Article Navigation
Recent Articles
- Think Big Ease and Efficiency for Your Upcoming Move
- What to Look For on an Apartment Community’s Facebook Page
- Think Big about Your Dream Apartment
- What Kind of Apartment Space Best Suits You?
- Take Steps to Stay Organized in Your Apartment
- What You Should Know about Renter’s Insurance
- Which Packing Details Will a Professional Mover Handle for You?
- What Is Your Perfect Apartment Pet?
- Dealing with Weather Conditions When You Move
- Find Helpful Tax Write-offs for Your New Home
Get Rid of What You Don’t Need Before You Move
Just because you own it, doesn’t mean you have to move it. Moving to a new place is a great reason to purge unwanted, unneeded or unhelpful belongings — and saves you the trouble of packing them up and moving them. So before you move, you might want to get rid of things that are just taking up space.
Take stock
When you start to pack your belongings up before you move, you’ll end up going through everything you own anyway. So while you’re tossing things in boxes, take stock of what you actually own and give an honest answer to these questions:
- Does it work?
- Do I use it?
- Do I already own something else like this?
- Does it fit?
- Why am I holding on to this?
It’s one thing to hang on to something because it has sentimental value, it’s something else to keep it in your closet just because you might use it one day. (Read: How to Declutter Your Apartment)
But once you’ve taken stock of what you have, you can then make some hard decisions about what to keep and what to toss.
Make piles to make space
As you pack up a room, sort items into three piles, Keep, Donate and Throw Away. The items in the keep pile go into a box to be moved into your new apartment.
Charities like Goodwill and the Salvation Army welcome donations. You can even deduct that donation on your taxes if you get a receipt. But charities can only use gently used items they can resell. So if it’s something that is broken and can’t be fixed, or clothing that is so worn it can’t be refashioned, then just do those volunteers a favor and trash it.
Don’t forget your furniture either. Getting rid of unused or unwanted furniture will definitely make moving easier, because that’s less heavy lifting. If you’re getting rid of furniture, many charities will come pick it up free of charge.
Getting rid of unwanted items
As you collect piles or bags or items to throw out or donate, get them out of your home right away. If you keep items you want to get rid of in your home for too long, they could get mixed in with the items you are moving and all your sorting time will have gone to waste.
For items that you are throwing away, check with your city to find out what can be tossed in the trash — many electronic items and hazardous materials have to be disposed of in a special manner, and some can even be recycled.
Leave a Reply
Most Popular
Moving can be overwhelming. No matter how much time you allow, it’s hard to keep track of everything. This moving checklist will help you reduce stress, keep track of loose ends and stay calm, cool and collected while moving into your new place. If your moving timetable is shorter than the one in this checklist, ...
The number of things on your moving checklist can be daunting, but one item you can not overlook is making sure everyone who needs to know that you moved is aware of your new address. Make a list You may not realize it, but there are likely dozens of people and businesses that will need ...
A do-it-yourself move should save you money, but staying on top of all the important details will be a challenge. That’s where this self-service moving checklist can come in handy. Use our checklist throughout the entire self-service moving process to help keep your moving efforts organized. This checklist is separated into sections according to a timeline. If your ...
Which is more fun: moving, or filling out your tax forms? Under certain circumstances, completing the one can get you a break on the other. Here are some guidelines as to when you can and cannot take a tax deduction on your move. When you can deduct The IRS employs three “tests” of whether your ...
You’ve got a new apartment picked out and now it’s time start working on your moving budget. But you don’t want to break the bank in the process. Start out with a sensible budget and you should be able to make a smooth and affordable move. Set a target Before you create your moving budget, ...
When you’re considering renting an apartment, you’ll want to know what to expect from a prospective apartment community. That’s why asking the right questions of an apartment community manager is so important. Ask these questions during your apartment search to ensure that you have a clear picture of what it will be like to live in your ...
If you want to make sure you’re getting the best apartment for your money, you will need to focus on several details. Here are some important apartment features to consider when you are looking for your new apartment. Layout When checking out an apartment, don’t just look at the square footage in each individual room. ...
Like a home mortgage, monthly rent is a serious financial commitment. Before you get in over your head, know what you can afford. Follow these simple steps to calculate how much rent you can afford before you sign the lease. What’s coming in What you make each month will be the biggest factor in what ...
When it comes to monthly expenses, there are some costs you don’t think can get lower, like a utility bill. But with some awareness, a bit of effort and a few phone calls, you might be surprised at how much you can knock down utility costs that once seemed set in stone. Shop for the ...
Wondering how to find the best apartment for you? While the idea of the “best” apartment certainly varies from person to person, these tips should help you find the apartment that suits you to a “T.” Know thyself Before you can figure out how to find the best apartment, you’ve got to know yourself — your home ...
Readers Poll
Do you plan to move yourself or hire a moving company to assist you?
- Move myself by renting a truck (64%, 18 Votes)
- Move myself without renting a truck (21%, 6 Votes)
- Hire a moving company to help (15%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 28
Loading ...