Admin

Moving Tips – Clean Out and Organize Early!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with A Sense of Order - Organizing for the Home and Office

Tips For Moving– Clean Out and Organize Early!

 

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to someone who is moving is to start cleaning out and organizing your things as soon as you know you are going to be moving.  Even if you don’t start packing right away, just go through everything and get rid of as much as you can because it will make packing and unpacking quite a bit easier.

 

Many people think that it will be easier to clean out as they are unpacking at the new location, but it rarely even happens because they forget about one important point.  When trying to settle into a new home, a person’s routine is severely disrupted by having everything packed in boxes.  Until everything is unpacked and put where it can be easily found, a lot of extra time is spent digging through boxes to find what they are looking for.  

Given this, it’s highly unlikely they will spend even more time to carefully go through and sort all the items as they are being unpacked. Usually by this time, they are so frustrated that things start getting shoved into cupboards and closets as they are.

 

Sorting through things before moving is the perfect time because there is minimal disruption to the normal routine.  The household is still set up and the person still knows (hopefully!) where to find most things.  Aside from any time spent in making arrangements for the move, all that is required is a little extra time on a regular basis to start going through all areas of the home. 

This is the perfect opportunity to get rid of items that will not be needed at the new location.  Doing this will accomplish several things.  It will reduce the number of boxes needed,it will reduce the total size and weight of the load to be moved, and will reduce the time needed to pack everything.  It also gives a person the chance to start grouping like items together so that they can be packed together in the same boxes, which will make unpacking even easier.

 

Posted by

A Sense of Order Logo

Shanna Perino
Certified Professional Organizer and
Licensed Tennessee Realtor
www.asenseoforder.com

 

Comments(5)

Show All Comments Sort:
Collette Sarmento
Cameron Real Estate Group - Wakefield, MA
781*258*9718--Your Agent For Life

I couldn't agree more.  As soon as I put someone under contract, I suggest two things, don't make any large purchases and start to declutter your apartment of the things you do not use everyday!

Dec 04, 2010 02:10 AM
Diane McDermott
Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC - Charlotte, NC
Charlotte NC Real Estate Market

Great advice! Much easier to sort and donate/discard what you don't need or use before the real stress of packing and moving sets in!

Dec 06, 2010 05:08 AM
Erby Crofutt
B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com) - Lexington, KY
The Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY

Ugh, I hate moving.  Glad I've got a capable wife who handles that part of it real well.  I'd be lost without her to take care of it for me. 

Shanna, are you on Facebook?

Dec 11, 2010 04:26 PM
Christine Dyson
Visual Appeal Home Staging & Redesign - Brantford, ON
Visual Appeal, IADIE & RESA

Shanna, nice post.  Our family just organized our closets and we had 7 bags filled for the Diabetes Association, two bags filled of garbage and two bags for recycling.  If we were moving and didn't take the time to do this, it would have translated into several closet boxes being purchased, as well as a larger moving van. 

Dec 12, 2010 03:58 PM
Lane Rogers & Patricia Zars
Z&R Realty - San Antonio, TX
Making Moves. Making a Difference.

I definitely agree!  not only will it make moving easier, but the home will show better without all of the clutter!

Jan 08, 2011 03:36 PM