Moving into a brand new space is exhilarating.

You get to furnish it, decorate it, and design it however YOU want. But before you can do ANY of that, you have one major question to face.

“What should stay, what should go, and what needs replacing?”

If you let it overwhelm you, packing up and moving your life can become incredibly stressful. But if you tackle it head on using this simple method, you’ll save time and money and feel incredible once it’s all done!

Here’s what you’re going to learn:

• Why decluttering before moving is important
  
• What you should always keep when moving
  
• What to donate before moving and where to donate it
  
• What to replace when moving into your new home
  
• A step-by-step room-by-room sorting method
  

Why Decluttering Before Moving Is Important

Let’s get something straight.

Most people seriously underestimate how much stuff they have until it’s time to pack it all up and move. Every single thing you own costs you money when you hire full-service movers.

Professional movers charge by weight, volume, and distance travelled. According to Angi, the average long-distance move costs between $2,700 and $10,000. That means every unwanted item you stuff into a box and onto that truck is burning a hole in your pocket.

Work with expert long-distance movers who have experience making the moving process painless. But don’t let your movers do all the heavy lifting for you! They can end up moving items you should have thrown out years ago.

The moral of the story? Declutter first. Then move. Your wallet will thank you.

What You Should Always Keep When Moving

Throwing things away can feel like throwing money away. But not everything has to go.

Certain items are worth every penny it costs to move them. You just need to know what those things are.

Here’s what you should always keep when moving into your new place:

• Things you use daily that are still in good working condition
  
• High-quality furniture that will fit in your new home
  
• Sentimental belongings that you truly care about
  
• Important paperwork such as tax documents and passports
  
• Specialty items that would cost a lot to replace
  

The problem most people run into is holding onto things “just in case.”

That elliptical machine taking up half your closet? The juicer you received as a wedding gift and use once a year?

If you haven’t used it in the past 12 months, you’re probably not going to start now. Let it go. Be ruthless. Your new place will thank you.

What to Donate Before Moving (and Where to Donate)

Dropping items at donation bins and taking things to your local thrift store is one of the best things you can do before a move. Not only will your home have more space, but you’re also helping others and could even receive a tax write-off come tax season.

Here are some great items to donate when moving:

• Clothing that no longer fits or that you don’t wear anymore
• Small appliances that still work (toasters, kettles, blenders, etc.)
• Books, toys, and video games collecting dust on shelves
• Old furniture that won’t fit in your new place
  

Your local thrift stores, women’s shelters, and charitable organisations are always in need of gently used household items. Give them a call before showing up with a truckload of donations. You don’t want to waste their time or yours.

Pro tip: Start donating at least eight weeks before your move. Waiting until the last minute creates unnecessary clutter. You’ll rush through the process and end up loading things onto the truck that should have been donated weeks ago.

What to Replace When Moving Into Your New Home

Moving is not the time to drag old, worn-out furniture and broken electronics to a new place.

Here’s what to consider replacing:

• Mattresses over 7 to 8 years old. No matter how much you love your mattress, it loses its support after about seven years. Start fresh with a new one.
• Old furniture with stained upholstery, broken pieces, or a style that no longer suits you. Don’t waste money moving damaged furniture you can easily replace.
• Electronics that don’t work or barely turn on. Moving that old TV your grandparents gave you is pointless if it takes 15 minutes to boot up.
• Drawers, shelves, and storage bins that won’t match your new space. Chances are your new kitchen dimensions will be different, so don’t pay to move old cabinets that won’t fit.
  

If it costs just as much to move something as it would to buy it new, let it go. This is especially true for bulky furniture that costs more to ship than to replace.

Anything that is heavy, awkwardly sized, or simply takes up too much space can usually be replaced inexpensively. And moving companies charge you extra to lift, pack, and transport these kinds of items.

Room-By-Room Sorting Method

Sorting through all of your belongings isn’t fun. But if you take it one room at a time, it becomes much more manageable.

Going through your entire house in one sitting is exhausting, and you’re likely to make poor decisions and keep too much.

Take it easy. The best places to start are rooms that contain things you know you won’t be taking to the new house.

Empty bedrooms, garages, and storage rooms are usually filled with items that can go. Clearing those out first gives you momentum to tackle the harder spaces.

Here’s what to go through, room by room:

• Kitchen: Toss duplicate kitchen gadgets, expired pantry items, and cookware you never use. Keep the essentials and let go of the rest.
• Bedrooms: Clothes that don’t fit, old mattress sets, and broken furniture can all go.
• Bathrooms: Throw away expired medicines, toiletries, and beauty products.
• Living areas: Books, DVDs, old electronics, and decorations you won’t bring to your new space should be sorted and donated or sold.
  

Moving into a brand new place is exciting. So why clutter it up with things you don’t need? Take advantage of donation pickup services, garage sales, and online selling platforms to get rid of unwanted items quickly.

With over 25 million Americans moving every year, there are plenty of people online sharing their best moving tips. Learn from them and use those resources to make the process easier.

Remember, every single thing you own should have a place in your new home. If it doesn’t belong there, let it go.

Bottom Line

Sorting through your stuff doesn’t have to be awful. In fact, with these simple tips and a room-by-room approach, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!

Start decluttering six to eight weeks before your move. Decide what you’ll keep, what you’ll donate, and what you should simply replace. Your bank account will thank you!

Letting go of the clutter in your life is hard. But once you find yourself living clutter-free in your brand new space, it’s the best feeling in the world.