time, and then donate everything you didn't touch before re-boxing up what you did use and bringing that to the new place.

Many decluttering methods also rely on containers more generally. When decluttering and organizing, there are a few rules to keep in mind: Everything you own must have a place and it must be stored with similar items, ideally in containers. Starting this process a few weeks before the move can actually help you when it's time to relocate, as your stuff will already be categorized and in boxes.

Declutter as you pack

Hock says he finds it helpful to keep decluttering even after packing has begun. Your first decluttering sweep should take place a few weeks before you pack and leave, yes, but the job isn't fully done then. Before packing, borrow some ideas from organizing guru Peter Walsh: Envision your new home and what you want every room to look and feel like. Set intentions for each room. Do you want the dining room to feel airy and spacious? Do you want the office to be sleek and minimalistic so you can focus? As you're packing the boxes of items that belong in each room, consider each one and ask yourself if that item contributes to the vibe and function you envision for the space. If it doesn't, get rid of it.

If you're struggling to decide what stays and what goes, I put together a list of questions to ask yourself when assessing a tricky possession. These focus on how often you use something, the condition it's in, and whether you could conceivably and economically replace it if you found yourself in a position of actually needing it.

"If you haven't used it or worn it in the last year, you likely don't need it," says Chica.

What to do with the unwanted items

Another advantage of starting this process early is that you give yourself some wiggle room if you want to try to sell things—which can actually give you a little extra cash for moving expenses. Online marketplaces like Poshmark and Mercari are great for offloading housewares, clothing, decor, and even some furniture, but they do have the potential to make you wait a while. I am an active online reseller and I can tell you that it's rare to make a sale immediately after listing something, so if you want to make some money off your goods, list them weeks before your move. For bigger furniture or, in my experience, faster sales, list on Facebook Marketplace to keep your sales local.

Whatever doesn't sell should be donated, says Hamilton. Use the day before move-out day as a hard deadline. Many local thrift shops will pick up heavy items, like furniture, if you coordinate with them and you can bring boxes of smaller goods in yourself. You can also post these things on Craigslist's "free" section or "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook, then set them on a curb with clear instructions in your post for how to find them.

In the event you opt to just throw stuff out, make sure you're prepared to deal with the volume and associated costs. Shanaiqua D'sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage, warns you may need to hire a small skip or dumpster if you have a lot to toss out and you can't forget to budget for trash bags and disposal containers.

Ultimately, this is going to improve your move, even if it takes a lot of time first. You don't want to spend money moving junk, nor do you want to fill your new home with useless things. Moving is an opportunity to start fresh in a lot of ways, so carving out time to declutter is going to give you a jump start on your new life.