It’s amazing how many things we accumulate over the months and years. When it comes to moving house, it can be a surprise to open up the attic and see how much stuff lurks up there. Of course, this has a knock-on effect for your entire move, turning a molehill into a mountain. Is there a smarter way to do this to avoid that daunting feeling of organising a large relocation?
As experienced Master Removers Group, we know that packing up and moving all your worldly possessions can be stressful. So, we’ve put together this handy guide to help take the strain out of moving and storing your things. This blog will provide an overview of how to whittle down your possessions for a positive moving experience.
Contents
- How to Start Sorting Before a Move
- Why Allowing Plenty of Time is Crucial for Moving
- How to Be Systematic When Decluttering and Packing
- Use It, Love It, or Lose It: Decluttering Tips
- How to Make the Most of Storage Solutions During a Move
- Benefits of Decluttering While Using Storage
- How to Choose the Right Removal Company for Your Move
- Essential Storage Tips for a Stress-Free Move
How to Start Sorting Before a Move
Moving house—it’s the perfect chance to sift through everything, shed what’s unnecessary, and start anew. Why drag along things you don’t want or need? It’s costly and time-consuming to store and transport them. Instead of getting lost in a sea of clutter, follow these essential tips:
Decluttering isn’t just about clearing space—it’s about clearing your mind. Picture stepping into your new home, surrounded only by things you truly need or love. How liberating! It’s liberating. Start with a checklist: Room by room, note what to keep, donate, sell, or toss. This keeps you on track and prevents feeling overwhelmed.
Have you ever tried using an app to help? Sortly and Home Inventory are great for this. They let you catalogue everything, making decisions easier. And if it all feels too much, bring in the pros. Professional organisers can make a huge difference, offering tips and hands-on help to get you through the process swiftly and smoothly.
Why Allowing Plenty of Time is Crucial for Moving
In our experience, sorting and packing your things invariably takes longer than you think. Start decluttering as soon as possible before your moving day. Asking a friend or family member to help can offer both practical and moral support, saving time and offering an objective eye when deciding what’s coming with you and what isn’t.
Time is your best friend when moving, so having a plan can keep everything running smoothly. You can use this basic timeline and flesh it out with more detail:
- Six weeks out – start decluttering.
- Four-week stage – begin packing non-essentials.
- Two weeks, tackle daily items.
This approach ensures calm. Set realistic deadlines and stick to them. Break tasks into daily or weekly goals—sort the bedroom this week and the kitchen next. Last-minute packing can lead to chaos, as items get lost, broken, or forgotten.
By planning ahead, you avoid this stress. Don’t let procrastination turn your move into a nightmare. We also suggest creating and using a moving checklist to incorporate all aspects of your relocation. You can read ours here and adapt it to suit your situation.
How to Be Systematic When Decluttering and Packing
Just looking at all those possessions can feel overwhelming. So, start systematically—tackle one room or area at a time. If you’re a hoarder, this task may be a challenge. Remember that having too many possessions can become a burden. This process will make your new life in your new home a freer and simpler one.
Sort your things into four categories:
- Keep – you use them frequently, and everything is in good condition.
- Throw – it’s beyond use and needs to be discarded, preferably via a recycling point.
- Sell – it’s pristine and can bring in a few quid, but you rarely or never use it.
- Donate – it’s okay but doesn’t have any saleable value.
Start with the least-used rooms first, like the attic or basement. Prioritising rooms helps manage the workload better. Categorising items into Keep, Throw, Sell, and Donate has enormous benefits: streamlining decisions and speeding up the process. Use labels or color-coded stickers for each category to avoid confusion. This visual aid makes it easier to sort and pack.
Specific packing materials are crucial. For fragile items, use bubble wrap and sturdy boxes. For clothing, vacuum-seal bags work wonders. These small steps make a big difference in keeping everything organised and safe during your move.
Use It, Love It, or Lose It: Decluttering Tips
As the artist and designer William Morris said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”. While sorting, ask yourself: Do I need this? What does it add to my life? Can I live without it? If you’re emotionally attached to something, such as your children’s artwork, consider keeping a representative sample and perhaps framing some favourite pieces to hang on your new home’s wall.
Ask yourself deeper questions when decluttering: Does this item serve a purpose? Does it bring me joy? Could someone else benefit more from it? These self-assessments help clarify what stays and what goes.
Think about alternative ways to preserve memories. Digital photos can save space and still keep those precious moments. Snap a picture of your child’s artwork before letting it go.
Examples can guide your decisions. Keep items you use regularly, or that hold sentimental value. Donate clothes that no longer fit or items you’ve ignored for a year. Sell valuable yet unused possessions online or at a garage sale. Declutter, help others and make some extra cash.
How to Make the Most of Storage Solutions During a Move
For some people, decluttering helps, but there’s only so much you can do. Families with many possessions may need storage during their move, significantly if they’re downsizing. Using a storage facility can have many benefits, not least the ability to declutter at your leisure.
Consider the different types of storage solutions. Self storage units offer flexibility—you can access your items whenever needed. Full-service storage includes pickup and delivery, which is convenient but expensive.
It is crucial to pick a suitable storage facility. Organising items within your storage unit makes retrieval easier. Label boxes clearly and create an inventory list. Place frequently needed items near the front. Use shelves to maximise vertical space.
Cost is another factor. Storage fees vary, so get quotes from multiple facilities. Budget for the cost, considering the length of time you’ll need storage. Planning helps avoid unexpected expenses.
Benefits of Decluttering While Using Storage
Having your things moved into storage and sorted from there allows you extra time to deal with them at your own pace without the added pressure of moving dates.
This is a handy option if you are downsizing, as it offers a less stressful and more objective environment than your own home and will indicate what you can realistically live without. (Chances are, having spent some time in storage, you will find that you don’t need all those boxes of old DVDs after all)
Storage provides flexibility. You can sort through your belongings gradually, without the rush. Schedule regular visits to your storage unit to reassess items. This way, you can decide what stays and what goes over time.
A decluttered home has long-term benefits. It creates a more organised, serene living space. Plus, repurposing storage space can add functionality to your home. Transform a cluttered attic into a cosy reading nook or a hobby area. Storage helps you rethink and optimise your living environment.
How to Choose the Right Removal Company for Your Move
There’s no denying that modern life often comes with more than its fair share of stuff. Still, an excellent BAR-approved removal company will be able to handle your things professionally and efficiently, with a minimum of fuss.
Ensure your company can cater to your specific requirements, from providing storage solutions that suit your needs to dealing with added cohttps://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/declutter-your-home/a559955/best-decluttering-tips/mplexities such as delivering to multiple locations.
It’s essential to choose an experienced and reliable removal company, such as a Master Remover, who can offer expert help with all aspects of moving, from packing, storing, and transporting your things—however large, awkward, or fragile they may be—to helping you get safely established in your new home.
Evaluating removal companies requires a thorough checklist. Look at their experience, services offered, and certifications. Insurance and liability coverage are crucial—ensure they protect your belongings during the move.
Reading reviews and getting referrals can provide insight into a company’s reliability and professionalism. Ask friends and family for recommendations.
When interviewing potential removal companies, have a list of questions ready. Ask about their experience with moves similar to yours, their packing methods, and their policies on handling fragile items. This helps you gauge their suitability for your needs.
Essential Storage Tips for a Stress-Free Move
Planning is key to effectively using storage during a move. Before you start packing, clearly understand where everything will go. This is especially important if your storage needs are complex. A well-thought-out plan helps prevent confusion and makes the move smoother.
- Make a plan—When storing your things, first, plan where everything will go, especially if they’re complex.
- Colour code—If you’re moving your possessions to several locations, some into storage and some to a new property, use coloured stickers on boxes and furniture to indicate what’s going where.
- Keep it clean—Ensure everything going into storage is clean and dry. Avoid placing items such as sofas too closely together, as this will allow the air to circulate and help prevent dampness or mildew. Any white goods should be thoroughly cleaned and stored with an open door.
- Don’t overpack boxes—Don’t overpack boxes with too many heavy items, such as books. Health and safety standards say you should not put more than 25 kilos of weight in any one box. Master Removers provides different sizes of boxes for this reason, including smaller ones for books.
- Ensure boxes are strong enough — Proper movinghttps://masterremovers.co.uk/services/home-removals/ boxes used by removal companies are ply cardboard. If you use cheap cardboard boxes from the supermarket in self storage, you may be storing up trouble.
- Label boxes clearly — Label on the sides and the tops, identifying the contents clearly and accurately. Align your box and container labels with your home inventory list.
- Be smart when arranging boxes carefully — Don’t stack boxes too densely; leave clear pathways to navigate your things safely. Also, remember to place those items you likely need first close to the doors.
Protect fragile items by wrapping them in bubble wrap or packing paper. For extra protection, use padding materials like foam peanuts. Store these items in sturdy, clearly labelled boxes to avoid damage.
Organise your storage unit by the frequency of use—place items you need often near the front for easy access. Seasonal items or things you rarely use can be stored further back.
Climate control is crucial for electronics, artwork, and sensitive documents. Ensure your storage facility offers climate-controlled units to protect these belongings from temperature fluctuations and humidity.
Creating an inventory list for your stored items can be incredibly helpful. Keep track of what you’ve stored and its location within the unit. This will save time and reduce frustration when finding specific items.
Master Removers Group – Here to Provide Stress-Free Relocations
Remember, an established BAR-approved removals company can provide a range of secure and readily accessible storage options to suit your needs, complete with packing services, racking, and other specialist facilities. They offer a hassle-free solution at a reasonable price (often considerably lower than the typical self storage options).
So, there it is – you’ve done your bit and sorted your possessions and what’s going where. Now, it’s time to let the professionals take over! As Master Removers, we’re used to moving all manner and kinds of objects to any number of locations – remember, no job is too big.
Contact us today to begin an initial assessment, and we’ll link you with the best removal and storage company in your area, including a free, no-obligation quote.