Spring Cleaning Before Your Move Part 1

Now that spring is here in full force, many people are diving into spring cleaning, eager to give their home a much-needed thorough cleaning as the weather warms up. There’s no mistaking the fact that deep spring cleaning can be hard, tiring work. Seeing the process through can require a lot of motivation. 

For individuals and families preparing their home for sale, spring cleaning makes a lot of sense. Cleaning and decluttering their home allows them to put their best foot forward as they try to attract the interest of buyers and command the highest offers. Renters and those who have already sold their home who plan to move in the spring or summer season may be less clear on whether it pays to invest time and energy into spring cleaning.  

In Part 1 of this two part “Spring Cleaning Before Your Move” article series, we’ll explore reasons for decluttering and cleaning up your home before moving day to help keep your motivation high. In Part 2 of the series, we’ll also share practical spring cleaning tips to help the spring cleaning process go as smoothly and as stress-free as possible.

Motivations for Spring Cleaning

Less Stuff to Move. A major component of spring cleaning is decluttering, the process of getting rid of items you no longer want, need or use. By purging your home of unneeded belongings, keepsakes and even furniture and appliances, you decrease the quantity of items you need to move. If you’re hiring a professional moving team, it makes sense not to pay to move items you have no space or use for. Even if you’re planning on a DIY move, you’ll appreciate not having to haul boxes of items you will never use or carry heavy furniture or equipment you don’t love or that doesn’t fit your new living space.

Less Stuff to Store. Purging unwanted and unneeded items also frees up storage space. This is especially important if you are moving into a new home with limited storage space, where every inch counts and will be put to use. (Even if you have plenty of storage space, there’s no sense in keeping belongings that serve no function in your life in storage forever and ever more!) Getting rid of unwanted or unnecessary furniture and belongings may also save you from having to invest in secure storage. Keep in mind that storage options are available for items that hold sentimental value or that you intend to use in the future but simply don’t have space for at the moment. For instance, All Jersey Moving & Storage has a storage facility in New Jersey where furniture and valued items are sealed and secured in large wooden containers as well as blanket wrapped to keep them safe.

Generate Some Cash Flow. The decluttering process allows you to determine what items you no longer want or need. Oftentimes, belongings you no longer have use for can be sold, generating cash that can be saved for a rainy day or used toward your move. You may be surprised what people are willing to buy! Items can be sold in an online marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or at a traditional garage or yard sale. Be sure to give yourself sufficient time to sell items of value at a price that you’re comfortable with. 

Donate Unwanted Items to Those in Need. Items that don’t sell can be donated to organizations that benefit those in need, in which case you can also benefit from the tax write off. Items in good condition can be dropped off to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. You can even make an appointment for a charity like AmVerts to pick up certain items.

Give Unwanted Items to Friends and Family. Belongings of sentimental value - and any other items you don’t want to keep - can be gifted to a friend, family and neighbor. Again, be sure to leave yourself time to part with belongings you no longer need in the way you see fit. Think about who would appreciate the items you’re giving away most. You can also post pictures of your belongings to your social media to see who might be interested.

Improve Home Appearance. A clean, decluttered home makes your home look bigger and more spacious. A decluttered space can make a home easier to sell and can even command higher bids in a competitive market. When buyers see a clean, decluttered home, it gives the impression that the home has been well maintained, which is important when considering purchasing a new home. When a space is clutter free, it is also easier for buyers to imagine themselves living in a new home. And of course, by decluttering your current home, you won’t have to worry as much about decluttering once you’ve moved into your new home!

Decrease Dust. Deep cleaning is part of spring-cleaning. If you’re selling your home, you’ll certainly want to present your home in the best light by ensuring that it’s clean for realtor photos and open houses. If you’re a renter who is moving or your home has already been sold, you may feel less motivated to do a deep cleaning. It’s true that a thorough cleaning is hard, tiring work. However, it’s important to remember that by cleaning, dusting off and wiping down your belongings, you will avoid bringing a lot of dust and grime into your new home. Don’t forget to wipe down dresser and cabinet drawers that have been collecting dust! There’s no telling how long it’s been since they have had a good wipe down.

Get Organized for Your Move and Beyond. Central to the decluttering process is organizing your belongings. If you know that you’ll be moving to a new home in the near future, you can use this time to organize your belongings in a sensible way. Organize your belongings strategically, carefully considering which room or area they will be stored in at your new home. This will make unpacking and getting settled in your new home immeasurably easier and more efficient.

Tip: If you are decluttering before an upcoming move, now is a great time to begin packing up lesser-used items!

Declutter, Declutter, Declutter!

→ Have a Plan (Room-By-Room). Once you’ve decided to embark on a decluttering mission, it can be tempting to jump right into it. However, this can quickly lead to burn out and a chaotic, unmanageable mess. It’s important to devise a realistic, sensible decluttering plan. If you have amassed a lot of belongings, don’t try to declutter your entire home in one weeknight or even over one weekend. Rather, give yourself adequate time to move methodically room by room at a pace that won’t leave you completely exhausted. 

As you move from room to room, sort items into the following categories: keep, sell, donate, give away or throw out. Get rid of damaged, outdated or ugly items you know no one will ever want; sell, donate or give away duplicate or unused items; and store or thoughtfully gift items of sentimental value you have no space for in your new home. 

Tip: For items you intend to throw away, contact your local waste management company to find out their policies for picking up furniture and other larger items. Also, be sure to always dispose of hazardous chemicals appropriately.

In your living room, you may declutter books, DVDs, and knick-knacks. In your kitchen, you may declutter dishes, glasses, cutlery, utensils, storage containers and even small appliances. In your bathroom, you may declutter towels and expired makeup and medications. You will find that by decluttering one room at a time, you will feel more confident about the task at hand and gain momentum.

Preparing for Your Spring or Summer Move

*Hire a Professional Moving Company. The best thing you can do to ensure a successful move is to hire a professional moving company. Professional movers have the equipment and expertise necessary to execute your move safely and efficiently. Knowing that your home and belongings will be safe as a result of your movers’ knowledge and experience will give you much-needed peace of mind. This is especially true if you move with an insured moving company. All Jersey Moving & Storage has helped many thousands of individuals and families move during the busy summer months, and is dedicated to providing a smooth, secure and stress-free moving experience.

*Secure Your Moving Dates ASAP. Are you planning on moving in the warmer months? You aren’t the only one! It’s important to be aware that the spring and summer months are the busiest season of the year for moving, so reputable, fairly priced professional movers are in high demand and fill up quickly. If you want to secure a specific professional moving company that has come recommended or that has a great reputation, book them as soon as possible. This is even more urgent if you want or need to move on a specific date during. 

All Jersey Moving & Storage recommends starting to look for a moving company and getting estimates six to nine weeks before your move. We encourage clients to book their spring and summer moves as soon as possible to ensure they can move on their preferred moving dates, especially if they need to move between Memorial and Labor Day. Scheduling your move date early is also very important if you need to move at the very end or beginning of the month, or on a Saturday. While we do our utmost to accommodate last minute moving requests, doing so during the height of moving season is more challenging. 

*Don’t Leave Packing until the Last Minute. In addition to hiring professional movers, if you want to ensure a successful move, make it a priority to begin packing as early as you possibly can. If you are like most people, you have probably accumulated a lot of belongings over the years. Do not underestimate how long it will take to pack these belongings in an organized manner. Packing early will help you avoid the stress of scrambling to get ready for your move. Packing in this chaotic fashion leads to disorganization, which will make moving day much more stressful than it needs to be. Rushed, disorganized packing can also make unpacking in your new home nightmarish, as you struggle to sort through a jumbled mess and find missing items. 

Beginning to pack a month prior to your move, having sufficient packing materials and using a logical packing system will help make the moving process more seamless. Check out the All Jersey Moving & Storage team’s expert packing tips!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Spring Cleaning Before Your Move” where we’ll share spring cleaning tips to help get your home and belongings in top shape before moving.