Clean out so you can move out?

Clean out so you can move out?  Planning on catching up on some household chores?  It is always a good idea to freshen up your living spaces. Especially if you are planning to sell your home.  Then your future self will thank you when you clean out so you can move out.  Start the decluttering and cleaning process early and you will be suitably rewarded.  You will not be sorry.  You will be amazed at how good it feels to get rid of old stuff and you will love the fresh open spaces that your labour produces.

Whether you are planning to move across the road, to the next suburb or even relocating to a new city, when you clean out before you move will save you time, money, and big effort in the long run.  There will be less to pack and remember there will also be less to unpack as well.

We consider what a bunch of things you should trash or get rid of before you move.  Thinking of donating your unwanted household goods, then do yourself a favour, just Google “charity shops near me” and you will find convenient Google Maps pins to show you where to drop off your unwanted goods.  Make someone else’s day with your unwanted stuff.

Firstly, I think we can all agree that moving whether it is 500 meters or 50 kilometers is just the biggest schlep.  But being smart about what to keep and what to dump before the move will keep your costs down and save you time.  Remember that when you clean out before your move, you actually have fewer boxes to pack which is the time you save and the money you save buying boxes you will not need.  Don’t forget the time it takes to unpack the stuff you actually don’t want or don’t really need.  Moving fewer boxes also costs you less when you are looking for removal quotes.

Get started by combing through your home, one room at a time!

Why clean out before you move?

  • Time: You should start getting rid of ‘stuff’ months before you move. Leave enough time to sort through what you want to keep and what will get trashed or donated to a worthy cause.
  • Make some money: If taking a stall at a flea market or boot sale is your thing, then go for your badge.  Sell your unwanted and often valuable items and have fun in the process.
  • Good energy: Holding onto ‘stuff’ takes up a pile of emotional energy, that’s why it’s often called baggage.
  • Make swift progress: You will be surprised how much progress you can make in just a few hours every week.  If you start early (2 – 3 months in advance) you will thank yourself for the effort you put in early.
  • Clean up and clear out: If it collects dust and if you have not used in in the last 6 to 12 months, you should get rid of it.  Remember one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
  • Downsize on your terms: The less ‘stuff’ you have, the less you’ll need to move. Every box counts.
  • Less cleaning: The less ‘stuff’ you have, the easier and quicker it is to clean.
  • Let others benefit: As kids, we were all encouraged to get rid of clothing that has passed its sell-by date.  Bless those less fortunate with your donations.  You will make someone’s day as well.
  • Create open spaces: Clearing out creates rewarding open spaces.  Cupboards appear bigger and you will end up moving less ‘stuff’.  And it’s a great feeling when you give your unwanted stuff to those less fortunate.

Let’s start with the kitchen

If you can say YES to any of the following points you have quite a bit to clean out:

  • Appliances you have not used in 2 years, no matter how fancy that appliance may be.
  • Are you hanging onto old stuff like knives that are mismatched, broken or even damaged or totally blunt?
  • Do you have mismatched and orphaned dishes and serving plates?
  • Have you got little-used kitchen tools and utensils you bought but never used?
  • Are you guilty of hoarding small kitchen appliances that no longer work?
  • Have you got piles of old cookbooks?
  • How has your water bottle and travel coffee mug collection grown?
  • How many spices, teas, and sauces do you need? And have they passed their sell-by date?

Be ruthless in your garage!

You need to clean out if you answer yes to any of the following:

  • Scrap wood that you are just never going to use.
  • Old tools that you inherited when Pa fell off the bus.
  • Old paint that you will never use again and that is just taking up space.  And remember paint is flammable!
  • Old and unused camping gear, not used in 12+ months. Spare cooler boxes and empty jerry cans, the works…
  • Old construction materials, old curtain rails, leftover ceiling insulation, old windows, and scrap wood.
  • Old tiles lying in piles, old grout, etc.
  • Used and grotty paintbrushes, paint trays, and drop sheets.
  • Orphaned gardening supplies and especially plastic pot plant containers that you are stacking in a dark corner.
  • Extra and old garden hoses. Really, how many hoses do you actually need?
  • Extra parts to appliances that you know you will never use.
  • Old furniture you have in your garage that you are storing for ‘one day’.
  • Do you have any items in your garage that just collect dust like garden gnomes, etc?
  • If you have anything is broken that has been waiting to be fixed for 6 months to a year, and then get rid of it.

Be ruthless in your bathroom

  • Hoarding cosmetics, beauty supplies, sunblock, body lotion or even foot scrubs?
  • Beauty samples you got from the magazines you used to buy?
  • Products you have not used in 6 – 12 months.
  • Horrible shower curtains that you are storing for a rainy day?
  • Medicine of any kind that is older than 6 – 12 months.
  • Old beauty tools and brushes that are also ‘kaput’. This includes old hairdryers, curlers, or even curling tongs.
  • Outdated and horrible artwork that you don’t even hang up in your garage?

Clean out your Linen Cupboard

Do you have any of the following in your linen cupboard?

  • Old towels, sheets, and duvet covers.  These are perfect items to include in a decluttering exercise.
  • Extra blankets, covers, quilts. Remember the SPCA will gladly accept these especially when it gets cold.
  • Old sewing machines, fabric, wool, crochet yarn, and crochet hooks and knitting needles? Toss them!

Clean out your office?

If you have any of the following get rid of them.  Remember these boxes will end up being heavy and you will probably not unpack these boxes for a year at least when you unpack on the other side.

  • Filed paperwork. Be brutally honest.  Only keep the essentials.  You are scaling down and lightening your load.
  • Have you got tons of old wrapping paper and mismatched cards, envelopes, and gift bags? Were all guilty.
  • Guilty of having tons of office supplies that you will not ever use within the next 2 years. File folders to start a new mini-CNA? Schools will gladly take this off your hands.
  • Got rows and rows of business books and old magazines?  These boxes are normally heavy and expensive to move.
  • Hoarding old tapes and LPs that you cannot even play anymore because you no longer have a tape deck in your car? Or perhaps you have a record player that has been broken for years – get rid of it.  You don’t need it.
  • Are you still holding onto old and uncomfortable office furniture?  Donate the stuff, someone will want them.

Moving to the bedrooms

We are all guilty and especially in our children’s bedrooms.  The little ones grow so fast that is find it hard to keep up with clothing that quickly gets too small and shoes that no longer fit.  But, there’s more.

  • Have you got a ‘fat’ and a ‘thin’ wardrobe? It’s easier said than done, but once you clean out you will have new opportunities to shop for more modern styles.
  • Old junk jewelry that you know is dated and that does not look good in this day and age.
  • Everything that you are storing under your bed.
  • Old dress shirts, jackets, blazers, and jackets? Someone else will be thrilled to have these!
  • Collecting scarves, wraps, handbags, and pretty little purses? Get rid of the older stuff you will never use again.
  • Mismatches socks, old pantyhose, or even undies that never see the light of day.
  • Shoes that you know you will never wear.  Make someone else’s day.
  • Hanging onto old medals, participation tokens, and certificates?
  • Old costumes and beach wraps – make space for new and more modern stuff.

Moving onto the TV Room

Are you storing the following items in one of the busiest rooms in your home?  If you have any of the following, consider donating the goods to a worthy cause or even dumping it if it’s no good to anyone.  Clean our clutter you will be so much happier for it.

  • Old media includes tapes, LPs, and old CDs or DVDs.
  • Old picture frames that have fallen out of favour?
  • Books you are not going to read again. You don’t need to prove you have read the book.  Get rid of the stuff.
  • Lamps that don’t work and that include extra lampshades.
  • Do you have old games you don’t play anymore or even games that your children have outgrown?
  • Old toys and clothes that your kids don’t wear anymore?
  • Hanging onto old and spare sunhats and peak caps? How many hats can one person wear anyway?

What are you storing in your storeroom?

If you have any of the following items they need to go on the “turf pile”.

  • Rugs that you planned to use 3 years ago.
  • Extra travel bags, roller bags, or even suitcases that you have not used in 6 – 12 months.
  • Do you have furniture that’s in bad condition or even broken?  Let someone who has less enjoy what you have no use for.
  • Old artwork that your children brought home and old school items that you will never use again.
  • Extra sleeping bags or camping gear.
  • Sentimental stuff that you don’t need or even use.
  • Old school or university or even old MBA textbooks that include old school reports and projects.
  • Old mattresses – guilty as charged and why on earth am I keeping this stuff?
  • Are you collecting kitchen appliances waiting to be fixed?  Get rid of this stuff too.

Clean out so you can move out?

Remember, if you are planning on selling your home you will need to move to your new home, remember to start packing up and clearing out at least 3 – 4 months ahead of time.  You will save time and money.  And, remember if you are looking for successful agents to sell your home in a very tough property market we can connect you to the most prominent agents in your area in no time.  In a buyer’s market, you need to partner with the right agent who can go the distance with you in a tough market where there are more properties on the market than there are buyers.

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So, if you need a valuation done on a property anywhere in Randburg or elsewhere in Jhb, we can help.  Give us a call on telephone number (064) 549-3123.  Alternatively, drop us an e-mail at kwselect@kwsa.co.za.  We have a vast network of almost 1,500 top Keller Williams agents at our fingertips who are all just dying for the opportunity to partner with you to sell and conclude your property transaction in record time.

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