Last Updated on: 30th March 2023, 09:37 pm
Moving is a really exciting time. Whether you’re packing up yourself or you’ve hired Brothers to handle that for you, it’s still important to get organized beforehand. However, the prospect of sorting through all of your belongings can seem daunting. We’re here to share some tips on how to sort before moving.
Make A List
Part of any plan includes a list. When you’ve been in one place for quite some time, it’s easy to accumulate a lot of stuff. The best way to start this process by making a list. Organize your list by room and include a brief inventory, particularly of where items may be stored.
Example: Bedroom closet: armoire | sweaters, scarves , belts, hats, socks
Create Piles
Once you decide to dig in deep and start sorting your belongings, the easiest way to get organized is to make piles. The biggest benefit of completing this task is that there’s less stuff to move when the time comes.
Pile #1 – Keep
The keep pile is pretty simple. These are the items you use regularly, wear often, or have other special meaning. Technically, there will be two portions of the “keep pile,” so keep reading on for more clarification.
Pile #2 – Sell
We all have items that we no longer use or need. However, some of those items are still in good condition and could be used easily by someone else. If that’s the case…sell them! You can choose to have a pre-moving garage sale or utilize a site such as Craigslist to match them with a new owner. Items such as furniture or appliances are great things to “re-home.”
Pile #3 – Donate
Some items, such as clothing or kitchen gadgets, might be easier to donate, rather than sell. A good rule of thumb is “if you haven’t worn it in a year,” get it out of your closet. Donations are always appreciated by charities, such as the Salvation Army or a local women’s shelter. Only donate gently used items, being sure to toss any pieces which are unwearable or unusable.
Pile #4 – Trash
If it’s rotted, torn, stained, or broken, just throw it out. If the item is recyclable, be sure to toss it into one of the blue bins.
Designate A “Safe Space”
Ahhh, here’s the second part of the “keep pile” info. If you have fragile pieces, heirloom items, or things that are valuable, be sure to stash those away separately. This ensures that these items aren’t thrown away. It also helps to guarantee that they aren’t packed into a box by mistake. Label these boxes properly (“Keep: Owner Will Move”). It’s important to keep them in a safe place, so that you can personally transport them during your move.
We hope that we’ve helped you get an idea of how to sort before moving. It’s definitely a process, but we promise you…it will be worth it. Don’t forget: if you’re completely uninterested in packing your belongings yourself, we offer complimentary quotes on all of our services.
