If you are considering a move across town or even across the country, you want to be prepared. You may hire a moving company in Fort Collins to tackle much of the work for you but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a job to do. If you are considering relocating your family, it is important you take the time to declutter your home. There is no reason to move objects you no longer need to your new location. This will not only cost you money, but it will take your time unpacking it and putting it away. 

Luckily, by keeping a few of the following tips in mind, you’ll find the decluttering process isn’t that bad and you can clear out a lot of unnecessary belongings from your home in little time. 

Create Four Separate Piles

When decluttering, one of the first things you should do is to create four separate piles throughout your home. You may choose to grab large plastic bags, boxes, baskets, etc., to store these items. These four piles will designate where the items will go. Your four piles should include: 

Items to keep

Items to throw away

Items to sell

Items to donate

By having these four piles created at the beginning of the process, it will help you to stay organized throughout the decluttering process. You will know where to put every belonging that you pick up. 

Go Through Every Inch of Your Home

Just like the movers will go through every inch of your Fort Collins home when packing it up, so should you during the decluttering process. You should pick up every item and decide which of the four piles you should place it in. This means you need to look through every closet, drawer, cupboard, etc. You may find that you have accumulated a lot of junk and unnecessary items that you no longer need or don’t want to take with you when relocating to a new home. This is a great way to clear out space and start fresh in your new home. 

Start Small

You can certainly feel overwhelmed by this large task. It can seem daunting to go through every inch of your home, particularly if you have a lot of belongings or it has been quite some time since you have cleared the clutter from your property. To help you keep your motivation high and to prevent burning out or quitting, start small. Focus on decluttering small amounts each day, rather than try to tackle your entire property in a day or two. For example, if you have the time, focus on just one shelf, cupboard or drawer. Then, the next day, focus on another shelf or area. If time is more limited, focus on one entire room each day or on the areas where you store the most belongings such as your closets, storage rooms, or kitchen.

Break the Task Into Small Blocks

It is easy to become distracted during the decluttering process. Or, you may find that you simply don’t want to start and you have very little motivation. To give you that push you need and to encourage you to accomplish as much as you can, break the task into small chunks of time. For example, set a timer for 10 minutes. Focus all of your attention to decluttering a certain area for these 10 minutes. When the time is up, stop what you are doing and give yourself a break or don’t worry about the task for the rest of the day. 

You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short period of time by setting aside all distractions and putting 100% of your effort into the project. You may also find that you want to keep going once the timer is up. Knowing that you only have to work for 10 or 15 minutes is a great way to get you going and it isn’t as stressful. 

Enlist the Help of Friends and Family

One challenge you may face is determining if you should keep an item or throw it away. You may find that your “keep” pile is much larger than many others. While in some cases this is okay, you may need the help of a close friend or family member to truly help you determine if you should keep an item. They don’t have any emotional attachment to the item, which makes it much easier for them to talk you into giving it away, selling it, or throwing it in the trash. 

If you don’t have friends or family members nearby to help, ask yourself the following questions to determine which pile you should put it in. 

• Do you have duplicates of an item? 
• Is the item broken in any way? 
• When was the last time you used the item? 
• Is there are any sentimental value to the item? 
• Do you truly love the item? 

If you picked up an item in your closet, for example, and had the thought “I forgot this was in here!” it is likely that you don’t need it. If it is in good condition, put it in the “to sell” or “to donate pile.”

When you hire moving services in Fort Collins, you want to be prepared for their arrival. One of the best ways to do that is to declutter your home. Free your home from trash and items that are broken and cannot be fixed. Give away duplicates and items that you no longer need. You may find that simply clearing the clutter from your home will provide you with a feeling of freedom and happiness. Plus, it will save you time unpacking at your new house.