Tips for
Right-Sizing
your move
1. Start Now. Start before you think you need to or at least one month before
you list your current home for sale. The less clutter you have around the house, the
easier it will be to sell. If you live in a two- story home and the stairs are getting to
be a challenge, start now while you can still use the stairs. If you think you may
want to sell your household items and collectibles, consider hiring an estate sale
company to host a moving sale (see #6 for how).
2. Have a plan. It is best to start with the most frequently used rooms such as
the living room, kitchen, and family room. These places tend to be the most
cluttered and contain items you may have a difficult time deciding what to do with.
Make four piles (use laundry baskets or boxes) labeled “keep, donate, give to family
or friends, and trash.” Dispose of the donations and trash daily and set up a space
to collect the giveaways.
When you are done with these rooms, do the same in the bedrooms, bathrooms,
basement, attic, garage and any other storage rooms.
Note: When deciding what to move to your new home, make sure you have a space
plan to ensure a "right size." Measure your furniture and use diagrams of your new
rooms. Do this before you decide what to keep and what to give away.
3. Involve the kids. When you are deciding on what to give to your children,
relatives and other loved ones, it is best to check with them first. There is a chance
they don’t want the buffet or photo collection. You might do better by selling the
item or finding a different recipient.
4. Keep memories, without the clutter. Take photographs of cherished
items that you will no longer have room for or use. A photo takes up a lot less
space. You can also make DVDs of photographs that are easier to pack than boxes
of photos. In the case of a collection, pick your three favorites and sell or donate the
rest. If you like, take a photo of the entire collection, frame it and use it as art in
your new home.
5. Dispersal of your Belongings
There are so many options these days for dispersing your belongings – charitable
donations, hosting a moving sale, liquidation, or recycling.
When considering donations, think outside the box. Museums are looking for
historical items, schools, churches, club and organizations may need items for
charity yard sales, and nonprofit agencies often need furniture, household goods
and kitchen items. You can also check into places like Goodwill and the Salvation
Army. Donations may be tax deductible so check with your accountant.
If you would like to sell your household items and collectibles, estate and moving
sale companies will do so for a percentage of the proceeds. Also, many items can be
sold online on eBay.com or Craigslist.com.
Lastly, contact your local municipal government or search online for a list of
recyclable items and where you can take them. Some places will even pay you for
your recyclable goods.
6. FINDING A REPUTABLE ESTATE SALE COMPANY
To find a reputable estate and moving sale company, download our free handout at
www.TheTimeFinders.net/resources.html entitled “How to Hire a Good Company
to Sell Your Estate.” You can also visit www.EstateSales.net and search for a
company by zip code.
Call the TimeFinders at 440-361-0091 for more information or for a free consultation.
Member, American Society of Estate Liquidators and National Association of Professional Organizers
This resource was created by The TimeFinders LLC, copyright © 2014
Serving Northeast Ohio
www.TheTimeFinders.net
For more information, call 440-361-0091