Declutter and Organize Before You Start Packing

Preparing for your next move is not as simple as it sounds – packing all the belongings in your house takes some effort and a decent amount of organizational skills.

“Decluttering” and “organizing” are two very different things, but many people use them interchangeably. To clarify: the former means removing things (which may or may not have to be thrown away), while the latter means putting what’s left in order. Let Around Town Movers, your trusted moving company in Arlington, VA, discuss them both.

Decluttering

Always start with eliminating what you don’t need. You might be surprised at how much you or your movers in Arlington, VA, will actually need to pack to move to your new place. Doing it the other way around would not only waste a lot of energy, but you’ll also end up moving what would later turn out to be unneeded things. Consequently, you’ll use up a lot more container boxes and it would take longer for the movers to load everything into the truck.

Where Do I Start?

As you clear the clutter, keep in mind to 1. make space and 2. eliminate trash. Don’t think about where to put anything: just separate the things you don’t want to keep – books, clothes, shoes – and place them in a box for later disposal, recycling, giving away, maybe even a quick garage sale.

How much is enough? It’s up to you, really. But do consider that if you haven’t used it in the past three to six months, you probably will not need it. Also, make an exception for essentials like kitchen knives and flashlights — you’ll need them in your new home from day one.

Organizing

You should have a lot less things at this point. Organize items into clearly labeled boxes (indicate which box goes to which room, and if the items are fragile) and lined with packing peanuts. Put the heavier items in first, gradually fill in with lighter items. While your local movers in Sterling, VA, will take every precaution, your boxes will get jostled during transit so fragile items should be cushioned properly.

Whether it’s a move within the Northern Virginia or Washington, DC area or across the country, Around Town Movers are here to lend you a hand. Call us today at (703) 682-5922 or use our contact form.