The release papers have been signed, the cleaners are coming to do one final sweep and it’s almost time to bid adieu to the place you once called your humble abode. The lorry for hire honks aloud at the gate signaling its arrival while you magnificently find yourself standing in a mountain of clutter. An ounce of separation anxiety with morsels of items you once considered your gems begin to sweep through your mind. You find yourself swimming in piles of clothes, household appliances, furniture and the lot. To Keep or Not to Keep? That is the question that tugs at everyone’s hearts when moving spaces.
As they say, one man’s junk is another mans treasure.
Before the movers come and remove all the carefully marked boxes, let us help you with great means to de-clutter your home before that all-important move.
- Sort Your Stuff Systematically
It’s as simple as A,B,C..literally. Come up with 3 bins and label them A,B & C.
A is to keep, B is to throw away and C is to give, donate or to sell.
When in doubt on whether to keep an item, always ask yourself if you can picture yourself using that item in the next 6 months. If the answer is no, then out it goes. If you decide to bring along the broken, rusty treadmill that has been sitting in the garage as a functional clothes dryer, think twice. You are starting anew in a fresh, new space. Go room by room and identify what items are unsalvageable, broken or spoilt- these items all go into bin B. Goods and clothes that are still in good working condition that you don’t see yourself using or wearing in the next 6 months should all go into Bin C.
- Recycle Bins
Go green and sort out your trash. Think of it as doing your part for the environment- after all, moving houses can equate to piles of rubbish and imagine that rubbish not going to any good use. Sort out your plastic, paper, aluminum and glass containers and take them to the nearest local community-recycling center. Some also trade in these for cash. Alternatively, hail down your friendly “old newspaper man” and trade in stacks of old newspaper, papers, magazines and cardboard boxes for some spare change.
- Charity Bins
Most charity bins accept all sorts of items ranging from clothing to household and electrical items. If you decide to donate your old items, be considerate to the next owner by ensuring that your donated goods are in good condition. For clothing items, refrain from donating used undergarments or items, which are soiled and stained that cannot be removed as well as torn, irreparable clothing. Ensure that electrical appliances are in good working condition and all parts are intact by testing that they work using an electrical point.
- Convert Your Junk to Cash Digitally
In modern times, one does not need to lug a truckload of stuff to the nearest cash converters to trade off his past life for cash. Download mobile applications on your smartphones that are tailored towards the consumer to sell or buy and look out for C2C marketplace apps. Register an account, snap away and determine how much you want to sell your items. You will be surprised that a little goes a long way, especially if you have many items to trade off.
- Have a Party
Before the moving trucks come in, call your friends and family over for one final farewell. If you have items such as bulky furniture, crockery or goods, which you couldn’t sell or give away; let your friends call dibs on them and have them take them away as a party gift. There is no better new home for your pre-loved items than in the trusted hands of your loved ones.
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