How to Downsize Before Moving

How to Downsize Before Moving

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Category: Moving Tips

Tips For Green Cleaning Your New Home

What are some cost-saving tips for downsizing before a move?

Moving can be expensive, but there are ways to minimize the financial burden. Cutting moving costs starts with downsizing. Sell or donate items you no longer need, reducing the amount to be moved. Opt for a self-move or hire a reliable, affordable moving company. Packing your belongings efficiently and using cost-saving strategies like buying used packing materials can also help trim expenses. Planning ahead and being resourceful can save you money during the downsizing process.

What Are Some Common Moving Mistakes to Avoid When Downsizing?

When downsizing your home, it's crucial to be aware of the common moving mistakes to avoid. One significant aspect is avoiding common moving pitfalls. These may include underestimating the amount of items you own, not purging unnecessary belongings beforehand, or failing to measure the new space accurately. By being mindful of these mistakes and planning accordingly, you can ensure a smooth transition into your downsized home.

How to Downsize Before Moving

  Moving home, especially long distance is a great opportunity to reduce your belongings. Before you begin packing your boxes and wrapping furniture to be moved, go through each room in your home to see what items you no longer need. Depending on the quality of your stuff, a lot of it can be recycled. Having a garage sale, or selling your items online is a great way to reduce and recycle your belongings. If you’ll also be donating, there are many charities and donation drop offs. Some organizations can even pick up your belongings.

Storage area

If your garage, attic, or basement is being used as a “storage” room, go through these areas first. They can later be used as a space to house the items that you no longer need. The process of downsizing and de-cluttering can make you feel much lighter and make your move easier. As you go through your belongings, decide what can be donated, sold at a garage sale or online, given to friends and family, or thrown away. If you’re indecisive about certain items, ask yourself: will it suit your new home? Can it be replaced? How often do you use this item? Is it valuable or hold sentimental value? Does it need repairing? Could someone enjoy it more than I do? Taking the time to sort through your belongings and get rid of what is no longer needed, will save you time during the packing and unpacking process, and reduce your moving costs.
Tips For Green Cleaning Your New Home

Are DIY Home Projects Environmentally Friendly?

DIY home improvement ideas have gained popularity in recent years, but are they truly environmentally friendly? By embracing eco-friendly practices and using sustainable materials, easy home improvement ideas can be both beneficial for your space and the environment. Implementing energy-efficient upgrades, repurposing materials, and reducing waste are just a few ways to make your DIY projects environmentally conscious. So, go ahead, unleash your creativity and make a positive difference in your home while embracing these eco-friendly DIY home improvement ideas.

What Are Some Ways to Protect an Empty Home After Moving?

When protecting your vacant home after moving, there are a few effective ways to ensure its safety. Firstly, consider installing a security system with video surveillance and remote monitoring capabilities. Secondly, have a trusted neighbor or friend check on the property regularly. Additionally, ensure that all doors and windows are locked securely. Lastly, maintaining the appearance of an occupied home with lights on timers and holding mail delivery can deter potential intruders.

Tips For Green Cleaning Your New Home

  Cleaning your new home can be easy, cost effective and far healthier when using natural products.

Stock up on green products

You may in fact already have many of these ingredients. You can prepare and make simple cleaning products, which can be used throughout the whole house. They’ll provide natural air fresheners, and joy when cleaning. Vinegar – Distilled white vinegar is a sanitizer, can remove hard water stains, and disintegrate clogged toilets and sink drains. Baking soda – In addition to its many benefits, when being used as a cleaner, it can get rid of odors, especially in places such as a trash bin, or a fridge. Salt – For hard to remove stains, salt granules are great to use, due to their abrasive qualities. Lemon – Lemons not only have a fresh scent, they are also a natural bleach. They contain antiseptic and antibacterial elements. Borax – For decades borax has been used to whiten laundry. It’s also an anti-fungal, an antiseptic and antibacterial. Essential oils – Just the scent of essential oils adds that extra freshness to any space. In addition, they’re excellent as a disinfectant.

Tips for using your natural products

Windows – Vinegar and water, how simple can it get! Oven – Baking soda with sprinkled water. Leave overnight, then scrub. Toilet – Baking soda and vinegar as a toilet scrub Bath – Borax is great for scrubbing bath tiles. Moving green your new home
Planning a Garage Sale

What Are the Similarities and Differences Between an Estate Sale and a Garage Sale?

When comparing estate sales and garage sales, there are notable similarities and differences to consider. Both involve the sale of personal belongings, but estate sales generally occur after a significant life event such as a death or relocation, while garage sales are more common for decluttering or downsizing. Proper estate sale preparation tips help ensure a smooth process, including organizing, pricing, advertising, and setting up the sale. Garage sales, on the other hand, tend to be more informal and spontaneous with little or no preparation required.

Planning a Garage Sale

As many people begin to live more minimalist lives, clearing out material items from the home, and reducing the amount of things we own, has become the goal. When beginning to prepare for a move, this can be the perfect opportunity to go through all your belongings and only pack what you use, or cherish. One way to lesson your load is to plan a garage sale prior to your move!

Arranging a garage sale does take some planning.

Firstly, choose a date to host the sale. Weekends are typical for garage sales and begin early in the morning, with the “professional” bargain hunters arriving at the beginning of the day, and locals stopping by throughout the day. Advertising your garage sale will need to be done, and is a very important aspect of attracting people to the sale. Before you begin advertising online and putting up signs around the neighborhood, check with your local city to see if a permit is required, or if any specific guidelines must be followed. While you’re going through your belongings and deciding what to keep and what to discard, this is a great time to keep aside all the items you plan to put in the garage sale. Any items that are prohibited, or dangerous cannot be sold at a garage sale. If you plan to price your items prior to the sale, make sure to have some stickers or tags available. Alternatively, you can name your price on the day of the sale. Reducing your items for a long-distance move
First Day Essentials

First Day Essentials

There’s a lot to plan when making a move, make sure to have some basic essential items packed for those first few days in your new home.

If you’ll be arriving at the same time as your belongings, make sure the essentials box is clearly marked. Once it’s unloaded from the truck, place it in a room where it cannot get lost among the other boxes. If you arrive prior to your belongings, consider mailing the box of essentials, or if driving, keep it with you in the car.

Some Essentials:

Bedding and linens – Sheets and towels. If there won’t be a bed when you arrive, consider packing an air mattress.

Toiletries – Your basic day-to-day toiletries. In addition to these, pack: Soap, bathroom tissue, shampoo & conditioner, and a medical kit.

Clothing – Pack enough clothing according to your daily schedule, include work attire if you need to go to work. Bare in mind, you might not have a working washing machine in the beginning.

Cleaning supplies – Pack a few cleaning supplies until you’re able to make a trip to the local supermarket. Something’s going to need cleaning.

Kitchen items – Planning to cook, pack some basics: a pot, pan and some reusable plates and cutlery.

Children and pets - Don’t forget the essentials for your kids or pets, you know what they are!

Electronics – Many people work on mobile devices these days. Make sure you have all components needed to use your electronics.

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