Declutter before your move
When was the last time (assuming of course you have these) looked in your attic, garage, shed, spare bedroom?
If you did, do they resemble a storage unit of stuff you’ve stored and rarely use?
Marie Kondo, the lifestyle expert, has made a name for her method:
The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.
Do your belongings spark joy? Or are they simply unused clutter?
Your loft may contain old toys, Christmas decorations, books, old furniture that is simply taking up space and rarely, if ever, used.
If so, before moving, when all this “stuff” needs to be packed and relocated, perhaps it’s time for a pre-move declutter.
Now before you load a car and head to your local recycling centre, there are alternatives to consider:
- Donating to charity (The Mustard Tree, as one example, is a social enterprise on Oldham Road, Ancoats, opposite Wing Yip. They will collect furniture, clothes and other items and their mission is to help the homeless and combat poverty.
- Selling or giving away online – using eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are all useful places. Even if you give something away, it is better to upcycle than it end in landfill
- Asking your neighbours if they have any use for your gardening equipment, for example, if you’re moving into an apartment with no outside space, or just a balcony
- Donating toys and games to your local hospital for childrens’ wards
- Paying for storage space – if you have items with great sentimental value or your move is temporary, storage could work. The contents of a 2 bedroomed home or flat usually costs around £130 per month to store, but if you know, in your heart, that the old sofa, the big oak wardrobe, those toys and games, will never be re-used, perhaps it’s time to sell or donate
Clutter, or possessions, are a part of life and Kashif and his team at Metro Man and Van, are used to emptying garages, sheds, gardens, lofts of stuff and we understand why.
But.
If you’re paying a removal company like us by the hour, is that extra moving really worth paying for if you know you’re unlikely to use it again?
Far better, perhaps, is to plan in advance for what you need to keep, what you’d love to keep for your new home – whether you’re downsizing, upsizing, relocating and think about what you truly need in your new home.
That lawnmower, that pressure washer, those toys, may have value to you – but will there be a use for them in the near future?
We recommend taking a long, objective look at what you currently own – and listing what is needed and not needed. Sell or donate items that have no use in your future home, before you move. It is then truly a fresh start, with space not being compromised with unwanted items from your present and past.
Contact Metro Man and Van today
If you’d like a no-obligation quote from Metro Man and Van, before or after decluttering, contact us today.
You can call, email, complete the contact form here or message us via Facebook
We have a growing reputation with almost 50 Google reviews like these:
KASHIF from METRO CAN AND MAN was extremely professional and helpful. Not only he came on time he helped me moving goods from one place to another. Definitely recommended.
Pick up the phone today and call us to find out how we can help your move more stress-free.
