People move for different reasons, but one thing they all have in common is that they must organize their homes beforehand. Getting rid of clutter in your home is just as important as organizing and packing up items for the move. Don’t just pack all items in one box if you want a fresh and organized start in your new home. You have to distinguish between unwanted or unused items and valuable items that you’ll pack for the move. You need to be cautious and orderly to avoid getting rid of items you may need in the future. Use the following to classify items you should dispose of:
These are items that you haven’t used for a long time simply because you don’t want or need them anymore. In some cases, you might have already found their replacements. Examples of these items are clothes, electronics and furniture.
Food items fall under this category. If they’ve already hit the expiration date or if they’re close to it, don’t hesitate to dispose of them. You can also donate or sell food items that have not expired yet if you don’t think you’ll be consuming them.
If there are items you haven’t unpacked since your last move, chances are that you won’t unpack them in your new home. Think about whether or not you really need these items.
You’ve probably received a number of gifts from friends and family over the years. Unfortunately, some of them are not much use, but you might feel obligated to keep them as a sign of gratitude. However, you shouldn’t let such items use up the space in your new home.
If you love reading, you might find yourself with a stack of reading materials. Don’t feel obligated to bring them with you if you really don’t need them.
How do you handle these items?
When you have gathered all of your unwanted or unneeded items, pack them in storage boxes that are separate from your moving boxes. Make sure to label the storage boxes so that you’ll know what’s in each of them in order to avoid possible mix-ups. Here are possible actions you can take for the items you won’t need in your next home:
You can’t leave unwanted private documents in your current home, since this can increase your risk of identity theft. Burn or shred these documents in order to avoid having them land in the wrong hands.
For electronics and other valuable items, you can list them on trade websites, such as Craigslist or eBay. They may take long to sell, but at least you’ll make extra bucks from items you would have just thrown away.
Some items may be essential, but they wouldn’t give you much value if you sold them. Items like food and clothing can be donated to the nearest charity.
Instead of burning up your books or magazines, ask your immediate neighbors if they’re interested. Let them have anything they think is useful to them.
If de-cluttering is not an easy task for you, you can trust Silk Touch to do it for you. Using our 4-step formula, we guarantee the safest move, with all your items in tact like they were before the move. Contact us today for your moving needs.
Are you looking to move out of your existing home and into a new one? If so, you are faced with the massive task of packing up all of your belongings and having them moved to your new location. This can be a very frustrating process that can make you want to pull your hair out in the end. But all hope is not lost. Today, we are going to go over some moving mistakes to avoid that will help your next move to go as smooth as possible. If you are a real estate agent, these tips will also help your clients so make sure to pay close attention to the information below.
1. Hiring the wrong moving company: This can be a huge mistake and you might not even realize you have made it until it is too late. Not all moving companies are the same and some will take you for a ride. To ensure that you are dealing only with a professional moving company, do your homework. Ask to see references from past clients and check to see if they are both licensed and bonded for your protection.
2. Packing too much stuff: Over the years, most homeowners build up a lot of things. Many of these items that we collect we simply never use. When preparing to move, you 
should ask yourself, “Do I really need to take everything with me?” Most of the time the answer is no. A great way to de-clutter and only take the items you need is by hiring someone to help you. A professional de-clutter expert can come in and help you weed out those unused items. You can then give them to a charity of your choice and get a nice tax deduction.
3. Forgetting to label your boxes: This is a common mistake that many people make while moving. The hurry to move can make you forget to label boxes and when you get to your new home, it can make things really confusing. To save time after the move, make sure to label each box with what’s inside and which room the movers should place it in.
4. Waiting too long to schedule your move: Especially during the summer months, many moving companies and truck rental companies will be incredibly busy. If you wait too long to schedule your move, you might find yourself out of luck. Make sure to schedule your move at least a few weeks before the moving date. This will allow you time to plan and ensure that you will have the help you need come moving day.
5. Not having enough insurance for valuable items: Depending on your homeowner’s policy, your more valuable items might not be covered completely. Fine art and other valuables that are easily broken will need to be completely insured to protect your investment. Before your move, make sure to make a list of all your higher valued items and shop around for full coverage insurance.
Moving can be a difficult task, but when you are prepared and have the right moving team on your side, your move can go much smoother than you thought possible. To find out more about how Silk Touch Moves can take the stress out of moving, contact us today!
