When you’re preparing to move, there is no better time to de-clutter your home and purge it of all the items you no longer need or use. While a moving company can help you pack your stuff, they can’t help you decide what to keep and what to toss.  Not only is this likely the best chance you’ll have to sort through your junk, but you’ll save yourself some money on the move as well. Here are some tips to help you start!

Sort by Category

Whether you go room by room or lump a few together, you’ll want to create three different stacks so you can easily sort items. These include:

• Items going to the garbage.
• Items being donated to a local charity or friends
• Items you’re going to keep.

You’re going to find items that are broken and unusable. Bite the bullet and toss this stuff. I promise, you won’t miss it. Same goes for the items you know you’ll never use. You’ll feel better knowing someone is getting use out of it.
If you’re like me, you’ll no doubt come across some things that hold sentimental value. You get to keep some of these things, but give yourself a limit. That will force you to evaluate just how much you want to keep each doodad.

Financial Benefits of De-Cluttering and Purging

Chances are you’ve got a bunch of stuff that other people might want. That’s what garage sales, Kijiji and Ebay are for! Kids toys are especially popular in these kinds of sales.

If you’re moving outside of your city it’s even more important to de-clutter to save on moving costs, since moving costs are driven by weight. If you plan to put items into a storage unit before your planned moving date, de-cluttering will help save money on storage costs too.

Imagine paying monthly to store items you’re never, ever going to use, and it may make this process a little easier.

Charitable & Tax Deductions

If you have large items to donate to a charity, be sure to check with an accountant to see if you can claim any tax deductions for these items. On a side note, your accountant will also be able to tell you if any of your moving expenses can be claimed, and under what circumstances the government will allow these deductions.

Be sure to inquire about all documentation you’ll need, especially paperwork obtained from your movers. Let your moving company know that you will be claiming tax deductions on your move, and as professional movers they’ll ensure that all paperwork is in order. As well, a professional moving company may also be able to point out other items which may be claimed as deductions and you’ll want to take these into consideration.

With the right perspective, moving can be seen not only as a necessary chore, but as an opportunity to organise your space and help others. Talk about two great reasons to feel good about yourself!