De-Clutter Before You Move

So now that you've signed your contract, and purchased your new home, you have to deal with the hard reality that somehow, someway, you have to move everything you have to your new place.

Moving to a new home is a great opportunity for a clean start. You don't want to move your old clutter to your new home, not only because it takes up space, but also because it's really expensive!

Simply put, the less stuff you move with, the less money it will cost. Moving 20 boxes is less expensive than moving 30, whether you're paying movers by the hour, or by the size of their truck.

And think about how much money you can make by selling off pieces of your old life. In the world of Craig's List and e-Bay, you can pocket a lot of cash online without a lot of effort. And that's before we even mention the ever-popular yard sale.

Now, you can make quite a bit of money by selling old books and furniture and knick-knacks, but remember, your top priority is to move without this stuff, so you must price it to sell. Pennies on the dollar are better than nothing, and much better than paying to move it.

You say that you can't be bothered with selling your stuff? Then tap into your inner philanthropist and give your clutter away. There are many non-profit charities that will not only take your stuff, they'll come and take it off your hands. They'll do the work, you'll get a tax deduction, and a charity will benefit from your kind donation.

So, now, how do you decide what to get rid of?

Go through your home closet by closet, touch everything in there and ask yourself some questions.

Do I need this? When was the last time I used it?

You may have a super 8 film projector that works just fine, but if it hasn't seen any action since the Ford Administration, it's time to say goodbye.

How many of these do I need?

Those extra coffee mugs at the back of the cabinet, the ones you never use, you probably won't use them in your new home either.

Am I keeping this because my dear Aunt Gladys gave it to me?

Did it ever occur to you that Aunt Gladys had no use for it, either?

Remember this mantra - "When in doubt, throw it out!" With very few exceptions, there is nothing you own that can't easily be replaced.

Hopefully, you'll be enjoying your new home years to come. Give it the chance to earn its own clutter, and don't stick it with the junk you've already collected. This is your chance to both shape up and ship out.

Written for Real Estate Today Copyright © 2010 Presented by the National Association of Realtors ® All Rights Reserved.