What to Get Rid of Before Moving

Jacqui 

Colligon

Partner Enablement Lead

Moving is one of the easiest opportunities to declutter your home. The less you pack, the less you pay to move, and the easier unpacking becomes. If you want to stretch those savings further, how to save money on your next move is worth a look while you're still planning.

Before any boxes come out, do a slow walk through your home. Open the closets you avoid. Check the shelves that haven't changed in years. Look in the back of the garage. You're not making decisions yet, just getting honest about what's there.

For anything you're unsure about, one question cuts through it fast: would you buy this again today if you didn't already own it?

What to Get Rid of, Room by Room

Trying to declutter the whole house at once is how nothing gets done. Start in one room, finish it, then move on.

Clothing and Accessories

Go through every closet and drawer. Anything unworn for a year, anything that doesn't fit, anything you've been meaning to deal with for years: now is the time. Run shoes, bags, and belts through the same filter. Donate what's in decent shape, toss what isn't.

If you're moving to a different climate, factor that in. No point packing heavy winter coats for somewhere you'll never wear them.

Kitchen

Kitchens collect more clutter than most people realize. Pull everything out of the pantry and check dates. Old spices, mystery condiments from the last place, canned goods from a recipe you never made: none of it is worth moving.

Then go through appliances. Most kitchens have a few things that seemed useful once and never got touched again. If it's been sitting in a cabinet for a year, let it go. Same with duplicates: one good set of pots, one set of knives. Extras just take up space in the truck.

Furniture

Before you decide what comes with you, measure the new place. Furniture that barely fits now almost certainly won't work better somewhere else. Moving large pieces is expensive and physical, so be honest about whether it's worth it.

Ask yourself three things: do you like it, does it work, and does it fit where you're going? If you're holding on mainly because you don't have enough storage, how to create more storage at home might change what you feel like you need to bring.

Books, Media, and Hobby Gear

Books are heavier than people expect and most households own more than they'll ever read again. Keep the ones you'd actually pick up. Donate the rest to a library, a used bookstore, or a Little Free Library nearby.

DVDs, CDs, old games, and gear from hobbies you no longer use follow the same logic. If it hasn't moved in two years, it probably won't.

Kids' Stuff

Clothes, toys, and books pile up fast with kids. Have them try things on before anything goes in a box. Sort through toys together and ask which ones actually get played with. What's left in good condition can be donated so someone else gets use out of it.

What to Check Before You Seal Any Box

Expired and Unusable Items

Check the medicine cabinet, bathroom drawers, and any first aid kit you've been ignoring. Expired medications need proper disposal. Most pharmacies run take-back programs. Old skincare and cosmetics follow the same rule. If you can't remember buying it, toss it.

In the garage, look for old paint, motor oil, fertilizer, and cleaning chemicals. Most of these can't go in regular trash and need a hazardous waste drop-off. If you're moving somewhere with cold winters, it's worth knowing what not to keep in the garage during winter before you start organizing the new space.

Paperwork

Most physical paperwork doesn't need to stay physical. Old tax returns, bank statements, utility bills: if you can access it online, you don't need the hard copy. Shred anything sensitive and scan what's worth keeping.

What does need to stay with you: passports, birth certificates, insurance documents, anything you might need during the move. Keep those in one folder that rides in your car, not in the truck.

Broken Things

If you haven't fixed it by now, a new address won't change that. Cracked glasses, appliances missing parts, tools beyond saving, furniture held together by optimism: let it go. Electronics need to be recycled properly, not thrown in the trash.

If something broken has sentimental value, take a photo before it goes. The memory doesn't need the object to stick around.

What to Do With Everything You're Not Taking

Sell it. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist move furniture and household items fast. A yard sale handles smaller stuff well. When your moving date is close, price things to move, not to negotiate.

Donate it. Shelters, thrift stores, churches, and community organizations take donations regularly, and many offer free pickup. For anything valuable, ask for a receipt. It may be deductible.

Dispose of it properly. Electronics, batteries, paint, and chemicals need to go through specific programs. Look up your city or county's recycling and hazardous waste options before moving week.

The Sentimental Stuff

Most people hit a wall here. Things tied to people or moments in your life don't follow the same logic as an old blender.

It helps to separate the memory from the object. A photo usually carries the same weight as the thing itself, without taking up any space. Moving is a good time to think about what you actually want around you going forward, not just what you've been holding onto out of habit.

There's no deadline on this part. Take the time you need.

When You're Ready to Pack

Once you've cleared out what isn't coming, packing goes faster and unpacking is a lot less overwhelming. Before you start, avoid these common packing mistakes. Label boxes by room. Set aside a bag for the first night: medications, charger, a change of clothes, important documents. That bag rides with you, not in the truck.

If you're moving somewhere new and still getting your bearings, the moving guide has city and regional resources worth checking.

And if you're still looking for the right home, you can find an agent here.

_{Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on this information}