Moving is the perfect opportunity to take a hard look at everything stored in your garage. After all, there is little reason to spend time and money moving things you no longer use, need or want. A garage declutter before a move can make packing easier, reduce moving costs and give you a much better start in your next home.
As a professional home organizer, I often encourage clients to think about the move as an opportunity to edit their belongings – not simply relocate them.
Don’t Pack What You Don’t Want
The first step is deciding what deserves a spot on the moving truck. Garages can hold years’ worth of forgotten belongings, from duplicate tools and old sporting equipment to broken items and boxes that haven’t been opened in years.
Work through the garage before packing begins and create clear categories for what you’re keeping, donating, recycling and discarding. If you haven’t used something in years, moving it to another garage probably won’t make you more likely to use it.
Group Items Before You Pack
Once you’ve decided what is coming with you, group similar items together. Keep tools together, sports equipment together, gardening supplies together and seasonal decorations together.
This makes packing more efficient and helps you determine how much space each category will need in your new garage. It also makes unpacking much easier because you’ll already know what belongs together.
Think About Your Next Garage
Your new garage may not have the same layout, storage capacity or shelving as your current one. Don’t assume that the system that worked in one home will automatically work in another.
Consider where you are likely to use each category and what should be easily accessible. Frequently used items should be convenient to reach, while seasonal and rarely used belongings can be stored in less accessible areas.
Label Boxes Clearly
A garage box labeled simply “Garage” won’t be particularly helpful when you’re standing in your new home surrounded by dozens of boxes.
Be more specific. Labels such as Garden Tools, Ski Gear, Holiday Decorations or Automotive Supplies will make it much easier to find what you need without opening multiple boxes.
If you’re working with movers, clear labeling can also help ensure boxes end up in the right general area.
Give Yourself Permission to Let Go
Moving can make us surprisingly sentimental about things we haven’t touched in years. If an item has been sitting in your garage because you might need it someday, ask yourself whether you’re willing to give it valuable space in your new home.
Decluttering before a move means fewer boxes, less work and a better opportunity to create a place for everything from the beginning.
A move is already a major transition. You don’t need to bring years of accumulated garage clutter along with you.
If you’re preparing for a move and your garage feels overwhelming, Smart Organizing Solutions can help. As a professional home organizer serving Denver and nearby Colorado communities, I help clients declutter. I also organize and create practical systems that ease moving into a new home. Contact Denver Professional Organizer | SOS Smart Organizing Solutions to get started.