Moving house can be a formidable prospect particularly when you have lived in the same property for many years. Chances are you have accumulated a lifetime of possessions. Every cupboard, corner and drawer may overflow with clutter and the thought of packing and moving it all can be overwhelming.
The team at Tony Removals understand the stress, inconvenience and time that moving house in a big city like Sydney brings with it. That is why we offer a comprehensive range of home removal solutions including the convenience of a full-service pack and unpack house moving experience, eco packaging and furniture storage.
If you are planning a house move, decluttering is the first step to a successful transition into your new home.
Why declutter?
Aside from the impracticality of moving mountains of clutter from one home to the next, recent studies show that clutter affects mental health, increasing anxiety levels, and depression, affecting sleep and the ability to focus. Moving home is the perfect opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start afresh.
As many of us have experienced, decluttering is one of those things that works well in theory but very rarely works out as planned. Emotional attachment and a ‘just in case’ mentality mean we often find it hard to part with things we have had in our possession for years.
Take stock
Get a full appreciation for the size and breadth of the amount of clutter you have. Walk from room to room, looking into drawers and make an inventory based on how many cupboards, shelves and storage spaces are available in the new home.
View items critically and categorise everything under the heading of either: RETAIN, RECYCLE OR REJECT.
Retain – Keep things that are either used regularly, hold a strong emotional connection or are difficult or expensive to replace. Long-term storage may be a good option for heirlooms or collectables that are appreciating in value and need to be stored securely.
Recycle – The majority of knick-knacks, decorations, books, excess crockery, glassware and cutlery will fall into this category. Anything that doesn’t serve a purpose aside from being a dust collector, should go.
Examine the linen cupboard and consider donating anything excess to requirements. Two sets of sheets per bed is sufficient for most families.
Fortunately, household items can be dropped into local charity bins. There are still some charities that collect donated furniture and whitegoods but they all insist on donations being in a clean, saleable condition.
Alternatively, consider selling items through the Facebook Marketplace or eBay but to avoid being scammed, ALWAYS get cash upfront.
Reject – Paperwork is one of the main culprits of cluttering drawers. Take the time to sort through and identify things that are legal and need to be kept and ideally throw away everything that you don’t need. Shred bank statements and other sensitive documents. If you own a scanner, a paperless solution is to scan documents onto a thumb drive.
Don’t save Christmas paper or wrapping paper year-round. It can be easily and cheaply bought when needed and just takes up unnecessary cupboard space.
Consider hiring a skip bin from a company that prioritises waste recycling. Paper, scrap metal and timber are all recyclable and contribute to a circular economy and environmental sustainability.
Planning ahead
Moving from one house to another can require precise timing and interim accommodation may be necessary, particularly if you are building a new home. Tony Removals and Storage can be a lifesaver, offering affordable, secure short and long-term storage, providing the flexibility to move into short-term accommodation.
Where to from here?
If you are considering moving house, entrust your precious belongings to a company that cares. Tony Removals and Storage are Sydney’s most experienced and professional relocation specialists. Whether you are moving across the town, the state or the country, Tony takes the stress out of moving house. Give us a call on 1300 931 888 or message us 24/7 at 0404 888 656.
