If you have lived under the same roof for longer than five years, you are likely to be surrounded with a lot of material items that will make your life more enjoyable and easier.

Most people believe that having stuff is a sign of who you are and what your passions are. You wouldn't have a large book collection if reading wasn't your thing, and you wouldn’t have a guitar if music was not your thing. It is common for stuff to accumulate. After all, what home would look like without furniture, electronics, appliances and personal items?

Naturally, everything is fine until you have to move. You can't bring all of your belongings with you when you move house. Or, to put it another way, you can, but you shouldn’t.

It's easier and quicker to simply throw all your stuff into boxes and then finish packing in style. It's not.

Find out how to remove clutter from your home before you move and why it is important.

Moving house with less stuff is easier and cheaper

To understand how to organize your stuff before moving, you only need to add two facts. These two facts will save you a lot of money over the long-term.

• Moving house can be a costly business. The American Moving and Storage Association estimates that an intrastate move costs around $2,300 and an interstate mover $4,300.
• Moving costs are calculated based on several factors. The most important price-determining factor is the total weight of the shipment.

It should now be obvious to you why so many people are looking for ways to lower the cost of moving.

It sounds simple in theory. You just need to bring less stuff when you move. However, this "simplicity", in practice, could prove to be one the most difficult things you will do until you have the protection of your new home. Why is it important to get rid of unwelcome household items?

To SAVE MONEY, declutter your home before you move.

Some household items weren't meant to be used for so long. A professional moving company should come to your house to inspect your belongings and conduct a risk assessment. Although the in-house inspection will include a risk assessment and danger evaluations, the main purpose of this visit is to provide you with a written estimate for the moving cost.

This is the simple truth: The fewer items that you choose to move, the lighter the shipment and the lower the price. When the total weight of the shipment has been measured, after all items have been loaded onto the truck, you might have to pay less if the weight is kept at an absolute minimum. This should help you save a lot.

Make Money by Decluttering

It is great to be able to save more money during this transition period. But, what is even better is the possibility of making extra cash to support your moving expenses. You can increase your cash flow by making an informed decision to dispose of any unwanted items prior to moving. How do you go about it? You can make some extra cash by selling things that you don't need online or at a garage sales. Continue reading to find out more about the advantages of a move sale.

To SAVE TIME, get rid of all clutter before you move.

Selling, repurposing and donating your unwanted items is one of the best ways to save money when moving house. You can also save time packing by moving less household items.

Clear out your clutter before you move to SAVE SPACE

You will need more storage space if you move more items than you actually use. You can save space by moving only what you love and will use in the future. This is especially true if you are moving to a smaller house (downsizing).

To reduce stress, purge your home before you move.

You know that clutter can increase stress levels during a move. This is because you know you'll have to pay more for transportation, you know it will take more time to pack those items, and it'll likely be difficult to store them in your new home.

Decluttered homes are a clear sign of a clutter-free mind. Follow these tips to declutter your home before you move.

Before you move

After you have realized the obvious benefits of moving with less stuff, it is time to determine which belongings to give up and what to keep. This tedious task is known as inventorying/sorting. It's what you should do if you have some spare time.

To quickly sort through your clutter and get on to other important tasks, follow the steps below. This is how to get rid clutter before you move.

• Step 1. Start the sorting process by going through each room one at a time. Make sure to start with the rooms that have the most items.

• Step 2. Sort out the large items first, such as furniture, electrical appliances, and specialty household items. Then move on to smaller items (books, clothes and bathroom products).

• Step 3. To speed up the sorting process, create a quick classification system. You should have at most the following four major categories as a rule: Must-Take Items, Values, Unneeded/Unwanted Items, and Other Things.

• Step 4 Take a list of all your possessions. When you have written down everything you own, make a list of the possessions you plan to take with you. These are obvious: Your recently bought flat-screen TV and the expensive pieces of soft furniture you purchased for your living room will both be taken with you. Your rare first-edition book collection will look great on your new bookcase. You must ensure that any indispensable items are safe and sound at your new home.

• Step 5. Step 5.. You can make valuable items so special for many reasons, including sentimental and monetary value. These are the items you won't part with unless it becomes clear that you need to sell them. Your primary goal for the moment is to make them stand out: jewelry, expensive electronic equipment, heirlooms and emotional gifts, as well as your child's first pair of shoes. It is sad when things that once meant the world to someone are now just lost.

• Step 6. Mark any unwanted or unneeded items. This category is important to pay close attention to as getting rid of it is your top priority. It is possible to reduce the amount of items you don't need and sort them out successfully. This will allow you to redirect your financial resources towards other important relocation tasks. What are the items you might no longer need or want?

1. Items that are no longer in use or worn out Shoes, clothing, toys for children, etc.
2. Duplicate items Do you really need 3 toaster ovens and 2 microwave ovens? This is what it looks like
3. Forgotten items When was the last time that you used your tennis racket. You can find a lot of useful and great equipment in sports, music, and other special-purpose items. But, it is all gone now.
4. Collectibles You don't care about. Perhaps it's time for you to sell a large collection that no longer brings you joy. Keep the factors Money and Space at the forefront of your decision-making process.
5. You don't like gifts. You are not allowed to give or sell gifts made by family members, friends, or relatives. However, that heavy bowling ball... well you don't even like it that much.

• Step 7. Useless Stuff You know exactly what to do with any item that is damaged beyond repair or beyond use. If you are still unsure, you can refer to the next section to learn more about what you can do to get rid of unwanted items from your home.

How to get rid off stuff before you move

It will be much easier to do something about the things you won't take with you once you have sorted and categorized everything in your home. Sometimes you will have to make difficult decisions about whether or not to pay for relocation. You shouldn't be surprised if you have difficulties with the Unwanted/Unneeded categories. These are the items that you should optimize first.

Let's pretend that you have made the right decisions. Now, you need to decide how to get rid your stuff. There are many options available to you.

Option 1

Selling your unwanted items online can be a great way to get rid of stuff before you move. You know WHY you should sell your unwanted items online - to make additional income to pay for moving expenses. Who could say no to that?

These are the most important things to remember when selling products online.

Although selling stuff online can be convenient, few things can beat the excitement of a garage sale.

Selling unwanted items online is difficult unless you are selling hot items at low prices. You can count the days until moving day to determine if you will have enough time. Although you can sell some of your items online after the move, you will already have paid for their transport so that will defeat the purpose.

• Preparing the items to be sold on the Internet. Clean them well or make minor repairs.
• You should assess the value of your items and determine a price range that will be affordable and sell quickly. You can compare similar products on a few websites to get an idea of the prices. Warning! Price your items correctly to avoid losing money.
• To sell products online, take high-quality photos of them and close up shots of any problems.
• Write a catchy ad to attract customers. Include important information about the products and their strengths. Don't forget to mention why you're selling them. People will be trying to determine if there is a catch.
• You will need to decide how you want your items shipped and which payment methods you will accept.
• It is best to be honest with people as you have little to lose by trying to trick them. You should respond quickly to all inquiries regarding the items. Keep your tone friendly throughout.
• You should consider using top-rated websites such as Amazon, eBay, or Craigslist to sell your items.

Option 2.

A moving sale can be a great way to get rid off unwanted items in your home. You can call it a yard or garage sale. The idea is to invite neighbors to your house and purchase something from the items you have in your yard.

These are the top 5 things you should know about organizing a garage sales

• Although Saturdays are the most popular day to have a garage sale, it can be helpful to also consider weekdays, especially if your goal is to reach people who drive past your house on their way to work or home.
• Start the sale as early as possible (8:30 am) to catch the morning traffic and make sure you have all day to sell.
• You will need to check with the authorities to determine if you require a permit for a move sale. Some areas may require it.
• Like online sales, creative advertising is crucial for garage sales that are successful.
• Make sure the children are safe at the open sales. Think of ways to make it more appealing. Be open to greeting everyone with a friendly smile.

Option 3.

Recycling centers can be a good option for disposing of unwanted or unneeded items.

Do you want to find the best way of getting rid of unwanted items? You are not alone!

It's clear that making money with items you don't take with you can be very useful. But nothing beats the joy of gifting something you need or desire to a friend or family member.

You can have anything, from furniture to clothing to shoes. The idea is to make a friend's day and keep your moving costs down.

Option 4.

This option, of getting rid off stuff before moving, is the best. Think about how many people could benefit from your generosity, and the number of less fortunate. It's a great time to show your support for your local community by moving your household. It's also the fastest way to get rid off things before you move house. You may not have enough time or resources to arrange a sale or sell your stuff online.

Goodwill, The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity are just some of the reputable charities that will accept your items. Find out more about the charities you support by researching their websites. While most charities serve noble causes, you want to ensure your items go to the right people.

You should also ensure that the items you donate are in good condition, clean, and still usable. Some charities will pick up donations at your home, while others might ask you to drop them off at one of their locations. Before you make a decision about how to approach the matter, it is important that you research all options. Don't forget to mention that libraries, daycare centers and nursery homes may accept books you don’t plan to move. You are welcome to donate old electronics, furniture and clothes.

Option 5.

If you are unable to choose from the above options due to the poor condition of the items you have left behind, you can always throw them away for recycling. It is important to recycle all items that are safe.

These moving tips will show you how to eliminate clutter before moving. Moving experts suggest that you follow a great home decluttering method that will help reduce clutter before you move. When faced with difficult decisions about whether or not to move certain items, consider whether you have used them in the past 12 months.

If you answered NO, chances are you don't really need them. It's best to get rid off the items so you don't have to pay for transportation. If you haven’t used the item in over a year, why pay for transportation?