Decluttering & Downsizing – A Plan to Ease Your Move
Have you ever moved house with boxes of things you meant to sort through beforehand? Are they still in the loft now?
Having a good clear-out is always worthwhile, especially if you’re moving house and definitely if you’re downsizing.
How Decluttering Can Save and Even Make You Money
Removals can be expensive, so why pay extra to move things you no longer need, which could simply clutter your lovely new home?
Never mind the time and stress it takes to pack, move, and unpack. The earlier you start to sort through your belongings, the less stressful it will be. No one has time at the last minute.
You might even find items that, while no longer useful to you, could be valuable to someone else. Consider selling what you no longer need on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Gumtree.
How Decluttering Can Improve Your Home’s Appeal and Value
How we live in our homes is different from how we sell them. We love our things, but buyers may not.
Many times I’ve had feedback from viewers about the amount of ‘stuff’ in a home; they struggled to see past it.
Creating a clear, neutral space will:
- Make your home appear larger
- Help buyers imagine themselves and their belongings in the space
- Increase the appeal of your property, potentially achieving a higher price
The Rule of Thumb
Ask yourself: Is it beautiful, useful, or seriously sentimental?
- Beautiful: Keep it if you love it and have room for it
- Useful: Keep it if you’ve used it in the last year; otherwise, consider letting it go
- Sentimental: Decide whether to keep it or gift it to relatives
Action Plan
- Go through every box, especially ones you haven’t looked in for years. Set a target of reducing every two boxes to one
- Pass your children’s items back to them if they want to keep them
- Gift sentimental items. Childhood toys can be treasured by grandchildren
- CDs, DVDs, photos—digitalize where possible. Companies can do this for you
- Sell items you no longer need to make extra money
Consider the Space You’re Moving To
If you’re moving from a four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom home, you only need to move essentials like beds, dressers, and bedside tables. Old bedding can go too.
It costs money to move big furniture, and if there’s nowhere to put it, you’ll end up cluttered or paying for storage. Look at the floor plan of your new home and do a walkthrough to see where tables, chairs, sofas, cabinets, and books will fit. Consider letting go of the excess.
Maximise Storage in Your New Home
You can make your storage space go further by using:
- Shelves
- Vertical clothing hangers
- Vacuum storage bags for lofts or under beds
Just remember to check if what you’re storing is really worth keeping. Your new home should be a happy, relaxing place, so be mindful of how you build your space.
We work closely with clients to help with moving plans and have several decluttering and organizing professionals available to assist if required.
📱 Natalie Carter – 07734 210023
